Linda's Story

It's far too easy to devolve into thinking that following Jesus = showing up each week for a church service. Or to think that God isn't doing much more than what we see or can do on our own.

Our stories can change all that. Hearing about what God is doing in someone else's life reminds us that He is at work and that we are changing and growing.

Linda will be getting baptized on Saturday night to express here commitment to Jesus. Here's her story:

I walked alone on this earth for 27 years before God brought me from my UR (usual routine) to Kentucky. I didn’t immediately find God. At first my move to KY was rough because of some “harassment” issues at work. I retreated into solitude & became even more of a workaholic. But God didn’t give up on me. God pursued me and kept reaching out to me. Throwing me branches that I didn’t finally grasp on until I found Crossroads. I got connected through a Woman In Touch (WIT) program called the “Refresh & Connect” facilitated by Nancy Reifschnedier. This opportunity let me get connected to others in the church without the “intimidation factor”. The women of WIT (like Nancy, Martha, Mary Lu, etc) were inviting and encouraging without pressuring.

Nancy invited me to attend service with her and her husband Doug so I wouldn’t have to sit alone. At that time, I was very intimated to walk into church alone. It wasn’t much longer after that that I celebrated a huge victory. I was running late and arrived at church after the service started. In the past, my fear & insecurity would have gotten the best of me and I would have walked away. But because of what God was doing in my life I walked in and sat down in the back row. I continued to grow in my faith and learn more about God and what it means to be a Christian through the wonderful sermons at Crossroads and additional opportunities like Woman In Touch Bible Studies. Like the Patriarchs bible study, which initially I was hestitant to participate in because I didn’t “know” the bible but with encouragement from Martha decided I would give it a try. It was through those sources that I learned who God is and started to become aware of His presence in my life.

I first accepted Christ during a Reverb service on April 2, 2006. Since that time I have continued to grow and learn more about God and what it means to follow Jesus. I’m so excited about being baptized because to me it’s a way to make a commitment to God that despite the fear, insecurity, or doubt (which I now realize I will continue to face), I will no longer give in or give up. I will choose today and forever more to no longer depend on myself but to depend on God alone and those in His community that would help me continue with my spiritual development until the day He brings me home.