How did you come into the faith?

[Raven]

Welcome back, Thandi! We missed you!

Vicki

Ditto!

[Deborah Risinger]

Yes, Thandie...good to see you again....

I found Christ in a very turbulent time in my life...drugs, witchcraft and being married to an Iranian (a very nice man).

I worked in "silican valley" and met two Adventists.  One out of the church, yet loved the message. The other was activite in the church.  Both these kind people looked beyond my present condition, and on the call and leading of the Holy Spirit, ministered to me. 

After a time, the one active in the church, invited me to church....I sat out in the parking lot for quite sometime...I finally went in.  By the way...I looked like Tammy Faye Bakker at the time.  Everyone was so very kind...so very kind.  My demonic "friends" were not allowed to follow me into the church....I "knew" then, the God of the SDA Church was bigger than the one I had been involved with.

I have never left...............God excepted me into His household.  What a joy!  

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow
Deborah

[newbie]

sharing these things is so important.... we must all keep these things in mind and reach out in all avenues in order to find the searching souls...

[Ed Sutton]

As a child I gave my heart to the Lord, and later after putting my hand on the TV and responding to the call of the TV evangelist from Tulsa OK,  i started getting unusual abilities and knowledge.

Later as a teenager after my Dad had died, and mom remarried a drunk, and I finally won the weekend fight, now I was back in my hometown with my Aunt and Uncle.

An old man on the sidewalk outside my house asked me if I had given my heart to Christ   I had to lie and say yes to get him to walk on and leave me alone.

The more I got into new age occult stuff I became more lonely - no one wants next to a cactus.

A young man came by selling books to earn his way through ministerial school.  I tried to recruit him unsucessfully. That was monday.  Tue afternoon a layman came by to give me Bible studies, I supernaturally knew he really wanted to be friends, i took the studies.

After 1 week he was convinced to move on, but God convicted him week by week for 19 weeks more.   I never made a decision after the Bible studies.  The young man working as an LE got me Desire of Ages and later Patriarches and Prophets & Great Controversy.   

I read and reread Desire of Ages and during that time I became aware of power from above, and Jesus & the Holy Spirit watching me read - it was like reading His diary - with His approval.  Then I made my decision, and with my ballbat in my hand lifted the up the guy giving me Bible studies by his lapels and said if you guys have what Desire of Ages is talking about - I was getting baptized did he have a problem with that.

Soon the family troubles were intense enough I had to move in with an SDA family in a neighbouring town, and finally stay with the local pastor, then stay with the man giving Bible studies - then become a student at Wildwood in the very early 70's.

[V. Hahn]

I read and reread Desire of Ages and during that time I became aware of power from above, and Jesus & the Holy Spirit watching me read - it was like reading His diary - with His approval.  Then I made my decision, and with my ballbat in my hand lifted the up the guy giving me Bible studies by his lapels and said if you guys have what Desire of Ages is talking about - I was getting baptized did he have a problem with that.

You were kind of intense, weren't you?!

Interesting story, Ed!  God never gave up on you.

[newbie]

wow Ed what a story.....  amazing how God works with us   ....
Glad you are on board

[Deborah Risinger]

It is very impressive how God uses "people"......their part/our part in the plan of salvation....this is beautiful stuff!  Truely..."saved for a purpose."

Praise Him, Praise Him, Praise Him!
 

[lotrob]

I've just read this thread from the beginning and enjoyed it.  Newbie, although your survey or sorts has long since ended, I came into the faith through an evangelist "tent" meeting at the age of 7 along with my Mom.  I stayed in the church until I went off to college but though I did not live my faith I never left the "faith" because I believed all the SDA messages, I just  foolishly wanted the world at that time.  I always said I was going to return someday.  Well, God is merciful and good and gracious and longsuffering and loving and on and on and He spared my life and extended my probation.   He kept me during my years in the world and one morning brought stark reality to my mind that I was living a sinful, terriible life and must return to Him if I wanted to be saved.  I heard Him loudly, turned, stopped, came back into the church and began living my faith to climb higher and draw closer to Him dail and do His will by surrendering my owny.  Oh, He's so good and I can't thank Him or praise Him enough for His mercy and watchcare during my total separation from Him and godliness of heavenly things.  To God be the glory!!

Lottie

[newbie]

lotrob,
It is never to late to respond.... the question is on-going...  I'm so happy that you came back to the Lord... most of us have a point in our walk where we are in the world!  I was interested in how people came into the faith so that we can all know what avenues to explore when reaching out to people!! 

[Ed Sutton]

BTW - baptism was getting in the door, but coming into the faith was exposure to, immersion in, surrender to and following Scripture & all the SOP I could devour.

Yes - more intense than some SDA's, but a burning stick rescued from a bonfire usually smells more of smoke than an unburnt stick.

[newbie]

I agree Ed... baptism for me was the start of the real walk with Jesus... the HS brings us to baptism but we still have to be baptized with fire!!

[Sammy Lee]

I was born into a Buddhist family in Indonesia.  I am the eldest of 8 children.  My grandfather gave me the name, Li Wei Long, meaning The Great Dragon, at birth. My father later became a Christian and years later he was ordained as a minister of the Pentecostal Mission Church until his death.  I studied at the Roman Catholic institution for ten years.  I liked the RC religion because it was full of freedom for young people, because I like rock and roll music and dancing.  At the end of my tenth year, I quarreled with my teacher.  A friend of my father suggested I go to the SDA Academy.
One year later after much arguments and resistance I was finally baptized.  I read a lot of EG White books and was conviinced she must be inspired by God for being able to write all those amazing books.  I was shocked to know that my Chinese name is the name given to the devil in Revelation 12.  I am glad I only have the same name but not the same character. 
So at the end of my High School, or year 12, I decided to become an SDA minister to the horror of my father. He stopped paying my school fees and I had to work hard to finish my study.  I never regretted my decision.
All the males in our family died below 50.  Dad passed away at 49, heart attack. And so are my three brothers, at the respective age of 48, 47 and the latest just a few months before he reached 50.  I am 70 now but still enyoying health, thanks to the health message which I have practised since the age of 18.  Otherwise all the doctors who know my family health history agree that I should have the same fate as my father and brothers.

[newbie]

A powerful testimony Sammy Lee and Praise the Lord for the Health Message... the entering wedge.  I hope you are able to share this testimony often!