Fortunately, during this spiritual war, my parents felt a responsibility to enroll me in vacation Bible school for the summer. Bethany Bible Church was the place, and every morning around 8:00 a.m. my mother would drop my brother and I off at the church steps for a day of Bible stories, crafts and fun outdoor games. It was during this special time that I made several friends. Some of my friends were my teachers who took great care to make certain I learned about Jesus. Although I spent considerable time committing misdemeanor crimes such as finger painting my friends instead of my canvas or taking long tours of the church campus while the others were working on crafts, I did manage to learn about God and how he sent His Son Jesus to die for my sins. God�s love touched me and it made me aware, for the first time, that this vague, unfamiliar Person wanted to have a relationship with me. This revelation ignited a burning desire inside to know more about God and His Son Jesus. Suffice it to say that I began attending Bethany whenever I could.
During the winter of 1981, I had the opportunity to attend my church�s high school winter camp in Northern Arizona. Although I was only in Jr. High, I managed to sneak into the Sr. High School group. I much preferred to attend this group because they were more serious about God and their relationship with Jesus made them different from many of the people I knew outside of church. These students were happier and positive about life. After spending several weeks with these teenage Christians, I decided that I wanted what they had.
At camp I found what I had always been looking for. Friends who were real and loving. They were like a family and they accepted me for who I was. My soul began to awaken and I felt more alive than ever before. One evening during one of the �talks", the speaker began to talk about Jesus Christ and how He wanted to have a personal relationship with me, just like I had with my new friends. He explained that Jesus died for me and all Christ asked in return was that I simply accept His death on the cross for my sins. Deep inside I felt a churning which was very powerful. It amazed me to realize how much God loves me. I thought about how Jesus had such a wonderful effect on the lives of my new friends. When the speaker asked us to bow our heads to pray, I prayed the prayer with him. I asked God to forgive me my sins and to make me a new person.
I would like to be able to say that I returned from camp a completely different person, but that just didn�t happen. I still had the same struggles. I was still tempted in the same ways. But one thing was very different, I had a peace that I never knew before. Soon I began taking some of my friends to church and they prayed to receive Christ as their Savior. Although I couldn�t feel it or see it right away, God had begun a transformation in me that I never dreamed possible. He has taken me places I never imagined. He has changed me in ways that I could never change myself. Jesus Christ died for me, and I am forever His.
Darron Kahn