Sharing your faith is
an important part of your Christian walk and you have to be prepared at all
times to share it. I asked one of the youth leaders Nathan to share his
testimony with me today and as he was sharing I was blow away by his story!!!!
So I asked Nathan if I could share it with you guys!! Here’s Nathan Story.
“You would think a person who has been to church all their
lives has everything planned and set. However, going to church and doing the
walk and talking the talk isn’t what gets you into heaven. My name is Nathan
and I have been to church for pretty much all my life. I’ve gone to missions
trips and done the whole church thing. I basically went to church because I
felt like I need to make my parents happy. Instead of telling my whole life, I
feel like I should tell you about two events that impacted my life to become a
“true” Christian if u will. What I mean
by that is to not just go to church and put on an act for people, but to
actually learn and put into action or live out the Word of God. At times, it
can be challenge to live by the Bible, however, just cause you’re a Christian
doesn’t mean everything is going to be perfect and your going to have to
problems. Being a Christian to me IS
that challenge to strive to be like
Christ and it can be hard at times and I want to give up but God is there to
pick me up and help me to keep pushing through the hard and good times.
My first story I would like to share
with you is how I rededicated my life to Christ to stop acting but to live His
Word out. We went to a youth conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was during
worship time and the speaker handed out a card that on one side it said “I would
like to except Christ for the first time” and the other side said “I have
excepted Christ and have fallen away and I would like to rededicate my life to
Christ.” We had a silent time and I bowed on my knees and felt convicted by the
spirit to just stop playing God and putting on an act for the people around me.
I just prayed and gave my whole heart to Christ that night.
The next story I would like to share
is how I got to come to Chicago and have the opportunity to serve Christ. It
started off when I met with the pastor of my church and he told me a story that
will stick in my mind for the rest of my life. When my pastor was in college,
he took a preaching class and at the end of his sermon. He went to leave class
at the end and his professor came up to him and said one word to him. He goes “you know what your problem is Jim,
the pastor, your selfish and then the professor walked away. The word
selfishness is so powerful, it true we all focus on our self and our wants that
we forget when we are sharing and serving Christ that its not about us. Its
about the people who we are sharing him too. I know I think about myself and
how I don’t wont to mess up and sound stupid when I’m talking and trying to
share Christ. But I realize now that when I’m not thinking about myself and I
put my selfishness aside. Its not about me. Its about letting the holy spirit
and God working through you to share him with others. ” – Nathan Gleason
The stories
that Nathan had about how he came to give his whole heart to Christ and how he
ended up coming to Chicago are very encouraging stories. We all need to be
encouraged at times. We also always need to be ready to share our faith. You
never know whos life you are going to
change by simply telling someone your story about how you came to know Jesus.
Always be ready!!!!!
With Love
Tiffany! J
