Baptism

Baptism November 14, 2021

David Cotherman

Hi everyone. My name is David Cotherman. Born in Baltimore, MD, and raised in Bedford, PA. I have been a drug addict and alcoholic for most of my life. Battling with depression and anxiety, it hasn’t been an easy ride for me. But without the grace of God, I doubt I would have made it this far. So with all of you as my witnesses, I repent for all my sins I have done. I ask you, O Lord, to have mercy on me. Show me the way back into the light and to righteousness. Allow me to forgive all who have wronged me, and also allow me to forgive myself for wronging others. As it says in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This means to me that God loves us so much that he wanted us to all be forgiven of our sins, so he gave up his own son to provide us a definite way to become born again through his son, Jesus Christ. I truly believe that.

God has been working miracles in my life, from ridding me of the addition of drugs and alcohol, to giving me courage and strength to do things I would never have thought possible, such as standing in front of a crowd of people and telling part of my story. I am able to do that today because I know that even when I’m by myself, I am never alone. I have God with me to get me through anything in life, but also to be there as a friend for me to talk to and will always be there to listen. I also want to thank you, Lord, for bringing me to this point in my life because if you hadn’t, I wouldn’t have met the amazing friends I have today.

Todd Fronina

Hi, my name is Todd Fronina. I was born and raised in Reading Pa. I am 49 years old. I am the youngest of 7 children. Since about the age 16, I suffered from alcoholism and drug addiction on and off my whole life.

During one of my sober times, I had accepted Jesus into my life. During the time when I stayed in contact with Jesus, life was good and peaceful. He provided me with all I needed. I have 2 children, Brett and Anthony. I feel I did a great job doing so. As they got older and more independent, I let work and money become my higher power, working long days into nights which pushed time for Jesus out of my life.

In 2014 I had an injury and the doctor prescribed Percocet and having an addictive personality and not having Jesus in my life because of my own doing, I got addicted to the pills and when the doctor cut me off suddenly, I started to get really sick. So, I turned to the streets to buy Percocet. My habit quickly got worse, and I couldn't afford the pills, so I turned to heroin which was cheaper until my habit got to the point where I started losing everything I worked so hard for. Then I started wondering how God could let me go through this and started thinking why he wasn't there for me.

But the on August 20th of this year, something told me to go to rehab. So, on the way to rehab I decided I wanted one more before I got clean. As I neared the rehab, I did my last drug and luckily, I was at the rehab because I OD'd and staff was able to save me and take me to hospital. Once I started to feel better and my mind was clearing, I realized Christ never left me, I left him, like the story footprints in the sand. And I started thanking Him for being there the whole time. A short time later still getting better, I was transferred to the Gatehouse here in Lititz. I met a gentleman name Don, who was doing a Bible study and he introduced me to LEFC. I realized after a couple weeks I want my relationship with Jesus Christ to be stronger than ever. Cause I now know without him I am nothing and might not be here. And I praise him daily for that. Thank You.

Baptism October 10, 2021

Charles Fatjo

When I was very young, a friend from school asked me if I would go to church. The pastor gave a sermon about God’s love and how Jesus had died for our sins. At the end of the service he asked if anyone wanted to come up front and ask God into our hearts. On that day I accepted God into my life. I was so excited and felt so loved that when I got home I talked to my mom about how God loved me, and how excited I was to be a Christian. At that time my family had an estranged relationship with the Lord. Through time and healing we all started attending church and serving weekly while I was in high school. Shortly after high school I joined the Navy. During this time I was told constantly by various people that there was no God. I suffered through some of the hardest challenges I have faced in my life to this point. This time caused me to feel estranged from the Lord although I never stopped believing. I felt alone and like I did not have close friends who enjoyed the Lord’s presence. When I separated from the Navy, the Lord put an amazing woman in my life. I was finally able to be surrounded by my loved ones again. I had been seeing the way the Lord was working in my life and healing wounds left from years of feeling so alone, but my fiancé and I still did not have a church to call home. We both felt like we needed friends that we could walk through our spiritual journey with. While we were looking for an officiant for our wedding we attended a wedding performed by Tyler Morris. We loved Tyler’s service and asked if he would be willing to do our wedding as well. In this conversation Tyler offered for us to come to his life group that met on Thursdays. We were both really excited and have been attending life group and church on Sundays at LEFC. Through our renewed relationship with the Lord we have found new growth and understanding with each other. God has finally given us the community of followers that we have wanted for so long. Even though I accepted God into my heart when I was young I still have not been baptized. In Acts 2:38 Peter says “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” For this reason I am being baptized today. I want to thank God for all of the blessings and community that he has given me. I want to honor him and live my life in a way that shows that I am his servant.

Nicholas Mark