My Life Without Christ

I was born in a Christian family. My dad was working in a big company, but in the late 70's, he surrendered to the
ministry and became a full time pastor of a Baptist church. My mother was a teacher, but on November 1983, she
passed away to be with the Lord. I have one sister, and 3 brothers, and I am the third child from the eldest. My
brothers and sister had many physical strengths and were talented, but I felt I had lots of weaknesses. So I felt
inferior and developed an attitude of being shy and introvert. Yet, despite my weaknesses, I was ambitious. Deep
within me I had the hope that someday I would be different and would become a successful person. My weaknesses
led me to seek comfort in God's word, and so I became a Bible reader. I was religious and active in attending
Sunday School, Worship services, Training Union, and choir, and having a dad who is a pastor, I easily learned how
to share some Bible doctrines, especially about idolatry, to my classmates and friends. Yes, I was religious, but
being religious did not bring me peace and happiness. I remember, in 1974 during a revival crusade in the church, I
came forward to accept the Lord, but I think it was a matter of emotional experience and was lacking in conviction
and understanding of God's salvation. I had many unfulfilled desires, and I became dissatisfied and frustrated. I got
bored and tired of my way of life, so when I came to college, I strived hard to change my ways to overcome my
weaknesses. I got better grades and was excelling only in the beginning, but my heart was still filled with
discontentment and frustrations. Due to a lack of direction, I began practicing sins that later enslaved me. My life
was without meaning and purpose, and I hated myself for what I was. I wished I were somebody else. There were
even times that I wished I could end my life.
 
How I Came To Know Christ Personally

I remember, it was October 1979 when I got hold of a booklet about how to have a personal relationship with God. While reading, I saw myself in the illustration as the natural man whose life is filled with discord and frustrations. I realized that i had been trying to live a religious life, but had not really given my life to the Lord and trusted in Him as Lord and Saviour. I realized that the blood of Jesus is sufficient to cleanse me and save me from all my sins. I also realized that if I fully surrender my life to the Lord, he will change my life and give me love, joy, and peace. Then there were nights that I couldn't sleep, and tears kept flowing from my eyes. There were struggles in my heart until I cried to the Lord, "Lord Jesus, take control of my life!I trust in you as my Lord and Savior....". Since then, I found peace and joy in my heart. Then, one Sunday Afternoon, the phone rang and I was the one who answered it. One of the staff of a certain Christian campus ministry was looking for my sister so she can request her to draw a poster for their activity. Because my sister was not around, I was requested to draw for them and they discovered that I have a talent that is useful for the Lord. I felt their concern and desire that I would be developed and become useful. Since then, I availed myself of their leadership and discipleship training and became actively involved in evangelism and discipleship.
 
My life Since I received Christ

Lots of changes happened in my life since I accepted the Lord Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Once I was a very shy
person, but God made me courageous and bold to share the Gospel to others. Before, my life had no purpose and
direction, but God gave me a new purpose for living and made me useful in His Kingdom. I realized that God
allowed me to have many weaknesses, in order that I would rely upon Him and trust Him to develop my weaknesses
into spiritual strengths for the use of His glory. Throughout my college days since I accepted the Lord, I had been
active in evangelism and discipleship. When I became a Missionary Baptist, I found out that the best place to serve
God is in His Scriptural church. I learned also that evangelism and discipleship should be done in the context of a
Scriptural church's ministry. The Lord increased my talents and abilities and gave me many opportunities to serve
Him in the right church. For many times, I got involved in the leadership of Missionary Baptist Youth Fellowships
and Missionary Baptist campus ministries. Now the Lord is still using me in the great task of winning people,
baptizing believers, and establishing indigenous churches. Indeed, the statement is true, "God uses ordinary people
to accomplish great and extra ordinary tasks".
 
-----Edwin Jardinel