I was raised in church, but when I was nine years old, I started applying the things that I was learning to myself. I had several conversations with my mom about death, sin, and eternity. God used those conversations one Sunday morning to convict me of my sin. I was convicted of the things I had been doing and thinking even as a nine-year-old that were opposed to the way He wanted me to live. The wonderful thing wasn’t just the conviction, but the mercy that was poured out when I believed in the Cross and the Resurrection.  

That morning, I finally put all the pieces together in my mind, even as a child I was sinful, but Jesus’ death on the Cross could be counted as punishment for my sin, His resurrection could be my resurrection. No longer was Christ someone that we talked about in church, now Christ is my savior, friend, and Lord.  

Now I seek to live my life how He wants, yielding to Him in every area of life. As I got older, I realized how much He loves His people and now I am blessed to serve in the local church with His people. I am grateful for the opportunity to point people to Christ, study the Bible with them, connect them to the local church, and go on mission with them to make disciples of all nations.