Heather

 

I have been blessed to have grown up at Moodyville Baptist so from a young age I was taught about God. I saw His word and His faithfulness lived out in my home. I watched my parents rely wholeheartedly on Him time and time again through many challenges and I saw Him faithfully carry them through those challenges. I knew I wanted that. I could see clearly that He was the difference in their life. They had a peace and a security no matter what life brought their way. 
When I was eleven I had my personal encounter with Him. I knew I was a sinner condemned to hell without Jesus. I was able to understand and believe that His sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection had paid my debt in full and made the way for me. He had been knocking on my heart for some time and I finally opened the door and let Him in as the Lord and Savior of my life. Anyone that knows me can attest that I do not like being the center of attention but one Sunday morning in January of 2001 I finally worked up the courage to make that walk down the aisle at Moodyville Baptist and publicly confess Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Looking back now that was the easiest walk to make. I was walking towards my Savior who was standing ready to embrace me with open arms. That was the best decision I ever made and ever will make. It truly changed my life. 
Since becoming a Christian and maturing on my walk with the Lord He sure has taught me a ton. I could write a book. Life as a Christian has had its challenges for sure. There have been hard lessons learned and heartbreaking losses in the years that have followed but He remains steadfast and faithful. Like I witnessed with my parents, He has carried me through many valleys and over many hilltops and has never once left my side. When I wander astray like the knucklehead I can be at times, He gently guides me back. He is constantly teaching me and pruning me. 
Life with Jesus truly is the best journey. I know with certainty that no matter what the day brings I will be okay simply because of Him. He is my refuge, He is my strength, and He is my joy. I could lose everything and everyone in this world and I would still have more than I deserve because I have Him, now and forever more. My prayer is that everyone would know Him personally and know His love and grace that He so freely gives. His heart is for us, His creation. We are all sinners in need of His saving grace and He stands eager and ready to accept everyone who would believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. 
I’ll close with a verse that is widely known but so impactful and all encompassing of His heart. John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. That is His desire for us. God is so very good. 

 

 

 

 

I accepted Jesus as my Savior when I was 12 years old and followed in believer's baptism. I was at home with my parents when I prayed for Jesus to be my Savior. I still remember a feeling of peace when I made the decision. I am thankful for parents that took me to church where they continue to attend and serve. I am married and have two boys. My prayer is that our children understand the importance of their relationship with Jesus and desire to continue to attend church. I have attended Moodyville Baptist Church my entire life where I enjoy serving.

Joel Sr

I wasn't raised with much Christian influence in my life.
I joined the military at a very early age.
When I returned home from basic training, Helen and I met and married 4 months later.
Debbie, our firstborn arrived in April of 1960.
May 4th, pf 64, our second child was born. She was very early and only lived for one day. The loss of little Karen Lynn was devastating. Little did we know she would change our lives.
We were living a pretty happy life until her loss.
We pretty much continued living that life for the next couple of years, until Helen began to be troubled because we didn't go to church.
She came to me one day and said she wanted us to go to church and she would go alone if I wouldn't go.
My response? I will go, just don't expect me to go to Sunday School. Gd must have chuckled. 
So, we started going off and on until the Pastor and one of the Deacons paid me a visit and invited us to a revival meeting. We went, and the Holy Spirit pointed the message toward me. I was saved that evening.
Christ changed my life in more ways than I can count.
The rest is history. I have never been the same and would not trade my life in Christ for anything.

Life was good. High school sports, friends, student government, supportive family and acceptance to a great university five hundred miles form home. A new beginning of sorts. One of my fellow freshman students invited me to church. The college Sunday school class was a new experience for me. Verses from the Bible were used to explain what they called the good news. All have sinned … Romans 3:23, The wages of sin is death, eternal death, Romans 6:23. God loved us so much He sent His Son to pay for our sin, John 3:16, Romans 5:8., and give us life, eternal life. Our part in this good news was to believe Jesus Christ is lord and confess Him as savior.Romans 10:13. What was shown me from the Bible was not hard to understand, but it was not in line with my view of the world. I was a good, person, most of the time. I carried about people. I was part of the solution and not part of the problem at least in my mind. I asked questions in the class, I was not impressed with what these college students knew about their faith and the Bible, but one thing did impress me. The were completely sincere and believed accepting Jesus as Lord had changed their lives. I spent most of the day thinking about what had been shared. Perhaps what they said was true, should I put it to the test? That evening I returned to the church for an evening service. Son’t remember the preaching, but I do remember they sand two closing songs. After the closing hymn, instead of a prayer they sang a second closing hymn I Surrender All. During the second verse I did surrender all, My live was changed for ever. Consider Christ. His Word, the Bible has the supernatural power to work miracles in your life, I Thessalonians 2:13.