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My Conversion Testimony

Everyone who has given their life to Christ has one…a conversion testimony.  I would be curious to hear yours.  I enjoy hearing the testimonies of the saints.  Before I share my testimony, I want you to know how important YOUR story is.  We are to share Christ, and the Gospel (which literally is translated from God-spell means “Good News”) with the world.  And what better news is there in a Christian’s life then the moment that we surrender this life of hate, pain, and death to accept a life of love, companionship, and, well, LIFE.  Your story is important in helping others realize their stories.  Please message me with your story.  It warms my heart to hear them.  With that, here is my story…

April 25^th, 1982 I was at a Christian music festival with my church.  I was not a Christian but I decided to go along because we were going to take a week vacation, travel from PA to KY and spend time with 12 people in a rented camper.  As we drove south, we found that the weather was building and we knew it was going to be rainy.  The festival was held in a farmer’s field, and, when we went to park, we saw the mess.  The entire field was mud.  The concert was going on, everyone was excited, and everyone was covered in mud.

To enjoy the concert a little better, the farmers in the area were giving away free bales of hay and straw for people to sit and relax in.  We went and picked up a few bales ourselves.  When we went back to our spot, we spread the hay and straw out and I immediately dove, head first, into the hay.

I awoke 3 days later in a hospital in Kentucky.

My memory is foggy as to what happened over the three days, but from what I found out from my minister, my dad, and others was that I had a severe asthma attack brought on by the hay and straw.  Within minutes I was unconscious and was rushed to a hospital about 2 hours from the concert site.

During the time I was out, my minister and dad both stayed with me.  They went out and got a record player and a few records of the bands I actually got to hear before I blacked out (Sweet Comfort Band and Petra).  All the while I was out, they played the two records over and over again.  When I awoke, I heard Petra’s Washes Whiter Than album and asked immediately where I had heard the music.

After the two of them explained to me what had happened to me, I felt compelled to share my view of the past 3 days with them.  I didn’t see a bright light or hear God literally speaking to me, but I did sense God’s presence.  Somehow, I knew, when I awoke, that God was with me the entire time.  That He was protecting me.

It was at that moment that I knew I needed to be with Him.  I needed to know Him.  I was only 12 and knew that something bigger than me…something bigger than my dad…something bigger than my minister was helping me and I wanted to learn what I could about it.

My minister then asked me if I was really serious.  I said yes.  He then walked me through the chapters in Romans that dealt with getting right with God.  Although I was scared at the implications my surrender would mean in my life, I knew that God was the only One who would be with me throughout all of my life.

I surrendered my life and when I returned to my home church, my minister baptized me in front of the congregation.

In the years since, I have had great times and very tough times.  All throughout those times, only One has been with me in every single one of them…Jesus.  Even those whom I love dearly on this earth have left me or hurt me from time to time.  Jesus never has left me or hurt me.