The events of that day sparked a new interest inside of me for God's Word. Having grown up in the L.A. Church of Christ, I had always enjoyed learning about the Bible. But, for the first time in my life, I actually envisioned myself as a potential man of God.

I began to attend the Bible Club's meetings every week. After a while, I also began to read the Bible on my own during my school's sustained silent reading time. I began to see God working in my life. Although lying, lust and violence were still part of my lifestyle, I had faith that God would give me the power to keep those sins out of my life after I got baptized.

However, a couple of weeks into my attendance at the club meetings I began to realize that much of the group's doctrine was different from what I had been taught growing up. Although I knew in my heart that praying Jesus into your heart for salvation was a false teaching, I didn't have the Biblical knowledge to answer them. I could not shed much light on the subject because I was still spiritually blind. So, I just went along with it.

Sometime later, I was accepted into Palisades Charter High School. The leader of the Bible Club asked me to stay at Leuzinger High because I was one of his most committed members and he wanted to "take me under his wing," he said. I responded, "Man, I haven't even been baptized yet!" He responded back, "We're holding baptisms on the first of the month."

His comment sounded weird to me, but I went along with it anyway. I began to spread this seemingly good news to my parents and other members of our church. One Christian brother asked me if I really knew what I was getting into and if I really understood what my sins had done to Jesus. At that, I knew without a doubt that I needed to seriously study the Bible and learn about God more accurately. I was tired of false doctrines. Like the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts chapter eight, I didn't understand what I was reading in the Bible. I needed someone who was right with God to explain it to me. I needed a "Philip" in my life!

I contacted evangelist Will Ashley and asked him if we could get together and study the Bible. Two days later, he and Doyin Adewole (he's now a teen leader) came over and taught me about God through His Scriptures. We continued to study together for a few months.

That next summer, to God's glory, I surrendered to the lordship of Jesus Christ and was baptized in His name on July 24, 2005.

After God brought me into His light, I began to realize the best things about being a Christian -- the ability to have a relationship with Him and His people and freedom from the power of sin! God has helped me grow tremendously, and I have fallen in love with his Word. Since I am no longer blind, I can finally see great things in the Bible such as God's clear direction to love others deeply from my heart and to help others become disciples of Jesus Christ. The word has become living and active in my life as I share my faith and live out my true purpose to love and worship God.

I am definitely here to stay. Faithful to the end!

Justin is in the Metro Heights teen ministry in the Los Angeles International Church of Christ.

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