I had been in Edmonton for 1 week and something remarkable happened. There was a knock at the door. I opened the door and saw religious members from a church organization. They were from the Edmonton Baptist Temple Church. I spent every Sunday attending morning classes between the years of 1975-1981. The Church Ministry won many awards for youth attendance. At Sunday school I remembered many bible verses and bible characters. The goal I reached on Sundays won awards, recorded stickers and candy which expressed a simple blessing. The Pastor and his wife both brought the children to the Church and back again to each of their residing home. This driven transportation was a colourful school bus painted pink for girls and blue for boys.
In 1978 I came and sat in on an evening sermon with my family. The preacher was praying about salvation and asked everyone to close their eyes and raise their hands. This was to ask Jesus into our hearts. I felt it was the right thing to do so I raised my hand. Shortly the preacher said lower your hands and reopen both eyes. Once doing so he also asked us to come up to the altar and ask for forgiveness. I knew about faith and stories of the bible. I desired much more of this relationship so I walked up to him. The Church itself was all red carpet. There were singers above the deck and pews that sat a bunch of people. After I met with the preacher he opened up his bible and showed me the road to salvation. I began to ask Jesus (God) to save me from my sins. I believed I was a sinner that needed forgiveness and wanted him into my heart forever.
* I understand Jesus died and raised himself from the grave. He returned to stand with his disciples in flesh and blood. Afterwards he resurrected into heaven.
* At that second the preacher looked at me. He said Darcy you are truly saved and will be going to heaven.
From the moment my head was bowed and after I had said everything it was like all my sins were pushed out dying there at the altar. Jesus has died and his blood paid for all the sins and my salvation. The preacher looked at me once more saying "do you want to be baptized tonight". Of course I said yes. We left from the altar and put on gowns where he baptized me. He put his hand on my forehead to place me under the water. When I came up above the water its like I was in the cave with Jesus upon the cross of Calvary. Being risen out of the cave, finding the door open again with Jesus Christ living in me.
* Jesus pours out his blood as like the symbolism of me asking for forgiveness. After his last drop of blood fell my dedication to him gave a new reason of being saved in Christ.
* Jesus was placed in a sealed cave but rose out of it to become flesh and blood again. Just like I was under the water and placed inside the cave. Soon after coming up from the water I was risen with a new life.
Acts 22:15 “for you will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard.” We are called to be witnesses for Christ, sharing what we have personally experienced Jesus working in our lives as a testimony to others.
"Amen" 🙏