My testimony
As promised, here’s the testimony I gave at my baptism. When I delivered it live last Sunday it didn’t come out as smooth as this, but I suppose that’s the way these things typically happen - much like TyChay’s Best Man speech.
When I look back at my life thus far, it is now readily apparent that God has been involved in every aspect and detail. I do not believe in chance; on the contrary, I believe that everything happens for a reason – that God is always carefully engineering the world for the best.
Recently, two events in my life seem to have the fingerprints of God all over them: the Lord placing my girlfriend, Rose, in my life and the Lord bringing me to San Francisco.
First, some background. I grew up in a Christian family and as such, I’d gone to church every Sunday with the family. In elementary school, I knew I believed I was a sinner, and accepted Jesus in my heart. By the time I graduated high school, I had a working knowledge of what Christianity was about, but I hadn’t integrated it into my life.
When I got to college, I took a turn for the worse. I did whatever I wanted to do, completely ignoring what God was calling me to. I blocked out any desire to fellowship with Christian friends, go to Church on Sundays or connect with the Christian community. Instead, I focused on worldly things: class work, drinking, partying… whatever I wanted, whatever felt good.
Fast forward to about 1.5 years ago. I was in Seattle, working for Microsoft and I had just met a very attractive girl named Rose. It was no coincidence that I happened to meet Rose through a colleague of mine and then proceeded to see her at church the very next day. I was spiritually weak, she was strong. I had a twisted view of God’s will, she had a far more solid one. She gave me a kickstart into really living God’s will – and we’ve never looked back.
God knew she was just what I needed. God was reaching out to me; getting me on the righteous path. His fingerprints are all over this one…
Now let’s go to the beginning of this year. God gave me a great career opportunity down here in the Bay Area. It was difficult to leave Seattle and shift into a long distance relationship with Rose, but it was a transition that had to be made – at the time, I viewed it as a once in a lifetime career opportunity. Little did I realize: God was at work again. This was one of those life altering decisions that affects you for the rest of your life.
I moved to downtown San Francisco – given that I was actually to work in Mountain View, this was again, God engineering things to guide me towards where he wanted to place me. As soon as grx:acts2 launched, I knew I had found a new home. Now, as the scriptures say, my world desires would be replaced by desires pleasing to God. I joined a small group and naturally found myself seeking to serve in other areas. One step at a time, I found God stretching me further and further. Doing outreach through JAC and helping plan, execute and improve services through CAM, I found myself ecstatic. I was bearing fruit to further God’s kingdom and it was great.
Coincidence that career opportunities brought me down to the Bay Area? Coincidence that my friend Gary told me about GRX? Coincidence that I moved to downtown San Francisco, right where acts 2 was starting and where there is huge spiritual need? I don’t think so. Break out your forensics kit, dust the evidence for prints – He has been here.
Things have changed in my life. My eyes are opened to new viewpoints, I am seeking different things, and I long to serve. I know I’m ready to be baptized.
So after all these steps in my life, I’m ready to take the next one. When I look back, I see that every step along the way, God has been faithful to me. And when I look forward, I see that there are many more steps for me to take, laid out by God. Am I blameless now? Far from it! But I am firmly rooted in the saving grace and perfection that comes through Jesus Christ alone and nothing will shake that from my core.
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