By John Stenen I was raised in south Minneapolis, in a non-Christian home. Dad was an alcoholic and mean to me until I turned sixteen years old and moved out on my own. I had my own apartment, a full-time job and graduated from high school. Mom was one of the nicest mothers any child could ever want; she loved all of her eight children. When I was still a young boy of seven or eight years old, a Church talked Dad into having my two brothers and I attend Sunday School; the bus would pick us up and we would walk the two miles home. The Sunday School class was chaotic. I was taught to respect my elders but those other kids disrespected the teacher every Sunday. I started going in the front door after getting off the bus, and walking out the back door of the Church, and would wait for my brothers who were older than I. After several weeks they said to me, “How come you’re always the first out of Sunday School?” I told them I had quit going; they liked the idea and quit also. Dad was never notified that we had quit. The Gospel of Jesus Christ never had an impact on my life at that time, but at age twentyone while serving in the Philippines, the Gospel was given to me again. The absolute greatest decision I have ever made in my life, was made in August, 1972, when I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ - and He became Lord of my life. Jesus said in John 3:3, “Except a man be born-again, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.” To be born-again you need to realize what a sinner you are, and that you are separated from God. You need to repent from your sin, and receive Christ by faith into your heart, and purpose to live for Him all the days of your life. Then you should be baptized in water, which tells the world that you now identify with the death, burial, and resurrection life of Jesus Christ. I hope that when that day comes and we are gathered around the Throne of God (Rev. 5:), you will be there. God bless.
