Growing up in New Jersey , religion was not a really big thing in the life of my family. We believed in God and even to some degree in Jesus Christ, but there was no real commitment to living for Him. My dad died when I was five years old leaving my 29-year-old mother to care for five children ages 2 to 9. Because of the difficulties we faced and a lack of money we pretty much bounced around from place to place trying to make ends meet. As a teenager, my life revolved around partying and trying to have a good time. Things were so messed up at home that I turned to the friends that I hung out with to find my security and acceptance. Finally, I decided I needed to get away from it all so I joined the Navy at 18 and ended up in Jacksonville , Florida . Things did not go much better for me there because the problem was not the people in my life, the problem was in me. I knew I needed a change, but I wasn't sure what to do.

During my time in the Navy, a man from Trinity Baptist College named Richard Deas would come onto the Navy Base and talk to guys about coming to church and having a home cooked meal. He even mentioned that there were some girls there. Because of these enticements, I went to church with him. While there, I heard the pastor give a message from the Bible and it seemed like he was talking directly to me. He talked about Jesus giving His life for us, and taking the punishment that we deserved because of the wrong things we had done. I left church that night and felt very guilty inside. I didn’t want to be a Christian because I knew that meant changing my life and I wasn't sure I would be able to do that. Finally, I gave up fighting against the Lord and turned my life to Jesus and asked Him to come into my life and take away the guilt. As soon as I trusted Him I lost the desire for the life I had been living and God filled my life with a hunger to know more about Him and His plan for my life.

I noticed an immediate change in my attitude about things. I still struggled with some of the same old sins, but I had a deep desire to change. God enabled me to be a different person. People around me could not believe the difference. Since receiving Christ as my Savior, I now want to live to please Him and help others come to know the freedom that I have in Christ.

If you have never trusted in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, please follow the link below where you will find a clear explanation of how you can find peace with God and forgiveness from sin.