The old man is dead. I am a new creation. Thank you Jesus!

Before I received Christ as my Saviour I had become a very selfish person. I lived my life for my own satisfaction regardless of who I hurt in the process.

My selfish lifestyle led to a failed marriage, my children's lives turned upside down due to a broken home, and many other people hurt, all because of my decisions. I did not know what love truly was. I did not know how to really love anyone; not my wife, not my children. I certainly didn't even love myself.

But God is faithful. After many years of self destructive living and on the brink of destroying a second marriage, I was at the point of desperation. I prayed to a God I barely even remembered from my youth. God is faithful, He heard my prayers. He led us to Harbor of Hope Church in St. Clairsville, Ohio, an Assemblies of God Pentecostal church. A church that was far different from what I remembered from my youth. The first time we attended a service there, someone spoke in tongues and I was ready to leave, ready to tap out, thinking this is not for me. But when I got home I opened my bible and it fell open at 1 Corinthians 12 where God led me to read about the unity of the body of Christ. I knew at that moment He was speaking to me and that He was directing me to this particular church. I went back and gave my life to Christ. I knew that God had the answers for my life and I wanted more of Him.

Since that time I have continued a new journey of living for Christ.

My wife had also committed her life to Christ and we have since discovered if we put Christ at the center of our marriage it absolutely cannot fail! While some changes occurred overnight, developing my relationship with Christ has been a process, a journey.

I will continue to Grow in my faith and draw closer and closer to my Lord and Saviour, my wife, and my children. One last thought; my testimony is an ongoing process of sanctification. Even though Christ has already taken every one of my sins on the cross and even though I know and believe He forgave me of everything the moment I realized I needed Him as my saviour and accepted Him into my heart, I also understand that His forgiveness does not mean I don't have to face the consequences of my sinful past. My children, although grown now, still suffer from growing up in broken homes. They were not raised in church and are in need of a relationship with Christ. That's a heavy burden for me. My wife is still reminded at times of my past behavior and we still have difficulties as Satan throws things back up at us. You see Satan will remind you of your past and he will try to tell you that your past is who you still are. He'll try to make you believe your not really forgiven at all. He tries to confuse you about your new identity in Christ. That's why it is so critical to be involved in a good bible believing, bible preaching church. That's why it's so important to read God's word every day and to pray to Him every day. That's why fellowship with good Christian brothers and sisters is so important. The apostle Paul says when I was saved I entered a race. The race is a marathon, not a sprint. The Bible assures me that if I run the race and endure to the end, I will be saved. Thank you Jesus!