I went to church from the time I was born until I was about five years old. After that, I only remember going to church for special occasions. I went to Bible class on Wednesdays when I was in elementary, and I also went to Vacation Bible School one summer at a Lutheran Church. Weddings, funerals, Christmas programs, etc., is why I went the rest of the time.

My mom always told me that Jesus "lived in your heart," so when I heard that you needed to "ask Jesus into your heart," I figured He was already there, so no need to ask, right?

I got into high school and had a hard time fitting in. I did try the party scene a couple times, but I always felt like it wasn't right to do. I got into Biology and knew that evolution was a stupid theory. My parents always raised me to believe in God and Jesus Christ, so I knew that God created the universe just by looking around me.

When I was a junior in high school, I met a really nice teacher who was a Christian, though I didn't know it when I met her. She was always really nice to me, so I started helping her with a few projects (yearbook and our school newspaper). She was able to share Jesus Christ with me during after school times when I would help her, so I started attending her church. It was there that I asked Jesus into my heart for the first time.

Since that day, I asked Christ into my heart about 6 times, all the time lacking repentance. I went on my merry way sinning believing that since I had Jesus in my heart, I was saved. I would look at pornography on the Internet, lie, dishonor my parents, gossip about and slander other people, use God's name in vain, etc. I was a horrible person but justified myself because other people in my church did the same things. Besides, God was all-loving and He wouldn't send me to Hell because I was a good person. I was breaking the second commandment by creating a God to suit my own image. I believed that everyone else was worse than me, so God would never punish me. The God I created was corrupt and unjust, but it was NOT the God of the Bible.

I was a professing Christian who was not saved because I continued to live in my sin without repenting.

I then got involved with a ministry called Way of the Master and it was a HUGE eye opening experience. I saw myself in the light of God's holy law. I had lied, stolen, blasphemed the name of my Father, committed adultery, etc. I had broken EVERY SINGLE COMMANDMENT. I knew that if I were to die right then and face God on Judgment Day that I would go to Hell because God was holy and just. I broke His Law, and He had every right to punish me.

But God did something amazing for me. He made Himself into a Man, Jesus Christ, and died on the cross for my sins. It made sense to me: I broke the Law, Jesus paid my fine. And that if I REPENTED (turned away from lying, stealing, etc.) and trusted in Jesus to save me, I would have everlasting life. How amazing is that?!

Since then, I have completely changed in my ways. We refuse to play most video games (when before we were playing them all), we hardly watch TV (is there anything that is decent on anymore?), we have a much better marriage BECAUSE we both are walking with Christ. I desire holy things, though I do fail from time to time. But it's a lot different now. When I sin, I hate it! I don't dive into it and stay there without regretting what I did like I used to do. I absolutely hate it, and I get frustrated with myself.

I was a false convert. I was not saved for six years of my so-called "Christian" walk. It's a scary thought to know that had I died in those six years I would've gone to Hell. No questions asked.

I thank God for the Way of the Master ministries and the people he has put into my (and our) lives to help us.

Recently, we have been extremely blessed to get to know Pastor Brian Culver. He has been a wonderful influence to us. He is so willing to answer our questions, too! He thinks biblically and does not conform to the rest of the so-called "Christian world" by changing Scripture to accommodate everyone. He is also involved in Way of the Master, and we are going to be meeting him next month at the Transformed Conference!

So, Brian, thanks for everything you are doing for us! We praise God for you daily!