The Gospel In Me: July 5, 2015

Before every baptism we have the privilege to hear stories of how God has saved people in our church and community through the gospel. In order to encourage one another, we will be posting these “gospel stories” after each baptism!
Barb Swann
I was baptized as an infant and grew up in the church.  The churches I attended as a child taught the “popular” Bible stories and about prayer.  I gave my offering each week in class and thought I was a Christian just like my parents.  In middle school, I attended confirmation classes and gave my life to Christ at the conclusion.
When I entered the military, I strayed from the church because the churches on base were very nondenominational and they didn’t feel like the churches that I had been to as a child.  They taught about God, but they lacked the family feel I associated with church.
In 2012, I was attending Dr. Wills’ class on what it meant to be a Baptist.  Dr. Wills had shared a similar denominational background with me and he was able to explain the baptism by immersion in a way in which I understood.  I had been struggling with this because I thought if I did get baptized in this church, I would be betraying not only my upbringing in the church, but also my parents. In March of 2012, my life was totally rocked by the suicide of our 20 yr old daughter Brittany.  I hadn’t gotten to finish the classes and the baptism issue was put on hold.
In these last 3 yrs., I have seen how God’s plan had been mapped out for me.  There have been so many positive things that have come from Brittany’s death. That’s not to say I don’t still miss her dearly, but God has revealed to me so many things about her life that only now makes sense to me and I know I will see her again.
Now we are preparing to move to Green Bay, Wisconsin to be with our other daughter, her husband and our 6 month old grandson.  It is important to me that Tony baptize me before I leave here. It wasn’t until I came to this church that I was taught about having a relationship with God.  I knew about prayer, communion, and Sunday school classes, but I had never been taught about having a relationship with God.
The love I have felt from my LIFE Class, the Bible studies with the women of this church, and the fellowship with the church have all been things I have not experienced in my life and will always cherish.