Testimony of Conversion

I was born into a pastor’s home and was raised to know and study God’s Word. However, my desires were on the world, sports and other things, and so, living in a Christian home was a huge burden to me. I wanted nothing to do with Christ and the Jesus that my parents followed. I felt as though I was the unluckiest guy in the world, that if God really did create me, why he would choose to put me in a family that wouldn’t allow me to live for the things I wanted. My heart was truly hostile towards God. What was strange though was if someone asked me, I would state I was a Christian. I thought I was saved because I knew a lot about Scripture and prayed a prayer to receive Jesus into my life at the age of 5. I was just merely a lost religious person. But when I was 16, I was at a youth conference and for the first time I was confronted with lukewarmness and how a Christian should love Jesus above all else. Everything the preacher said about being a Christian that wasn’t me. He mentioned 1 Corinthians 16:22 which states that anyone who does not love the Lord is accursed. I knew that was me and immediately the Holy Spirit broke me of my sin, and I called out in repentance that evening and settled the matter of my soul with God. I specifically remember praying and asking that God would give me a hatred for the things of the world that I was so desperately seeking fulfillment in, and that He would give me a love for Christ and the things of God. I didn’t know much theology considering Biblical conversion at that point but I knew God had changed me and done a work.

Call to Ministry

When I graduated high school, my plan was to go into carpentry as that was a trade, I could succeed in. But the summer following graduation I worked at Sandy Cove Bible Camp and as the Lord was moving and saving campers, I felt a strong desire to see others saved and know the truth of the gospel. From that moment I have continually felt a strong desire to preach God’s Word and serve His kingdom. There is nothing else I want to do with my life. Instead of going to trade school that fall I attended New Brunswick Bible Institute with the desire to enter pastoral ministry. That desire and passion has never left, and I do feel the past 6 years with Christ Community Church and Miramichi Valley Church have heightened that desire and also prepared me for the work of ministry through mentorship and the work of the Holy Spirit in my life. Having the elders confirm this call has been a great sense of encouragement to press on in the work of the ministry, trusting God will get the glory and ultimately grow His church.