"As someone who has been a Christian since I was a child, it's sometimes hard for me to explain to other's how Jesus has changed my life. I haven't been saved from addictions to alcohol or drugs or sexual impurity. I wasn't a criminal who found Jesus in my darkest places. I'm just a 'good' kid who was raised in church and realized early what God could do for my life. I do see God changing me though, however subtle the signs. My temper is nothing like the raging moments I used to have; my desire to be in charge, in "the know", and in control has lessened over the years as I realize that God always and other people sometimes know better than me. Then there's God's latest adjustment in my life. It is definitely something I don't mind and actually look forward to each time He works a little more in me. This new change is how I love people. Even as a "seasoned" Christian, I've realized over the last few years just how selfish I am, just how judgemental I am. God is blessing me by helping me learn to love others as He loves them - unconditionally. It's not alway easy, but I find it's always worth it. My husband and I get a long better, my coworkers and I work better together, and my friend and family relationships grow stronger every day. I'm very excited about our church's theme for the year 'Koinonia: Developing Godly Relationships' because I'm looking forward to seeing what God will do when everyone at our church learns to let God love through them a little bit more this year."
- Maria Dacus, age 30
"When I first started coming to this church with my mom, I was unhappy. I didn't like my house, my room - I just didn't like anything. At the age of 12, I got saved. Then I started thinking about how much I have that I never realized I had. I started thanking God for what I have because some people do not have what I have. I've noticed that I've been getting better at life. When I get stuck on things, I leave it be until I go to church and when I come back to it, I get it right. So God has done a lot of things in my life. He's done so much that most of the things don't come to my mind...So when you get saved, it's a great feeling. It's like waves crashing on rocks - it takes off an old layer and shows the new one. I am one of those rocks. I am a new person."
- Jonathan Goff, age 15