“I am a Child of God!”
In February, we celebrated something truly special—baptism. Baptism is not only a public declaration of the life-changing love of Jesus, it also marks the beginning of a new journey as a child of God! Let’s read on to hear how their stories and what baptism means to them.
TRINITY NEUFELD
“I prayed to Jesus to accept Him into my heart at Christmas. It’s not about opening presents; it’s about Jesus’ birthday. I feel loved by Jesus. I want to get baptized because Jesus was baptized.“
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Philippians 2:3-4)
LAUREN GRAHAM
“I felt very lost and in pain before I knew Jesus. I first chose to be baptized in March 2007, and I experienced incredible blessings when I committed my life to follow Him. In recent years, however, I felt myself drifting away from my walk with God and a growing sense of disconnection with Him. Serving and church attendance had become a “check-the-box” exercise instead of a deep and meaningful personal relationship with Christ—the one He desires with us.
As I was looking ahead to 2025, the words ‘grace’ and ‘submit’ came to me, and I knew I wanted to rededicate my life to Christ. I wanted to accept the gift of His grace and submit in an act of obedience by being baptized. I want to renew my vows to God to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30).
Jesus has lifted me out of more than one “pit of despair” (Psalm 40:2), and He is making me a new creation so that I can enjoy and share the fruit of the Spirit with all those around me: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22). I want to live life fully for Jesus.“
“I have come so that they may have life, life in its fullest measure” (John 10:10).”
LEE IRVING
“I learned about Jesus as a young child. It wasn’t until my time now as an adult that I’ve learned following Jesus and His teachings makes my life better in every way. He makes me a better person—nicer to my family and friends, and more mindful of how I conduct myself every day and the choices I make. He makes me feel like I’m never alone.”
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
RUTH CANTOS
“I believe that as I choose to do baptism, it can bring me one step closer to deepening my relationship with Him and surrendering my life to Him and His plan.”
ANGELA CHELLAIAH
“Before truly knowing Jesus, my life was marked by routine church attendance with my parents. As I grew older, I struggled to find personal motivation and connection to practice the Word of God. I came to know Jesus and decided to follow Him through a personal journey of seeking deeper meaning and connection.
Despite my upbringing, it wasn’t until I faced certain challenges that I truly opened my heart to His presence. Through daily prayers, reading the Bible, and experiencing His love in my life, I found the motivation through faith to fully commit to following Him.
Jesus has made a profound difference in my life by answering my daily prayers and providing healing in times of need. He has guided me through uncertainties, such as finding a new job, and has been a cornerstone in my marriage, offering strength and support in every aspect of my life.
It is very easy to lose hope and motivation in any life situation where you begin to feel out of control and lost. The Bible verse that has impacted me in times like these is:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
OLENA GRODZINSKA
“I was in the New Age/Occult. I struggled with addiction, mental health, eating disorders, agoraphobia and suicide attempts. I had psych ward hospitalizations, sexual trauma that led to my addiction, alcohol withdrawals, and abandonment issues from adoption. I had no peace in my life. I tried to find peace with the New Age and Occult, and it never worked.
I asked Jesus to save me when I was 25, knee-deep in my addiction. I had become homeless and lost all my friends, struggling with agoraphobia, unable to socialize or go out in public. I realized the New Age wasn’t working for me. I felt at my wit’s end, that I had lost everything and that there was no more hope for me. When I asked Him to save me, I didn’t really know if He was real or not, but I felt a wave of peace come over me, and I completely changed.
What difference has Jesus made in my life? I no longer struggle with mental health. The mood swings I had completely diminished. I realized all the New Age stuff was not healing me but bringing evil into my life. I got rid of all of it. I no longer have suicidal thoughts. I finally have a healthy relationship with food, gained healthy weight, and am now working three jobs with kids (that’s my specialty). I am making new friends, going out in public and socializing, volunteering, no longer homeless, spending my money more wisely, and no longer have alcohol withdrawals.
No more severe abandonment issues, since Jesus will never abandon me. I finally have peace in my life and found meaning. I completely restarted my life at 26 and realized I’m not too old to start over! I tried to get secular help for seven years for all these issues, but was always told I was too “hard” to help. Jesus was the first person who didn’t tell me that. I’m making new friends through church, no more loneliness, and I have a new identity as a child of God.
“For by grace, you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
YI WANG
“In April of last year, my son’s school, Glenmore Christian Academy, organized a trip to Italy and France. I joined the journey as a parent. During this trip, we visited numerous churches and historical sites, but something felt profoundly different when I stepped into St. Peter’s Basilica. Words cannot fully capture the emotions I experienced there, but I felt a connection to God. Beyond this, the teachers and other parents treated me like family, creating a sense of belonging that I deeply cherished. Since that experience, I have felt inspired to study God’s teachings more systematically.”
SOFIA CRISSIEN
“I’ve known Jesus all my life, so life was kind of boring until I promised God that I would get baptized as soon as I could. I grew up in a Christian family, so I grew up knowing Him since I was a child. Through my family and as I learned about Jesus here at church, I decided to live for Him. The difference that Jesus makes in my life is that when I get angry or frustrated, I pray to Jesus, and He calms me down. My favorite scripture is Psalm 23!”
Wondering what baptism is all about? We’re here to help. Sign up for our online Baptism Info Session to learn more! If your child is thinking about baptism, our Children’s and Student Ministries teams are excited to walk with you and answer any questions!
You may be interested in …
- Celebrating Our River Baptisms! October 2024
- Jesus, the King of My Heart! January 2025