I CAME FROM a typical military family and I
spent a good portion of my life moving around the world. During
my early years of schooling, I attended religious services of
the local Protestant Church. I was the only member of the family
who attended church services on a regular basis because, in our
family, we were never forced to attend church services. But for
me, there had been something missing.
In 1974, I joined the United States Army and I
continued to be active in attending worship services. But still,
I felt there had been something missing as far as my spiritual
growth was concerned.
In 1982, I became a Catholic but this did not
fill the void like I hoped it would. Although I studied hard and
even became a lay minister, I still had many questions that were
unanswered. Each time I asked, I was told that I must have faith
and just believe that it was that way.
While I was stationed at Fort Ricardson,
Alaska in 1988, a member of the Church of Christ named Sister Ludy invited me to a Bible study. I accepted because there is
nothing to lose by going. The minister who preached was Brother
Mariano Nucup. I listened and I started to see things
significantly different. I felt very moved by the way each
question was answered through the Bible, the answer as supported
by the Bible. I was not asked to just accept what was
said. I was encouraged to ask questions. I was told to feel free
to bring up anything that I had doubts about. This was something
that was so new to me—to be allowed to ask anything that I was
unsure of.
The teaching that had the biggest impact on me
was on the true nature of our Lord Jesus, being a man, and on
the falsity of the Trinity doctrine. I asked questions and I
listened to the answers. I was getting answers that I had never
gotten before. The more I listened, the more I saw that the
Church of Christ was telling me the truth that I never heard
before. I found out that this is the true Church. As I
questioned the doctrines of the Church, Brother Mar showed me
through the Bible that all that the Church did was in accordance
with God's law. I found out that indeed that the Church did not
do anything that was against the will of God. The Church is here
to show everyone the way to attain salvation and to have peace
with with our Lord Jesus Christ and His Father. It was then that
I realized that this was the Church that I had been looking for.
I was baptized in the Church on July 16, 1988
and indeed, I had been reborn. When I emerged from the water I
new I was a new man and that God was now watching over me and He
would always protect me as long as I continue to serve Him. The
Church showed me how to enhance my spiritual life by serving
God.
I then became a teacher of the Children
worship service. I saw the youth in our locale grow and become
the active members of the Church that they are today. I'd like
to feel that I had something to do with that.
God has blessed my life since I became a
member of the Church. I am married to a wonderful woman,
Desiree, a minister's daughter. I have a wonderful family
including my in-laws.
During the gulf war, I felt God was with me. I
never felt alone. In 1997, I was sent to Bosnia for eleven
month. I strongly felt that God was with me, protecting not only
me but also my wife who is alone in Germany.
I am now a deacon in the Locale of Anchorage,
Alaska while my wife is a finance officer. There isn't a day
that goes by that we do not thank our Lord Jesus and the Father
for all that they continue to give. I have found peace in this
world which is full of confusion and hate. I have the love of a
wonderful woman, a great family of in-laws, and above all, I
have our Lord Jesus Christ and our Lord God in my life.