Coming Full Circle

How can so many things be so right and so wrong, all at the same time?  I only knew I was out of control, losing it.  Nineteen years old, married over a year, and my marriage and life were in a shambles.  Unstoppable tears fell despite my iron will as emotions overwhelmed the resolve to bear up.  Driving home from work that sunny spring evening, I knew I could no longer move forward while afflicted with the brokenness of my past. I had never paid much attention to the big church on the corner where I turned, but this day desperation drove me to stop and walk through the cavernous entry.  It didn’t matter … nothing mattered except that it felt like I was dying and needed hope to live. The Pastor kindly welcomed me, sharing the hope of salvation.  I had attended church as a child and been baptized at 12 but didn’t understand what it meant to make Jesus Lord of my life.  He explained it and suddenly I knew!  I was free, it was real!  It didn’t matter that there were no stars exploding or church bells ringing!  My salvation was real and Jesus gave me life and a purpose for life! Knowing I would need mentoring Pastor made arrangements for us to meet with another young couple from church.  We had a delightful connection for a few weeks, yet never attended church.   Shortly thereafter we moved out of town.  In a long and round- about way we ended up in a nearby town and were actively involved in church, and grew in our relationship with the Lord.  But it was on a particular spring evening, in a large church on a busy street corner, that my true life began. Nearly 40 years later, life came full circle.  I was hired as Director of Children’s Ministries at that same church on that same busy street corner in Salem.  What a delightful reunion when I saw the precious couple who had aspired to mentor us those many years ago!  Jerry and Doris VanDeKoppel’s hair has a bit more gray than it did in the spring of 1972, and Pastor Whitwell has gone home to be with the Jesus he introduced me to.  The call of Jesus to make disciples, and the mission and vision of Salem First Baptist has gone unchanged.  God put us here for a reason … as a beacon in a dark world.  Thank you, SFBC, for being a beacon now, and so many years ago, to damaged and dark souls. Sherri Sperling, Children's Ministries Director   Those who read lead.  That thought was burned into my brain years ago by an effective leader.  It is true the great leaders are learners.  Therefore, go check out the library.  Our team of librarians work weekly to have a quality resource tool so that you can grow.  Check it out this weekend.

Redeeming the Time for the Days are Evil ……… a testimony by Babs Gaziano

 

The year 2013 brought three major events in to my life:  I celebrated my 80^th birthday in May, my husband of 56 years died in June, and my dear daughter-in-law, Mysti, accepted Christ as her Savior in September.

 

Anyone living as long as I have has seen this country turn from worshiping God to worshiping materialism and self love.  So, it is not surprising that we are in “the days are evil” (Eph 5:16b). What are we as believers to do about this?  Keep on serving the Lord, serving His people with encouragement and hope and truthfully speaking up for the Lord every chance we have.

 

For several years I brought Mysti to women’s special events at Salem First Baptist, and she began to feel comfortable with those she met.  This September I was able to get her to sign up for a Bible class, only to learn it was already filled and unavailable. Suddenly I began to feel a great burden for her soul – as nice as she is, I suspicioned she was not a Christ follower since she grew up in a cult.  It was time for Mysti to get in a study and to choose salvation.  Many prayed. We joined the Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets them Free book study class.  In her cult days, Mysti learned lies about God and now she needed to hear the truth.  We began studying together.  The first lesson was on the devil, the father of lies.  One reference we looked at referred to the “Gospel.”  I asked her if she knew what the Gospel was.  Her answer revealed she did not.  “Would you like to know what it really is so that you can have your sins forgiven and spend eternity with Jesus?” I asked.

 

First, I confirmed that she believed Jesus Christ is God in human flesh who died on the cross taking our punishment for all of our past, present and future sins.  I continued to detail the whole Gospel story ending with His resurrection from death to eternal life in which God showed He accepted Christ’s sacrifice of dying in her place for her sins–“Would you like to accept Him as your Savior and become a saved Christian?”  A quiet, serious women held my hands as we prayed the sinner’s prayer.  What rejoicing in my heart, in the angels’ hearts and with everyone who prayed for her!!  Now, she is my sister in the Lord.

 

I want to use every opportunity to speak for God’s truth–I hope you do too!  Redeem your time because the days are becoming dangerously evil.