The Gospel In Me: August 24, 2014

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!
Dylan Gelhausen (7th grade)
When I was 4 years old I was adopted by my aunt and uncle. They started teaching me about Jesus Christ. When I was eight years old I invited Jesus into my heart. A few weeks ago at Crossings Camp, I realized that I didn’t know what all that meant and that I had not yet committed my life to him. So when the pastor at camp asked if any one wanted to commit their life to Jesus, I answered that call. Today I want to show that commitment by following Jesus in believer’s baptism.
Clay Weber (7th grade)
Before I became a Christian I was praying only when I thought I needed it. I would pray during a test or in a baseball game, but not when it was convenient for somebody else or when I really needed it. I didn’t like to trust people. Sometimes I disobeyed my parents to do what I thought was more important.
On the first day of Crossings Camp I had to climb a huge tower. I got to the top but I had to trust some people I barely knew to carry me down to safety. Later at camp I thought about that experience and it made me realize that I couldn’t live without trusting that Jesus died on the cross for me. I knew I needed to so I turned away from sin and trusted Jesus. Later at camp, the preacher asked everyone who had trusted in Jesus and that truly turned away from sin to stand up. So I stood up.
After that experience I have felt happier, like something heavy inside of me just vanished. I feel like a happier person, and I trust my parents more. I have also been praying more for other people and no just when I need something. My life seems more like life now than it was before because before I was covered in the shadow of my sin, but now it’s gone.
Heath Thomas (7th grade)
There was a point during Crossings Camp that I thought I knew everything about Jesus and ow to be saved, but I wasn’t saved. The camp pastor told a story of a man whose car broke down in the middle of the railroad tracks. He sees a train coming so he tries to start the car. It won’t start so he tries to unbuckle his seat belt, but it is jammed. The train is 10 yards away, and he starts to panic. He is about to get hit by the train, but he felt his car jerk forward off the track. When he looked in his mirror, he saw another car get slammed in his place. This story means that Jesus took the punishment for my sins.
Crossings Camp is what drew me to Christ. My group leader asked, “If you died going down the hill to the cafeteria, would you go to heaven?” At that point my answer would have been no. I suddenly realized that if I died, I wouldn’t go to heaven. That night the pastor said, “If you need Jesus, stand up.” I stood up because I needed Christ.
My mom taught me this verse, “I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, and to give you a hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). To me this means, no matter what I’m going through, God will always have a plan for me.