Ridge Point

After prayer and many conversations, I wanted to share my decision as it relates to an extended stay in Aguas Negras, Dominican Republic. After several trips to the Dominican Republic, I have always felt that extended stays were in the future, but was convinced it wasn't me (for lots of reasons).

A woman walked in to the Ridge Point office recently to share her story. Her husband lost his job in the present economy. He was able to collect unemployment benefits, but of course, it was hard to make ends meet. While they were wondering about making ends meet, the Lord laid it on their hearts to start tithing. They asked Him how they could possibly do it, but they started and stayed with it.

I spent all day in a meeting recently discussing ways to fix what's broken. When I came home, I had the following note in my inbox along with about 50 sandwich bags on the counter filled with Pb&J sandwiches, chips and bottles of water.....that one of my volunteers went and bought with his own money. WOW how cool is that!

The note:

Fix what’s broken…….. A worthy cause wouldn’t you say?

But what does it mean? I mean what does it mean to you specifically?

Someone came up to the Source desk a few weeks ago to order a special Bible that we did not have on the shelf. The volunteer connected with the person well, took their order and went home. The volunteer then ordered the Bible and got the Bible to the church the next weekend.

I’ve grown up in a Christian home with Christian parents and have gone to church all my life. Through that, I have learned a lot about God and his son Jesus, but I did not accept Jesus into my heart until I was 12 years old.

Now I truly understand what it means to follow Christ and to put Him first in my life. I am getting baptized because I want to publicly declare my faith in Christ and to serve Him and follow Him in all His ways.

My family didn’t really go to church until this past Christmas. We came for the first time and I loved it.

It was then I decided to follow Jesus. I want to be baptized because I want God to forgive me for everything that I have done and will do. I want to show God that I love Him as much as He loves me.

(This story was part of our recent Declaration of Faith in Jesus celebration and was read on her behalf as Maslin was baptized).

I am 34 years old and was baptized as a baby and went to church as a kid. I left the church for 18 years and came back because a co-worker invited me to come to Ridge Point at Christmas.

My family came and we never left. I have made many a mistakes in the past, and I will make some mistakes in the future. But because of the eternal gift Jesus offers us all, I know my sins are forgiven. I look forward to living a life pleasing to God, knowing that when I fall short, I can always lean on Jesus for strength, courage, and His never ending love.

I grew up in a Christian home learning about God. Growing up, my brothers and sisters have all been baptized.

Now I want to be baptized because I want to accept God into my life. I want to publicly declare to everyone that I have made the decision to follow Jesus.

(This story was part of our recent Declaration of Faith in Jesus celebration and was read on his behalf as Matt was baptized).
 

When I was three, my parents got divorced. A few years later, both my parents got remarried. When I was old enough to finally figure out what happened, I was starting to doubt that God loved me.

In the summer of 2006, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. That made me doubt the truth of God even more. But, there have been upsides along the way! I have met a lot of great people, and I have gotten a new half-brother. I decided that God is who I need to follow. I am getting baptized because I want to make Christ my BEST FRIEND forever and always!

I grew up in a Christian home. We moved a while ago and I felt like I was abandoned by God.

This winter, the youth group went to Spring Hill for a retreat. When I went to Spring Hill, I felt like I was whole again. God filled the hole in my heart. I am getting baptized because I accepted God and I want to make it public.

(This story was part of our recent Declaration of Faith in Jesus celebration and was read on his behalf as Logan was baptized).