How did you get saved?

[2chaotic]

I was saved just recently by the information in this thread: http://www.rr-bb.com/showthread.php?t=48652&page=2

RR's discussion with Katia helped me open my eyes to the True Christ.

I used to be catholic. I was dissatisfied with my present life with all its mystery, misery, and lies. So i prayed for the Lord to show me the truth. Funny how your prayers are often answered in the most unexpected ways.

I've recently started reading the Bible and it's helped as well.

Now I believe in Sola Scriptura. That Christ died for my sins as an eternal, sufficient sacrifice. Therefore the rituals preformed by some churches today (namely the Catholics) are wrong and misguided. The whole "pray to the Saints" thing was wrong too.

I've been lied to.

Now I can see clearly.

[Marc2x]

I checked out some Heavy metal bands,I found one and looked them up on wikipedia and it turned out that they were christians so I looked up the lyrics and stuff and all of the lyrics were christian so I kept listening then after that i got interested in christianity and so i bought a bible then it came with a sheet on how to be saved.Kinda weird that people think rock music is evil................I'v givin up all secular rock and metal and went on to christian rock/metal.............

[mclaren1141]

When I was very young, I used to have panic attacks. I had the panic attacks because I was alive and therefore that meant that someday I was going to die. I was afraid of DIEING.
In my up bringing I was mainly raised by my mothers uncle who was an Indian medicine man, my mother was a Catholic, a brother a Baptist, another brother a satanist. My aunt was a Jehovah's Witness, so there was alot of diferent views coming at me.
The one thing I noticed about everyone I knew was that they were only religious on special days, be it Sunday or a special Indian ceremony, the rest of the time they would use drugs, drink alcohol, etc.
So anyway, one night I was having a panic attack, then for what ever reason, of course I know now, I started to pray. I started to pray to God, I said "Who ever you are, out of all the Gods that there might be, it is you that I pray to. If you are real then you can hear me, I am praying to the one true God, if there is one." I went on to say, "...because I am alive, I know that i am going to die, and when I do, I don't want to go to Hell. Please help me to 'not' be like everyone I know, and only worship you on Sundays or special days, but all the time. Help me to find you, who ever you may be, and don't let me go to hell. I beg you to take my life and do with it what you will. Because if you let me have it, I will grow up to be like the people around me, and i know I will go to hell. So hear tonight I give you my life to take, or do with what you will. If I wake up tomorrow then my eternity will be your responsibility. Also, if I should wake up tomorrow, please do not listen to me when I beg to have control of my life back, because I will not know what I am talking about. If you give it back to me, I am sure I will go to hell, so please do not listen to me. Who ever and where ever you are, I hope you hear this prayer. Thank you for listening."
I went to bed that night fully expecting not to wake up the next morning, at least not here on earth. It is important to note that I wanted to go to heaven right then and there, and I was not suicidal, but very afraid of dying. Most of the things i said that night confused me, because I did not know where they came from. Anyway the next day I woke up...with two major changes in my life. The first, I no longer had panic attacks, I was no longer afraid to die, I can not explain why I was at peace with death. Oh, I was still afraid, but I no longer had panic attacks because of it. The second, was a very real realization of what I had done. What I mean is that, I knew that I would never have the life of sin that I had actually longed for, but would be completely different from those around me. And to date that has been the case.
This all happened when I was 8 years old, and it took me until I was 32 to make it official by accepting Jesus as my Saviour. As I was growing up, I noticed people reacting to me differently. For example, people would ask me about the Bible, when I had never read it. i used to think what makes them think I am saved. It wasn't until i met some people who were into witch craft that I knew for sure that Jesus was with me...because they told me. They had these spirits that they called "familiars". These spirits would leave when ever I would come around, so these people could always tell when I or a "christian" was around. Appearently theses "spirits", aka demons, could not stand to be around Christians. Also found out that they, the witches, could not cast a spell on a Christian without their permission. After finding this out, I started to read the Bible. It actually took a little more convincing than that; God gave me a choice and he let me see what the wrong one would be. He showed me what a demon looked like, up close and personal, I was 17 at the time.

I can also remember when I was about 5 years old almost getting into a car with a man who said he was my dad's friend. The problem I had with that, even though I did not recognize him, was that I had already walked 9/10's of the way home. I lived in a rural area. But he insisted I get in the car with him when I said I was just going to finish walking, since it was just about 3 city blocks away from home. We were in an area where new housing was being built, ruffly 12 blocks of empty houses, with my home, a temp trailer house, being at the farthest end, away from town. All these houses were empty, at most they were only half built. They had no siding, no windows, no grass, not even roof tiles yet. I know this mostly because it was my play ground. Anyway, this man grabbed me by the arm and was trying to pull me into the car when all of a sudden I heard my name. He heard it too. Across the street, nearest him, was a woman doing laundry in the front yard of one of the houses. She said, " Sean, you better get home now, because your going to get to go to ST Marys", a place where I always got a toy and candy. When the man heard her, he let go of my arm ad drove off, with the passenger door still open. I just stood there looking at the woman because I didn't know her either, but more importantly...why did she have windows on her painted house that also had roofing, and GREEN grass. I finished walking home, continually looking back at this woman. When i got home I thought I was going to get into trouble for not getting ride home from my dad's supposed "friend". He was not there and nothing was ever said. Sure enough though, the woman was right. I got into our car and we drove off, the same way I had just walked. The house where me and that man who tried to "kidnap" me was like every other house...empty and unfinished, no green grass either, just dirt. I saw an angel that day, that I now know for sure. With that memory, Jesus through out the years has often reminded me of just how close he has always been in my life. And since God is not a respector of persons, just how close he is to all of those who believe on him, Christ Jesus. All of us...
I have always known that God, Jesus has been with me. I also know it was him that lead my prayer when I was 8. It has been him through out so many other things that have happened to me also. Through the years, I have always thought about what I gave to God...my greatest fear, the fear of dying. And I have thought to myself, wouldn't it just be Jesus to take that fear I had given to him and give me the rapture in return. I have always felt that I would not see death, but that I would see the rapture, and be taken then. Not to be arrogant though, if I should die before the Rapture happens....thanks to Jesus, I am not afraid, for I know what waits on the other side...Him.
I can hardly wait to put my arms around him to thank him for the gift of life that he has given me, and all the protection from the evils. I have said thank you's most of my life....but I can hardly wait to say it to him face to face.

I am so grateful to all of you that share on this web site. I am thankful to Jesus for bringing it to my life. I has been an inspiration and a blessing to me. Also, thank you for reading, and may God bless you all...

For as long as this was....sorry about that, it's actually alot longer when I tell it in person. You should know I did leave alot out of my testimony, so I apologize for taking up alot of space. I did however want to share, so thank you.

[Cindy S.]

I was brought up in the Christian Reformed church. I went to Christian schools too.

I was divorced, remarried, smoking pot, etc. I knew the truth but not all of the truth. Not because it wasn't there for me, I just didn't listen.

I heard on a radio station someone make a sarcastic remark about the rapture. I didn't know what the rapture was, so I Googled it and found this site. My knowledge grew in leaps and bounds and I had and still have a great hunger to learn more.

I guess it took the Y2K scare to really get me. I called a church and wanted to be baptized right away. The church couldn't fit me into the schedule until January 2000. I was freaking out because I needed to get baptized, or so I thought. That's when I found out baptism doesn't save you.

It's been a slow process and I don't know the date I actually got saved as I have been on my knees and prayed the same prayer many times.

However, I do know the date I got baptized: 10/21/2001.

[jestersmom]

Vacation Bible Camp.

[kcofohio]

I grew up in a christian home, went to church every sunday, sunday night, and wednesday. As a teenager, at church camp, I got baptized, but only because everyone else expected this. As I grew a little older, I rebelled against my parents, but more so against God.
By my mid-twenties, I had come up with my own idea of who God was.
One day I was at work and a co-worker asked me who I thought God was. He asked if he could share God's word with my wife and I. Soon I realized what a fools part I had played. My friend prayed with my wife and I to really receive Jesus into our hearts, and to forgive us of our sins.
Some years later, while talking with my mom, I had to thank her for her and the churches prayers. I realize that if it hadn't been for someone being obedient to God, and Jesus being obedient to suffer the cross, we would have been lost forever. Praise the Lord!

[ReadyForDeparture]

After Christmas of 1974 I fell into bout of depression. I fell asleep each night crying and asking God to help me. I had no family nearby, and had been rejected by my Mom 4 years earlier, despite being a model son.... all A's in school, no drugs, no alcohol, no smoking..... no police problems, no nothing. She just said she did not love me and kicked me out at 19. On Friday night Feb 21, 1975 I was so down that I called my friend that was on a bowling team with me after we all got home, around midnite. He was a solid Christian, married and very happy. He was nice and chatted with me for about 90 minutes. At the end of the conversation he invited me to come to Church with his family that Sunday. He had asked me to choir programs before but never to a regular church service. After I said yes and hung up the phone, I walked to the kitchen. In my mind I heard that small still voice of the Lord, nothing audible, but the thoughts in my mind were not mine and I knew it. He said, "This is the answer to your prayers for help".

That Saturday morning I went to work, where I had been sneaking small amounts of money for over a year; stealing, and even thinking God was helping me survive. My salary was really so very low I could hardly make it living very simply. When I got to work and saw the money, I realized that I had been stealing, and that God had been no part of it. I was convicted of my sins by the Holy Spirit right there. YIKES! I knew I was already different.

Then on Sunday morning at the invitation I ran, literally, down the aisle and gave my life to the Lord. My heart had been pounding like a base drum all during the service. The church started a week long revival that very day so I started my walk with solid Bible teaching every day for a week. The Monday after I went forward in the church service, I went to work and went up to every employee and told them what had happened to me, all 50 or 60 of them. That was 33 years ago and it only gets better each day.

P.S.- I went to my Mom's house the week after the revival and told her what had happened. I had not spoken to her in almost 4 years. I hugged her and told her I forgave her and loved her. She did not know what to think. She moved away within 3 months so I am so glad I had the chance before she moved to show her I forgave her.

Ready for Departure

[scentgirl]

I was saved while going through a second divorce. My husband was raised in a Christian home, and his mother, father, sister, and friends all witnessed to me. I "believed" I was a Christian because I believed in God. I had all the classic false ideas of Christianity such as I'd go to heaven because I was a good person, that I didn't have to go to church to worship God because I could do it anywhere.

When my husband left me, my mother-in-law was sooo wonderful. I know she was really hurting because of his behavior, but she really took care of me, witnessed again, gave me a list of her favorite bible verses (which became my own and still are my favorites) and loved me right into being a true believer in Jesus. I'll never be able to express to anyone that experience of her in her own grief but helping me deal with mine and helping me to be saved. Those are very precious memories. And while I was devastated over my husband's desire for the divorce, I'll never regret the whole experience if that is what it took for me to see the truth.

That was close to 15 years ago. I have been happily married for 12 years and my husband is a believer. I think my experiences have helped me to help others in crisis situations to have faith.

[Lainy68]

I voted "OTHER"...

Dunno what to say. At the time, I had a good job, things were going relatively well--but I was feeling empty. At one point, things changed on a dime and going to work was like walking into a nest of pit vipers. I felt like I was alway being attacked--but not on a personal level. Finally, my heart could take no more and I grew increasingly sad. I cried out on the inside. This random song popped in my head one day--a comforting one and like most mental music, it lingered there for most of the day until I headed home. I turned on my radio--and it started playing. That was just the beginning of things that told me that my God was calling out to me to come to Him. I was stubborn though and refused to listen at first. It took the equivalent of a V-8 smack--but in a more gentler manner for me to fall on my knees and cave... I can't explain what happened, but I listened.

[Chicken5516]

I have gone to Church my entire life. My mother was Catholic, her Father a Roman Catholic, her mother a Nazarene and I always knew and heard about Jesus.

My first experience was at a camp that we went to in Colorado. I started crying in the hallway of the complex, and some friends told me that it was God.

Years went by, and I always had believed in God, but never was born again.

My X husband was watching television in Columbus, Ohio and he saw Pastor Rod Parsley on tv. He tried to find where his church was...and a few weeks later we went. We started going regularly, and one night when Pastor Parsley had an alter call, we both ran down together holding hands.

Things were great for a couple of years, and we both back slid, came back, back slid...and eventually we divorced.

I have remarried a wonderful man that I prayed for. God is good!! I have came back to the Lord, and have a long way to go....and just the other night I helped my hubby come to the Lord. He has always believed in God...but I wanted to make sure he was born again.

I know that a lot of folks don't like Pastor Parsley and his teachings, but I will forever be thankful for him that he brought me to the Lord. He also led both my children to the Lord, and THAT is something truely amazing to me. My oldest is now in college to be a Youth Minister.

[Jodi]

I grew up in a very Christian home. I loved the Lord from the day I was born (I believe) . I got really saved, and understood it when I was 14 years old at a Teen Church gathering. We were watching "Jesus of Nazareth", and while watching the scene of Jesus carrying the Cross. He spoke in my heart and said that even if I was the only person alive on earth, He would have died on that Cross for me!! I was never the same again. I totally committed my life to the Lord that night. I just LOVE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. I have been a Christian now for 20 years, and have been waiting in great anticipation for His Glorious Appearing for 20 years! Looking up daily.

[Showtime]

Well in the Summer of 2007 I was laying down in my bed simply just reflecting on life. I had just finished my sophomore year in college. I had gone to church most of my life, said my prayers every night, but there were times where I'd put the Lord's Word first and the Lord's Word last. I was heavy on the club n party scene, drank sometimes, smoked things I shouldn't have, pretty foul mouthed and I guess I could go on because my list is probably endless being honest. Really just going about a lot of matters inappropriately and noticed just problems mentally and even physically that began to come over me. Problem being, I knew a lot of what I did was wrong as both my parents made me and the rest of the family always read on the sabbath and there were times I wanted the word and other times where I wasn't so excited to read the word. So this one night i just laid in my bed.... and I just prayed for forgiveness. I lay face up on my bed confessed myself as a sinner before God with all my heart to the point where tears were just flowing from my eyes. I lay with my eyes closed and then everything just kinda went white and my body started to shake quite a bit and I couldn't move... I was a little frightened, but in my heart I felt that the Lord heard my prayer and touched me. I felt better, my soul felt so much lighter. Ever since that day, I have tried to read some scripture on a daily basis. I want the Lord's word now and wish to help spread it. I've learned to look at things the way the Lord would want us to with His word, instead of looking and wanting everything that mans lust for. Truly the thing I've learned most is that love will ultimately conquer hate, good will conquer evil, and that the Lord's will, will always overwhelms mans as they are incomparable. I am still no perfect soul, and of course a work in progress but I believe God sent His Son the Messiah, to die for our sins so that we may be saved. I realized that God wants us to come to His word and does not wish for any of us to perish. Maranatha, I'm praying and waiting constantly for the return of Jesus so that we can leave this place now, and i do not live for the thrills of the flesh, but for the love of god and His doings around us.

God Bless

[steph1962]

I can also remember when I was about 5 years old almost getting into a car with a man who said he was my dad's friend. The problem I had with that, even though I did not recognize him, was that I had already walked 9/10's of the way home. I lived in a rural area. But he insisted I get in the car with him when I said I was just going to finish walking, since it was just about 3 city blocks away from home. We were in an area where new housing was being built, ruffly 12 blocks of empty houses, with my home, a temp trailer house, being at the farthest end, away from town. All these houses were empty, at most they were only half built. They had no siding, no windows, no grass, not even roof tiles yet. I know this mostly because it was my play ground. Anyway, this man grabbed me by the arm and was trying to pull me into the car when all of a sudden I heard my name. He heard it too. Across the street, nearest him, was a woman doing laundry in the front yard of one of the houses. She said, " Sean, you better get home now, because your going to get to go to ST Marys", a place where I always got a toy and candy. When the man heard her, he let go of my arm ad drove off, with the passenger door still open. I just stood there looking at the woman because I didn't know her either, but more importantly...why did she have windows on her painted house that also had roofing, and GREEN grass. I finished walking home, continually looking back at this woman. When i got home I thought I was going to get into trouble for not getting ride home from my dad's supposed "friend". He was not there and nothing was ever said. Sure enough though, the woman was right. I got into our car and we drove off, the same way I had just walked. The house where me and that man who tried to "kidnap" me was like every other house...empty and unfinished, no green grass either, just dirt. I saw an angel that day, that I now know for sure. With that memory, Jesus through out the years has often reminded me of just how close he has always been in my life.

That's an awesome testimony, Mclaren.

[steph1962]

All of you have great testimonies. Thank you for sharing.

I was saved when I was about 8 years old.

I loved going to church with my mom and my brothers. I loved the smell of the old-fashioned chairs and the creaky wooden floors. There was a lot of trauma in my family life as a young child that eventually calmed down when my father got saved. I had a Sunday School teacher who was in her 70's. She walked with a cane and she loved the Lord. She would always tell the best Bible stories. Since this was a small church, children from all ages were grouped together and stayed with the same teacher for a number of years. I remember hearing the gospel and the invitation given and I knew that I wanted what was being offered - Jesus. So I knelt and asked Him into my heart. I have no doubt that the Lord has been with me ever since.

I wasn't baptized until a few years later when I understood what it meant. Then it all became so real to me.

Speaking of baptism...I love what my 10-year-old son said when he was baptized this past summer. He said, "Mom, I felt brand new when I came up out of that water." I still tear up when I remember how serious and sincere he was. That's what it's all about.

I'm thankful to my mom for taking me to church faithfully, and my Sunday School teacher for leading me to the Lord. They passed the faith to me and I caught it. Now I've passed the faith to my own children.

God IS good, all the time, He is good.

stephanie c.

[theroc]

for those who dont know my testimony is in the christian chat

[Rebecki]

I was saved in the pastors office of a Nazarene church I had been visiting. I had made an appointment to speak with him to find out more about what God thought of some things that I was going through. The pastor asked me after our conversation if I would like to give my life to Jesus and right then and there I broke down crying and said "Yes!" I cried for 3 days straight!

To this day I can't remember what I questions I had for the pastor, I just remember getting saved on February 7th, 1990. I've been so blessed!!!

[tardisdoctor]

To this day I can't remember what I questions I had for the pastor, I just remember getting saved on February 7th, 1990. I've been so blessed!!!

My 3rd birthday!!

[Patty13]

I was young..maybe under 10. I really can't remember. However, thinking back now I don't know if I really understood it. I went to church and was part of the youth group. As I reached my teenage years I started drifting away from church and finally stopped going. In my mid 20's I felt something was missing..it was this feeling that wouldn't go away. After I got married it got stronger..I kept telling my dh I wanted to start going to church. It wasn't until 9/11 thinking what was going on in this world. I went back to my old church, started reading the Bible and anything on the end of times. I asked Jesus to come into my heart and ever since then I've been totally focused on Him and learning more. I feel this excitement when I go to pick up the Bible or read any devotional or study guide. I started attending another church a few years ago and I just love going there, they teach right out of the Bible..I learn so much, it totally energizes me and gets me ready for the new week. It's sad to hear people talk about how boring church is..like church and boring go hand in hand.

[Sunny]

i'm one of those saved as a child ones. don't really remember anything different.

as an adult, of course i had to find my own relationship with Him, aand that took much of life and it's trials as He sought me.

[BrnAgn]

I answered other.

I honestly believed I was saved before I knew i was but God allowed me to experience an emotional, understanding, heart felt experience watching Jimmy Swaggert.

i was brought up RC, then faded away from the church. Got married in a Lutheran Church and felt a tug shortly thereafter to start going to Church. In the meanwhile I was reading Chick Tracts in the restroom at work, a co-worker had been witnessing to me at times and then i went to an Amway rally that had a church service on Sunday which i attended. They had an alter call and i responded but it did not hit me full force untill a short while after when watching Jimmmy Swaggert and responding to that alter call. It hit me big time then and i knew what happened then. i think i was 24 at that time.