I was raised in Christian home of first-generation Christians who were determined to raise their children differently than the way they were raised. On Wednesday night, August 8, 2007, when I was six years old, I remember sitting under the preaching of what I am sure was an amazing sermon. I remember that night I knelt with my mom and prayed a prayer. I am sure she was thorough and clear, but I have no memory of what happened that night. From that point on, I would place my faith and trust in something I was told I believed, and for the next seventeen years, I would hold on to that as the day I got saved.

I would eventually come to Bible college at Hyles-Anderson College and graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. I remember hoping on the day I graduated college that this would finally fill a hole in my heart, but I will never forget how empty and lonely I felt that day. Due to the many miracles of God, I decided to stay for my Masters of Applied Education and intern for FBMI. Every Wednesday during the summer before I started my internship, I would volunteer in Mrs. Linda Shinder’s office. I started to notice that the staff of the FBC of Hammond had Someone I didn’t have. I remember being near these people, and the Holy Spirit would be present, but when they would leave, so would He.

When the fall semester started, I began working at McDonald’s again with college students from HAC. I started to notice that they, too, had the Holy Spirit, but when they would leave, so would He. I remember it was like living in a completely dark room, and after a while of living in darkness, you get used to it. You get used to the voices that scream in your ears that you had what everyone had.

Finally, on March 4, 2024, everything came to a climax, and I realized that if I were to die, I would go to Hell and burn for all of eternity. I called a friend of mine, and she told me we would talk about it later. However, I was desperate and scared to death. I couldn’t wait, so I texted Grant Baker (he worked with me and was a college student) and told him I wasn’t saved and needed to get it settled. He asked if he could call me, and I was allowed 10 minutes off the floor at work. I called Grant, and on March 4, 2024, at 10:19 p.m. at Table 105 in the Crown Point McDonald’s, I trusted in Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ alone, to take me to Heaven when I died.

Shortly after I accepted Jesus as my personal Saviour, I was baptized by Bro. Eddie Lapina on Sunday night, March 10, 2024, and I remember He had me give my testimony. He then asked me a very specific question: “Do you surrender to live your life for Jesus?” I answered, “Yes!” It was at that moment that I surrendered to do whatever God wanted me to do.