From the time I can remember, my family was involved in church. I had perfect attendance in Sunday School, sang in the choir, attended youth group, and was confirmed. By the time I was a young adult, I thought of myself as a Christian, although I don’t remember sharing that with others. Until I met a woman at work whose husband was planning to join the staff of an evangelical youth organization, and we had conversations about church-related topics.
Debbie invited me to lunch at her
apartment, and I accepted, thinking that several of our co-workers were also
invited. However, when we left work to walk to her apartment, it was just the
two of us. We had a pleasant lunch, and
when we were finished, she handed me a small pamphlet and asked me to read
through it with her. I don’t remember all of it, but it was about Christianity. At the end of the pamphlet, there was a
statement, part of which said, “I accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and
Savior.” Debbie asked me to repeat
it. Even all these years later, I’m not
sure why, but I chose not to repeat the phrase at that time. She asked me to let her know if I ever did say
it.
That experience had a great impact on
me. It made me question my own
Christianity and feel that I needed to repeat the “magic words” in order to be
a Christian. Debbie had had a “lightning
bolt” experience where she suddenly accepted Jesus Christ and believed in Him,
and it made me wonder whether I could be a Christian if I hadn’t had that kind
of experience.
I’m not sure how long I felt like
that, but I eventually realized that everyone is on their own spiritual
journey, and the experiences along the way shape us. Along the way, I’ve met
and worked with people who are strong Christians, but they demonstrate it
through their actions without expecting others to say the “magic words.” There
is no one way to become a Christian and no timeline that we must follow.
Robin
Hadfield
This summer, we invited members of our Eastridge community to explore ABCs of Faith: Simple Stories for Complex Times. In this series, we will be exploring stories from the Bible that tell us about God and God’s people. But our faith is also carried through our own stories.
When someone asks, “What’s your story?” they’re asking about the moments that shaped you: the people, experiences, challenges, and turning points that made you who you are. Scripture is full of such stories—and so are we.
Throughout the series, we’ll offer prompts connected to the themes we’re exploring. You’re invited to share a brief reflection on any prompt that resonates with you—especially a moment that changed your mind, your heart, or your life. Selected stories may be shared (with your permission) in our newsletter, devotionals, or even during worship.
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