Baptism Sept. 11, 2022 Clayton Hartman
Clayton Hartman
Hi, my name is Clayton Hartman, and I'm 20 years old. Growing up, I did go to church but I didn't have a desire to know God or grow in my relationship with Him. And when I began high school, I eventually stopped going to church. Even though I knew who Jesus was, I didn't allow Him to have a place in my heart. During this time, I tried to find fulfillment in worldly things like sports, but deep down, I still felt like something was missing. However, God kept on pursuing me.
For the last 10 years my grandma has taken me and my sister to Sight and Sound Theaters where they make shows on Bible stories. I loved how they would show them on stage, and was amazed by how God used ordinary people like me to do extraordinary things for His glory. And even though God used the shows to pursue me and affect my heart, I would eventually go back to the world and try to find fulfillment there. It wasn't until November 2021 when I was talking to my really good friend who had a deep relationship with the Lord that I decided to try church again.
Over time, I started to understand the magnitude of who God was, and learned things about Him that I never knew. God never needed me, but He still wanted me, and I was in awe of how much love Jesus had for me to where He was willing to sacrifice Himself so that I could be saved and have eternal life. Even when I wasn't faithful to Him, He was still faithful to me. When I eventually gave my life to Christ, I quickly realized He was the thing that was missing in my life. I am now truly fulfilled, and it makes me want everyone else to have the same joy He offers.