My grandmother being a dedicated Catholic was desirous for me to attend a Catholic private school at the age of six. The curriculum consisted of regular classes along with the study of both the Old and New Testament. By these means I became acquainted with the Old and New Testament characters, especially with the life and living of Christ. One afternoon as I was returning to my classroom I heard the gospel being shared by one of the nuns. She was so exercised in her sharing from the gospel of John 3:16 that I felt the Lord’s presence constraining me. The seed of faith was sown into my heart. After completing my first year of private school I had learned some prayers and how to confess my sins and shortcomings to the priest. I was then ready to participate in my first communion with my pocket New Testament and rosary. From that day onward I was inspired to attend mass on Sundays. I was grateful to my grandmother for allowing me this opportunity in my life to be introduced to the Lord in such a way. A couple of years later I had the experience of receiving the Lord into my heart.

At the age of eighteen I was given a New Testament Bible by a group of Christians who were holding a summer Bible camp just blocks from my house. I remembered their shining faces and their interest in reaching out to the people passing by. As one of the girls fellowshipped with me about her experience of giving herself to the Lord I realized how far my interests were from hers. She shared how her daily life was filled with reading the word, having Bible studies and retreats, and sharing the gospel with the unsaved. I also had the opportunity of sharing with her my interests, which were music, movies, fashion, social functions with my friends and family, and most of all, dancing. I expressed to her that I didn’t think I could ever have a life like hers. Before I made my way home, she handed me a medium-sized Bible and wrote on the inner lining of the Bible that it was given to me as a gift. I took it home with me and started reading the Bible for the first time in my life. Something in the deepest part of my being responded with hunger and thirst for God’s Word. I couldn’t express what was happening to me. There were times at night when I would place it beside me while I slept. Even during the afternoons after class I spent time reading page after page. I then tried memorizing some scripture out loud and was experiencing praying with the word like in Eph. 6:18, taking the word by means of all prayer and petition. I experienced a joy and rejoicing in my heart, as Jeremiah 15:16a says: “Your words were found and I ate them, and Your word became to me the gladness and joy of my heart.

Two years later I transferred to UT Austin to continue my studies. Within seven months I met some Christians who were visiting the dorms and bringing the gospel to the students. As they invited my roommate and I to the Saturday night gathering that evening they were so full of enthusiasm and eagerness for us to come and see. I felt the Lord’s constraining power. My roommate and I went that evening and met so many young people. We sang many songs about the Lord being our first love, turning our heart back to Him, and so on. There were many that stood up to share their personal experiences of the Lord; it was very touching and refreshing. Later that evening my roommate and I prayed with one of them to consecrate ourselves afresh to the Lord. One matter that was lacking in my experience was a proper baptism. After hearing the true meaning of baptism I was clear in my heart to do so before the Lord. That very evening I made a public declaration and was immersed. I was just beside myself with overwhelming joy. “My choice is made forevermore, I want no other Savior, I ask no purer happiness than His sweet love and favor; my heart is fixed on Jesus Christ, no more the world shall blind me; I’ve crossed the Red Sea of His death, and left the world behind me.”

During the five months of visiting with the church in Austin, deep within there was a witness that this is where the Lord wanted me to be for the rest of my life. The word had been opened to me like never before. The Lord hath yet more light and truth to break forth from His word. I now was getting to know the Lord not just simply as the Lamb of God, Redeemer and Savior, but as the Author of my faith, and its Perfector too. Christ is my Counselor, my Father, God, my Brother, Friend and Love. Christ is my Prophet, Priest, and King; my Prophet full of sight, my Priest that stands between God and me. At the end of the summer I shared with all the believers there that I wanted to consecrate myself for the Lord’s purpose.

Here is a stanza from a hymn that describes the ministry of the word in the gatherings of the church. “Thy Word is like a storehouse, Lord, with full provision there, and everyone who seeks may come, its glorious wealth to share. The word is like a deep, deep mine, and jewels rich and rare are hidden in its mighty depths for every searcher there. Thy Word is like a starry host: a thousand rays of light are seen to guide the traveler, and make his pathway bright, Thy Word is like an armory; where soldiers may repair, and find, for life’s long battle day, all needful weapons there (Hymns 804).” Lord may others come in contact with this ministry to find enlightenment, nourishment and strength.

E.G.

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