'Thanks, but ...'       

By Jawn Lam

God never gave up on me.

As a high school senior, I took a city bus to and from school and was accustomed to being left alone with my music during the trek. So, when a Bible-reading stranger invaded my space with his soul-probing questions, I was slightly annoyed.

"Do you consider yourself a Christian? Do you read your Bible everyday? Would you like to join me at a Bible discussion?"

"Yes ... No ... Heck no."

Over the next few weeks, he shared his life story with me, showed me Scriptures about being a disciple of Jesus Christ and asked provocative questions. Every ride, before I got off at my stop, he asked me if I would like to go to church with him on Sunday. I gave him the same answer every time: "Thanks, but my dad says Sundays are family days."

I attended a few community college classes during my senior year of high school, and on my way to class one day I was approached by a couple of guys passing out flyers and inviting people to a Sunday church service in a park. "Thanks, but my dad says Sunday are family days," I answered.

Only a few weeks into my first semester at Cal State University, Fullerton, it happened again. I was working out at the school's gym when one of the brothers in the campus ministry invited me to a Sunday worship service. "Thanks, but my dad says Sundays are family days."

Then, pumping gas one night at the nearby Arco station, a brother from the singles ministry of this church asked me if I would like to join him in a Bible study the next day at a coffee shop. "Why not?" I thought to myself. I found the study informative and enlightening. After it was over, he asked me if I would like to attend a Sunday church service. "Thanks, but my dad says Sundays are family days."

Then a friend and I visited Cal Poly Pomona, and the minute we got out of the car a couple of brothers from the campus ministry handed us invites to their Sunday service. We turned them down.

At the beginning of my second year at CSUF, I once again was invited to a Sunday service by a different brother. "Thanks, but my dad says Sundays are family days."

And then, one quiet Friday afternoon after classes, I took my usual walk over to my fortress of solitude (computer lab). The campus minister there stopped me in my tracks and fired off a few general questions. Considering his cheerful demeanor and inconsequential inquiries, I thought he was trying to sell me something. It turned out he just wanted to invite me to church.

"Thanks, but my dad says Sundays are family days," I said.

"OK, fine. Let's have a Bible study then," he answered.

"Sure. When?"

"Right now."

"Why not."

Right then, two other brothers rounded the corner. We sat down that afternoon and had a Bible study. We did two other personal studies the next Saturday morning. Then, amazingly enough, I got clearance from my father to go to church that Sunday. We studied the Bible every day after that, and I was baptized as a disciple of Jesus Christ one week after that impromptu Bible study on campus - six invitations and two and a half years after first hearing the truth on my bus ride to school!

I learned an important lesson through my journey to Christianity: We should not get discouraged when people turn down our invitations or reject our effort to show them the truth. We just need to keep doing God's will. He will work in His own time and way.

"Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation." - 2 Peter 3:15a

'Where are you, God?'

By Brenda Mabry

I grew up going to Catholic and Protestant churches and observed a lot of hypocrisy among people of faith - including my own family. I got into a lot of trouble as a teenager. I rebelled and wanted everyone to know that I used drugs and alcohol. I loved all the attention I got from my peers.

However, I always knew I wanted more out of life. I became pregnant at age 17 and this rocked my world. In a way, it saved me, because I wanted to be a "good person" for my child. I started to achieve, becoming president of my school's student body, being nominated for prom queen and graduating with highest honors. I also received scholarships and many colleges wanted me to go their school.

I felt good about all the accomplishments, but I still longed for truth and for God. I went to different churches, including the Jehovah's Witness, and allowed members to teach me about God. At this point, however, things were getting worse in my life. I was hitting rock bottom emotionally. I remember crying myself to sleep, asking, "Where are you, God? Is this it? Please help me find you."

At the age of 20, I was at a courthouse in Fullerton when a woman named Tequila Cortez approached me with an invitation to her church. I told her "thank you, maybe I will go." I thought of attending this church service, but I lost the invite and we had not exchanged phone numbers. However, Tequila had planted a seed, and God was making it grow.

Two years later, when I was 22, my sister became a disciple of Jesus Christ and I noticed a genuine change in her. She invited me to a Women's Day event hosted by the Orange County Church of Christ. I was reluctant to go, but I did. I was truly inspired that day. I knew I had found something great ... something real ... something that I never experienced before despite numerous church experiences: I felt God's presence.

I knew that this is what I was looking for, so I asked my sisters' friend how I could become part of this church. We studied the Bible together, applying the Scriptures to my life. And on Dec. 6, 1998, I submitted myself to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Then, at a church service, I saw Tequila Cortez - the Christian who had invited me to church in that courthouse two years earlier - and I realized that God had truly heard my cry for help. I am grateful for all the women who have taught me the Bible and how to follow Jesus Christ and who have been in my life throughout the years. They have helped me to become the woman of God that I am today.

'The power of one invitation' 

By Bob Harpole    

I was leaning over my large drafting table and working on an insanely difficult homework project when a little act of kindness changed my life for eternity. Christine, a good friend from the time I started architecture school, leaned over my desk.

"Wanna come to Soul Talk?" she asked.

I tilted my head and looked at her. I could tell by her voice that extending the invitation to her Bible study group was hard for her to do. After all, I was notorious in my class. If there was a party, I was there. If there was drinking to be done, I was the first in line. If something bad happened in the studio, all eyes went to me.

I knew Christine liked church. I knew she didn't do the things I did. But for her to invite me to church? That crossed many boundaries.

"Uh, OK," was all I said.

Looking back on it now, I think I agreed to go so I wouldn't hurt her feelings. I expected to go to this "Soul Talk"  and do what I had done many times before -- refute these Jesus freaks for what they were -- self-righteous, lily-livered cowards who would wilt with the least bit of resistance. I even got a couple of my buddies to go with me. We were going to go meet "Christine's Jesus friends."

The first night I declared to a group of about 40 people at the Soul Talk that it was my belief that Jesus was an enlightened extraterrestrial who came to earth to show us a better way. Much to my surprise, the group leader didn't wilt! He actually challenged me right back! I could not wait to get out of there.

The next week, my two buddies were nowhere to be found when it came time to go. I decided to go again but this time I was ready. I would not let that leader win again! So, when the topic of sex before marriage came up, I blurted out to a group of about 50 people that in my well-considered opinion, sex was an act of love. I proclaimed that we could love someone whether we are married to that person or not.

"There!" I thought. "Let's see what he does with that!"

Well, he challenged me again.

"Well, why don't you marry her if you love her that much?" he asked me.  

"Well, why should I?" I asked incredulously.

"Well, why don't you?" he shot right back.

"Well, why should I?" I asked again.

"Bob, why don't you marry this woman?"

"Because I don't love her that much," I responded.

"Then, according to God, you don't love her enough to have a sexual relationship with her," he said.

Immediately after the Bible study, Sheridan, the study leader, approached me.

"Wow, this Bible sure makes you think," I said.

"Why don't we get together and look at it together?" he asked.

We did several personal Bible studies together and less than three months later I was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

My life really changed when I became a Christian. It changed my view of God, of eternity and of relationships. It gave me a mission in life and provided answers to questions that I had always had like, "Why am I here?" and, "What am I supposed to do on this earth?"

To this day, I am still amazed at the power of one invitation.

By Carla Hastings

Thinking back about how I became a Christian brings up a mixture of feelings. My conversion wasn't a two-week or even a one-month endeavor. It took years for my heart to soften to the point where I could truly let my guard down, be honest about who I was and become a true disciple of Jesus Christ.

It started in 1999. I was a single mother, and my son and I were attending a Baptist church in Newport Beach. I became friends with a man at that church named Bruce Graham. We shared an enthusiasm to make a difference in the world by spiritually helping people one person at a time.

Bruce went looking for a home to buy in Irvine and ended up buying a house across the street from Bruce Williams, an evangelist in this church. After Bruce Williams invited Bruce G. to a service, they studied the Bible together; in time, Bruce Graham was baptized into Christ and became a member of this church.

My friend repeatedly invited me to his new church, telling me that it offered exactly what he and I had been looking for -- the opportunity to make a difference in people's lives by living a true life for Christ. I learned that it was part of an international fellowship of churches with over 100,000 members and even a congregation in my mom's country of origin, El Salvador.

I told my friend a few times that I would go to church with him, but always flaked out. I was in the habit of telling people what I thought they wanted to hear. I was a deceitful, unreliable person -- who happen to be leading a ministry for teen girls at the Baptist church and teaching at a Baptist school.

In August 1999, Bruce G. invited me to a birthday party aboard his yacht. The boat was filled with Christians from his new church. Smart ... I wouldn't go to his church, so he brought his church to me! I met so many people that were full of joy, warmth, love and laughter. People took turns publicly encouraging my friend, saying all kinds of nice things about his heart, life, and character. I was amazed to see people give of themselves emotionally to build up someone other than themselves.

A woman from the church asked me if I had ever studied the Bible. Of course, I answered. But later that week we got together and she helped me to apply God's Word to my heart. She asked me to analyze how my life and the Scriptures matched up -- and to my surprise, it was not even close! I realized that I didn't even know the Bible that well.

I immediately reverted to the person that told people what I thought would be easiest for them to hear. The women asked me what I thought about how different my life was when compared to the way God wanted me to live, as outlined in the Bible. I answered that I could make a few changes ... I could stop swearing and drinking more than I should, and I could repent of my anger. Unfortunately, I was not honest about all of the sin in my life.

I did want to live differently and to allow Jesus to be Lord of my entire life so I got baptized on Sept. 19, 1999 and became a member of the church. However, I continued to live as a fake Christian for another two years -- until all that I was covering up came out into the open. I should have heeded Jesus' words in Luke 12:2-3:

There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

On Feb. 8, 2001, a member of the church named D.J. discovered my deceit by stringing together all of my stories and asking me about the inconsistencies. (I love discipleship). That happened at a midweek devotional, and later that evening Bruce Williams preached out of the book of Romans. After his lesson, I thought, \Do I run and hide, or do I face the music and stop being a Pharisee? I made my decision and chose to come forward with all of my lies and fears.

The next 32 days were challenging as I faced the ugliest parts of myself -- parts that I had sworn to never to let go of and to never share with anyone. However, God had different plans.

Even though it was the hardest thing I have ever done, God gave me the courage and the strength to get real and open with my brothers and sisters in Christ! To this day, I don't regret any part of my full conversion to true Christianity. I have become more of a godly woman than I ever thought possible. I live a free life -- free from the bondage of sin (including deceitfullness), free from the grip of Satan and free from the control of the world. I love the life that God has blessed me with and who I have become. And, that Christian brother who called me out of my sin in 2001 married me in 2006!

I think back sometimes and wonder what my life would have been like if I had chosen to run and hide on that day in February instead of opening my heart. I praise God that He worked through others to give me the courage to face the darkest places of my life so that I could be forgiven and made whole.

'A beautiful journey' 

By Autumn Lowe  

It all started in the summer before my freshman year at California State University, Fullerton. I was 18 years old and involved in a summer program designed to help me get familiar with CSUF before the start of my college days. As I sat on the lunch benches studying for a class, a beautiful Filipino young woman named Liesl Marin (her last name has changed now because she is married) approached me and invited me to have a Bible study. I agreed, and saw God move through his Scriptures.

I began to get terrified about the depth of the Word and how my life did not match up the way I had thought it did. Instead of dealing with it, however, I decided to go into hiding and stopped studying the Bible all together. A woman named Melody Zandpour followed the Spirit\'s prompting and went searching for me. She randomly showed up at the motel where I was staying while I searched for an apartment. She asked me to pray with her, and I did.

That was a life-changing experience, because for the first time I saw how a person really cared about my spiritual walk with God. I continued studying the Bible and attending church events for another month. I had a couple of reservations on the subject of the Holy Spirit, such as who had the Holy Spirit, at what point people receive Him, what His gifts were and why many of us don\'t have those gifts. Eventually everything became clear to me and I was baptized on Tuesday, August 30, 2001, in an apartment complex in Fullerton.

Since then, it has been a beautiful journey that I continue to travel and enjoy. My life changed from the time I came out of the water because of the eternal hope I felt in my heart. For the first time in my life, I felt complete. Through feeling complete with God, I have been able to go through tough life situations that I know I would not have been able to overcome if not for him. He has given me a beautiful spiritual family to guide, instruct and support me and to fight with me to reach the world for Christ. I know I have a treasure in God and this is why I share it with people -- because true life with him is incredible. I appreciate that in the most difficult times in my life I can possess peace, joy and true happiness.

By Cynthia Conger

For as long as I can remember, I always felt God's presence. I didn't actually know Him, but I did know about Him because my parents raised me in the Catholic faith.

In my early twenties, I indulged in a life of partying, going to clubs, abusing alcohol and experimenting with drugs. Although I did not have a relationship with God, I believe he kept me safe through those times.

I eventually grew tired of my empty life and decided that the small town I lived in did not offer me what I was looking for. I didn't actually know what I was looking for, but I knew it wasn't there. There had to be more to life, so I moved to San Diego with friends.

However, my friendships were shallow. I soon made new friends and started dating men, looking to fill my emptiness. I often thought I was in love, but I was na?ve. I grew tired of the games people play in relationships and lost hope that I would ever find a steady boyfriend. I finally told God that I would be fine with remaining single for the rest of my life if that was His plan for me. Having this attitude brought me peace. Two months after saying that prayer, I met Travis -- the man who would later become my husband!

Little did I know that meeting Travis would change my life forever -- not because of what he had to offer me, but because God would work through him to bring us both to Himself.

Travis and I began a sexual relationship and moved in together. We knew it was wrong, but it did not bother us because people in our lives thought it was normal. I had heard that it is sinful to live in a sexual relationship with someone who is not your spouse. But to actually apply that standard to my life? Now that would be strange.

Travis eventually proposed to me, but we could not afford a wedding. We became great friends and roommates with a man named Shane. About a month after we moved into Shane's home, Shane was baptized as a Christian. He had met some members of the San Diego Church of Christ, who showed him in the Bible how God wanted him to live.

Shane's new life intrigued Travis, and we soon had friends in Shane's church. Travis began studying the Bible with some of them, but I had no desire to learn more about God. I was, after all, a Catholic. I thought I was right with God and would go to heaven. As time went on Travis\' convictions grew and he wanted me to come to church with him. I was not interested, but I started attending each week anyways because he wanted me to.

Slowly, my heart began to soften and I started to study the Bible with some of the women from the church -- my newfound friends. I learned that God wanted my relationship with Travis to be pure, even though we weren't yet ready to make a complete commitment to follow Jesus for the rest of our lives.

The Scriptures began to sink into our hearts and minds, so we stopped having sex. We decided to get married even though we did not have the money for a nice wedding. In order to avoid the temptation to have sex and to show God that we were serious about being right with Him, Travis and I stopped living together. We got married in June 2001, and two weeks later Travis was baptized as a disciple of Jesus Christ. Two weeks after that, I made my own decision to follow Jesus and Travis baptized me as a true Christian. I love the fact that my husband was the one who baptized me. It is such a beautiful time that I love reflecting on.

Over the years, I have come to realize that life with God is exactly what I had been looking for all along -- I just didn't know it until He found me. God has given me an incredible, spiritual husband and an amazing, beautiful daughter -- Isabella. They both love God with all their hearts. Travis and I now lead a small group here in the Los Angeles Church and we are always trying to learn how we can serve God and love others more deeply -- the way He loves us so deeply.