“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ…”
Ephesians 2:4-5
God raises us from death to life. That’s how every Christian becomes a Christian. Yet the details of our conversions are as different as each of us. God writes many unique stories in His one big story of saving people for Himself. We’re telling these stories on Sunday mornings.
This past week, we heard from one church member, Vicki. Here’s her salvation story:
I grew up in a Lutheran church. I loved Sunday School and Bible stories as a child. I learned a lot about God's greatness. To me, God was very serious because the church was very serious. By my teenage years, I lost interest in God and the church. I was upset that I had to spend Saturdays taking catechism classes. After I completed confirmation, I stopped attending entirely. Once in college, I drifted further away from God and the church. I did pray but only when I needed help on exams. Sadly, that was the extent of my spiritual life.
My first job after graduation at Western Digital proved to be a divine appointment. I met a woman named Cheryl who would become a very dear friend for a season. She was so welcoming and curious to learn more about me. I soon learned where her joy and kindness came from. She impressed me with her unashamed love for her Lord Jesus. This became obvious when I shockingly learned she was saving herself for marriage, something I had seen as archaic thinking, something my mom did and encouraged me to do, but, certainly not the norm for my circle of friends. You see her motivation was to please God, not disobey Him. She explained how grateful she was that she had been forgiven and didn’t wish to take for granted His love for her and the sacrifice He made. Well, this was so shocking to me in the best possible way. It took some time, but with her persistent friendship, she helped me see the light. When sharing gospel concepts with me, I had many questions for her that she’d been able to answer or get the answer for me. So many times, she would bring me cassette tape recordings of sermons from the night before that just so happened to be covering the very topic we had been discussing. Amazing timing became the norm.
Cheryl started inviting me to her midweek church services in Laguna Beach on a weekly basis and even allowed me to stay over so I didn’t need to commute home before work the next day. I so enjoyed her hospitality and loved this friendship. On one such occasion, she was making us dinner. She stopped suddenly, looked at me, and began to get excited. I asked her what was going on. She explained that she'd been having dreams about a curly-haired blonde gal. She had just realized that girl was me! God was reassuring her that He had brought us together for a reason. I remember feeling so blown away that God would be so intimately personal to communicate like that. I wanted to know this God that He could direct my life.
I felt so much care from God that he would place this friend in my life. I was relieved to know that someone like me could be forgiven and freed from my guilt and shame. I have a keepsake that marks the day I became a Christian. I prayed a prayer in the back inside cover of a little New Testament bible handed out on college campus that, curiously, I had decided to keep. At the time, I didn’t understand its significance. I was in the privacy of my bedroom when I prayed, nervously and excitedly; nervous because I knew I had to have some serious conversations in keeping with my repentance, and excited to be able to offer that same gospel message to others. I signed and dated it on March 18, 1989.
It’s been 35 years now that God gave me the desire of my heart to know Him intimately. He provided His Spirit who has brought scripture to remembrance, which provided the guidance needed and empowered me to fulfill His will for my life. I’m so grateful for His kindness.
Amen! May God write more salvation stories among us.
If you would like to share your story in an upcoming service, please contact the church office.
