This is Sarah McClure’s story before she was baptized on April 4, 2021 in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
My whole life, I was brought up in the church. I attended every weekend and served in ministries. I said the rehearsed prayer with selfish intentions, hoping that it was enough to keep me from going to hell. I thought this was what salvation was. I continued living in this mindset when me and my family started at a new church, and I heard the same Gospel I had heard all my life, but this time, God dug deeper in my heart. The seed had been planted, and it began to stir in me.
My self-made foundation began to crumble beneath me, and everything I thought I knew dissolved, I was left weak and vulnerable. I began to doubt my artificial faith. My sins that separated me from God became painfully exposed by the Gospel. Instead of clinging to Christ, I isolated myself. Too embarrassed of the sin that hung over my head. Instead of clinging to Christ, I distracted myself with worldly comforts. My pain began to show, and my false sense of salvation was no more. I spent countless restless nights crying to myself, wanting the shame of my sin to go away.
I began to doubt God and His existence, and the fear of death paralyzed me. Ephesians 1:7 says “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace”. By His grace, God revealed to me that He chose me, a sinner, and one among the mockers, to be made brand new in Him. He died on that cross, thinking of me, and made me whole. He gave me the gift of a new life and eternity with Him! I don’t know the time of my conversion, but I know that God has changed my heart, and now I’m here being baptized as a true believer in Christ Jesus! Praise God!!