We didn’t go to church in our own home, but the neighbor across the street went to church. So I would go over and play with their son occasionally. They invited my church a few times, so I went to church with them and saw something in church that I didn't have in my home. My neighbors prayed before meals and do different things that we have in our house. I knew something was missing in my home.
They invited me to a Vacation Bible School. That’s where I heard the Word. I heard that Jesus died on the cross for my sins, even though I wasn’t worthy. This touched my heart and I knew I needed to be saved. From then on I would go home and talk to my parents about the things that I had learned in church.
When I was fifteen years old my father was diagnosed with lung cancer. I was still going to church with the neighbor even though my parents weren't going to church. I knew I needed to do something to know that my dad would be saved. I would always come home from church and tell my dad what I learned there. I wanted him to be saved and to know the assurance that he was saved.
Dad passed away when I was sixteen years old. Afterward, my aunt told me that her pastor and several others had visited dad in the hospital. After dad’s death, my aunt told me that the day before he passed away he had rededicated his life to the Lord Jesus Christ. It made me feel really good. I hope it was also a result of the conversations I had with him. He had told my aunt that he wished he had taken us to church, and requested that she buy him a suit for that purpose.
I think dad knew, from my regular church attendance with our neighbors, that my family’s salvation was of great concern to me. Now, in my own church, I am very involved with the Children’s ministry. I’m always inviting children because it’s a huge passion of mine to be involved with kids and youth because I believe planting the seeds in the lives of children can flourish.
Discussions