Sharing my Testimony
Cynthia Hazel, M.A.
I was raised in a Christian household. Mother took me and my siblings to church every Sunday with my grandparents. Where my grandmother, the town's piano teacher played for church services, mother taught Sunday School and grandfather served as the church treasurer. My dad didn't always make the services, as he drove a bus for a living, and his schedules didn't always jive with church services. I didn't know it at the time, but later found out that he was an unbeliever.
I became a Christian when I was 7 years old because of my grandmother’s loving influence. Just looking in her eyes told me I was important and deeply loved. And that is something I did not get from my daddy. She taught us kids Bible verses and told us that Jesus loved us and would always listen when we prayed.
When it was my turn to be baptized, she came over to our house and watched as Mother helped me get ready for church. “I’m so excited,” I told them both, as I put on my new yellow dress, in preparation for Sunday evening church. Grandmother commented as I returned to the living room.
“Pretty is as pretty does.” I didn’t understand what she meant; I was too focused on what lie ahead. After carefully climbing the steps into the baptismal area that night, my heart raced as I stood, waist deep in the water with Pastor Reynolds. I made the decision to keep my eyes open during the entire experience. And even though my eyes hurt after he lowered my body into the water, I did not flinch because I wanted to show Jesus how excited I was to accept Him as my Savior.
Growing up, my grandparents' kitchen was a gathering place with smells of homemade bread and desserts while Bible games extended our mealtimes. Along with attending school, vacation bible school, and church services filled my days. At 13 years of age, I rededicated my life to Jesus Christ and was involved with church and school activities. Unfortunately, my parents divorced in my late teens as their differences became too impossible to reconcile.
At 21 years of age, and a single-parent, I attended a Campus Crusade for Christ Conference with one of my closest friends, where we had a super time. As a result, I remember to this day how it felt to become a spirit-filled Christian. As a young adult, I better understood that not only did Jesus Christ die on the cross for my sins, but he conquered death, hell and the grave.
Unfortunately, I lost sight of my faith and wandered away for a while, but now that I have returned I feel closer than ever. I enjoy reading the Bible and spending time in prayer every day as I learn more about the men and women who sacrificed for their faith and why. Let me close by saying that Christianity is worth it because, as the song says, "I know the master of the wind," (Matthew 8: 23-27), and his name is Jesus Christ.
Feel free to reach out to me with your questions, I am glad to share as making the decision to become a Christian is the most important one you will ever make.
I became a Christian when I was 7 years old because of my grandmother’s loving influence. Just looking in her eyes told me I was important and deeply loved. And that is something I did not get from my daddy. She taught us kids Bible verses and told us that Jesus loved us and would always listen when we prayed.
When it was my turn to be baptized, she came over to our house and watched as Mother helped me get ready for church. “I’m so excited,” I told them both, as I put on my new yellow dress, in preparation for Sunday evening church. Grandmother commented as I returned to the living room.
“Pretty is as pretty does.” I didn’t understand what she meant; I was too focused on what lie ahead. After carefully climbing the steps into the baptismal area that night, my heart raced as I stood, waist deep in the water with Pastor Reynolds. I made the decision to keep my eyes open during the entire experience. And even though my eyes hurt after he lowered my body into the water, I did not flinch because I wanted to show Jesus how excited I was to accept Him as my Savior.
Growing up, my grandparents' kitchen was a gathering place with smells of homemade bread and desserts while Bible games extended our mealtimes. Along with attending school, vacation bible school, and church services filled my days. At 13 years of age, I rededicated my life to Jesus Christ and was involved with church and school activities. Unfortunately, my parents divorced in my late teens as their differences became too impossible to reconcile.
At 21 years of age, and a single-parent, I attended a Campus Crusade for Christ Conference with one of my closest friends, where we had a super time. As a result, I remember to this day how it felt to become a spirit-filled Christian. As a young adult, I better understood that not only did Jesus Christ die on the cross for my sins, but he conquered death, hell and the grave.
Unfortunately, I lost sight of my faith and wandered away for a while, but now that I have returned I feel closer than ever. I enjoy reading the Bible and spending time in prayer every day as I learn more about the men and women who sacrificed for their faith and why. Let me close by saying that Christianity is worth it because, as the song says, "I know the master of the wind," (Matthew 8: 23-27), and his name is Jesus Christ.
Feel free to reach out to me with your questions, I am glad to share as making the decision to become a Christian is the most important one you will ever make.
