Testimony Sample - Raised in Church
Before Salvation
I grew up with half and step siblings and in a broken home and I wasn't really cared about. My mother always dropped me off at my grandparents every weekend from toddler through high school where I went to Church with them. I lived and acted like kids did back in the 80's, but was sheltered. Even though I was really a pretty good kid compared to the ones I lived with, and my school classmates. I just lived in my sin nature and was guided by some morality because of my grandparents influence. When I got a bit older I attended the adult worship service, and sat between my grandparents. I would lean on them, snuggle with them, and stay busy with color in books they got me, (and try to sit through the sermon part of the service and not squirm too much or grandpa would put his thumb in my shoulder to get me to correct my behavior).
When I got Saved
When I was 12 years old, I started to wonder what the pastor was talking about. I began to try to listen to him, (it really was a lot for a preteen's attention span, even back then). However on one of the first Sunday's of trying to focus, I actually was able to listen well to the sermon. The church had a solid preacher. He talked about Sin, Judgment, Hell, Heaven and Jesus. I remember being in Grandma's 4 & 5 year olds Sunday class where I learned about the 10 commandments, so when I heard the sermon, I understood what Sin was, and of course saw it play out in my home life. Also, I knew personally that I had lied. And that my babysitter had talked me into stealing some 10c bazooka gum at a mini mart gas station in town once. I had tried to cheat on tests at school but was too short to see others papers, and I knew I had probably stolen something of my sisters at some point like kids do, and that meant I coveted too, because I wanted something that wasn't mine. I understood that I was a sinner.
The pastor talked with me afterwards, (and my mom came to have a meeting with the three of us). The meeting ended with him saying he thought I was too young. The following Sunday I went right back up there at the alter call. Imagine telling a child that they can't become a Christian, have their sins forgiven, have a relationship with Jesus, and go to Heaven. No one was going to tell me that I can't follow Jesus, be loved by him, and be with him in eternity. So they had to accept it was genuine.
Since I became a Christian
After I turned to Jesus and trusted in Him to be my Savior, I attended a children's new believers class, and through a small booklet with a few lessons, I learned what the Christian life in my daily walk looked like, and to have Jesus be the one controlling my life, not myself. I was baptized shortly after that. Everything I learned about how to live as a Christian came from Sunday School and the things I learned from sermons and the Bible since then. I tried to live a life that God would be happy with. Though young, I was able to serve others & bless others, by joining my grandparents and the group of people who would go to the old folks homes in town after Church (and we would sing and have a little worship time with them). I really enjoyed it and looked forward to it. I tried to be nice and kind to other people even when they werent nice to me. Of course I wasnt perfect, and I messed up sometimes. Sanctification is a process that continues throughout a believers lifetime. Years later after I grew up I remembered trying to talk to a kid on the bus on the way home from school about Jesus. It was a vague memory, so I asked my mom about my childhood in regards to whether I told people about Jesus and she said I talked about Jesus all the time. I was glad to hear that.
I was in church every Sunday as a youth. Even though I didnt have a Bible when I became a Christian, and no one told me that I should be reading it every day, I eventually did get one at my 8th grade graduation (as a gift from my grandparents). It was hard to read and understand it outside of Church classes, because back then most churches only used the old English KJV and it was very difficult for a child and even young adults. But when I was in the military around the age of 21 I read through it for the first time in my life, and I was glad. It only took 2 weeks! I liked how I knew many things in there (because of the faithful teachers who God used to teach me, even though I was usually the only student they had for years and years). I read the Bible regularly now, I am in church on Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday night services, as well as other opportunities. I love worshiping God, singing praises to Him, fellowshipping with my Christian family, and the many opportunities available there. I also eventually learned to explain the gospel well; it is a good and loving thing to share Jesus with others. I have been part of various street evangelism groups, online ministries, and outreach teams with my church over the years. I enjoy answering peoples questions and helping them learn about God, Christianity, and how to be saved.
And I keep growing in my knowledge of Scripture and living out the Christian life more maturely. Though I am not perfect, I try to stay sensitive to any sin in my life, and strive to fight and conquer it to victory over it. And that is a normal part of walking in sanctification and persevering until the end.
I love Jesus. I am so grateful that he loves me, he cares about and for me, that he always has and always will. I just want to keep finding opportunities where he can to do good things through me for his Glory. And, I want to become more and more like Jesus every day until he returns or calls me home.
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