Baptism at Sunday in the Park - Group 4
Bryce Thomas
Hi, my name is Bryce Thomas. I am eleven years old. I grew up in a great Christian home. My parents talk to me about God and it really gets to my heart. When I was in third grade we learned about the book of Esther. It is now my favorite book. I was amazed how you could see God, even though he was not mentioned. It made me realize that God can show his power even when his name is not said. It made me have faith in him even though I can't see him. I then accepted Jesus in my heart because I know my sins are forgiven, through Jesus dying on the cross and he has a place for me in heaven. I am now getting baptized to show that I know that he created the world and He is the only one who can save me and be by my side forever. My favorite verse in the Bible is at the end of Esther 4:14. It says "And who knows but that you have come to your Royal position for such a time as this." This means to me that even in harsh situations when God seems far, he is there beside you and is moving when we can not even see him and uses ordinary people to show his power. God helps me when I am sad and down. I can open up my bible and be shown lots of amazing things about how great he is and how safe we are in his hands.
Angie Moore
I was blessed with being raised in a wonderful household with two loving parents. I was raised with Christian values and attended church services at a nearby Methodist church. I accepted Christ as my Savior while I was still a child. My grandparents and mother knelt beside me at the altar while I asked God for forgiveness and for Christ to be in my heart. I meant that prayer from the bottom of my heart and I felt renewed after that special moment. Through my teens and early twenties, I floated between the values and teaching of the Bible and the evils and temptations that the world offered. As I aged and had children, I continued to struggle between doing with God's will would have been for me and what MY will was. Most of the time, I selfishly chose my own will.
By walking my own path, I began to struggle with alcohol addiction, failed marriages, and lost friendships. When my son was diagnosed with autism, I was filled with anger and instead of running to God I decided that I knew better and could handle life myself. My anger and self-pity drove me further into alcoholism until I finally reached a point where I just needed to believe there was a better way. My first step out of addiction was attending Alcoholics Anonymous. Within those meetings, I was re-introduced to our God. Our Father. I sought him in my helplessness, and He picked me up off my knees and made me whole. He drew me close to Him and healed me from my alcohol addiction. Thanks be to God; I no longer have a desire to drink. I only desire to serve Him, to seek Him and allow HIS Will to be my compass. Since I have been restored through the grace of God, my life has been brighter, been lighter and I feel His presence daily. The Bible says:
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift from God --Ephesians 2:8
That is not to say He has taken trials away from me. My son almost died two years ago. It was a terrible moment, but as I sat in the IICU waiting room, speaking to the clergy, not knowing if my son would live or die- I felt His presence, His Love and His Peace come over me. I knew He was in control and my son is alive today. He has delivered me, and I am so grateful everyday for His Love and grace as I strive to live each day according to teachings of Christ.
Jesus said to his disciples in John 6:35-38:
"I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away; for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me."