Ben, baptized spring, 2008
"Although I have believed in Christ for a long time, each day I am still learning more about what it means to believe, to trust, to obey, to love and to hope. My journey began the first time I was baptized. My parents baptized me as an infant, making a promise to raise me according to the Scriptures and under the Lordship of Christ, and they indeed played a significant role in my faith development. I still remember one night as a young boy, getting out of bed late at night and sitting on my father's lap asking him questions about how I could ever know I was saved. My faith grew through participation in Young Life during high school where I finally began to understand God's grace as a freely given gift through Jesus Christ, rather than something I could earn through my own performance. When I understood God's grace for the first time I was flooded with relief and tears of gratitude, and could for the first time confess that Jesus truly was and is my Savior and my only true hope.

Since that time my life has often mirrored the pattern of the Israelites in the Old Testament. God called them, provided for them and met their every need. Although they were typically grateful for a brief time, they would eventually forget, turn away and fall into sin. Despite their rebellion, our gracious God would rescue them, and the whole process would start again. Like the Israelites of the Old Testament, I forget, get distracted by the things of this world, and fall into a trap of trying to perform. And like them, I desperately need Christ because I can't rescue myself. I needed Christ when I was born, I needed him upon my first belief in him, and I still need him just as much today as I stand before you publicly professing my faith through baptism. Thankfully he has always called me back and has surrounded me with brothers and sisters who continue to walk with me through both the seeking and the sinning.  

For better or worse, I have sometimes found clarity to be elusive. Many of those close to me know that I've turned round and round again on whether I should be baptized a second time. I might still be turning, but his grace God has given me clarity on two important truths and of these I am certain. First, I need Christ more than I need clarity, and I strongly desire to be identified with him because he is my only true hope and comfort in life and death. Second, Sojourn is my church home. I am precisely where God has led me and somehow, despite my imperfection and sinfulness, I desire to seek him and follow him along with all of you, my brothers and sisters in Christ. You have taken me in as your brother in Christ and I don't need to perform any longer because God's grace has filled our lives. We are free! Thanks be to God."

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