My Story...

by Nikki
(Arkanasas)

(Note: I've never had to tell this to anyone before)

I grew up in church, and always thought of myself as "the good kid". But that wasn't always the truth. I lied... I cheated... I was called the bully instead of the Bullied. When I was in 5th grade, I got really sick, and a lot of people from the church prayed for me. Once I was well, I started to realize how important that the action of prayer was, and became more interested in church and church camps.

In the 6th grade, I went to a Baptist church camp and there at that camp, they had and invitational almost every night at worship. A bunch of kids went up and got saved. I saw all the praise they got for joining the "family". On the last night of camp, they had another invitational, and I, wanting to be like everyone else, went up and got "saved". I just didn't want to be left out. I didn't know the difference between what the other kids had done and what I'd done.

A few years later (in the 8th grade) I went to a camp, and there everyone was so into the WORD of GOD, and everyone seemed happier than me. I asked my counselor for help, and she showed me the verses and helped me understand being in the "family". Later that week, I was baptized. I felt so good after that that I really got into the word. That time in the summer before 9th grade is when I say that I got truly saved and truly joined the "family".