Phillip’s Story

If you would have ever asked me if I was Christian in my life so far, I would have answered yes.  However, it was only till about half way through ninth grade that I found out what it meant to be a real Christian.

Before then, I did not have a problem doing something of the things that I have done, like looking at things on the internet.  I would not even try to stop myself or think twice about it.  I would not even feel bad about it after I have done some of those things.  Now, I have gone to church a couple times and song a few songs.  But did that really mean I was saved?  I didn’t even know I wasn’t confirmed, let alone what that even meant or entailed.  I did not know who God really was, and how much he loved me.

In ninth grade my world started to crash around me.  My mom had just lost her job for doing something wrong in hopes of helping my brother with his own problems.  Well she was luckily able to land a job, even if it was Walmart, anything was better than nothing.  It was also reaching the Christmas time of the year.  I have always known that my family did not have very much money, but somehow we always managed to get some pretty nice gifts.  I knew this Christmas was going to be different, again isn’t Christmas all about giving and receiving gifts?

Shortly before Christmas hit, though my mom started to go to church again, she eventually asked me if I would like to join her.  Somewhere inside of me I was screaming “YES!” and I could even feel the need to go.  I was a little hesitant at first but I said yes.  After attending a couple different churches we finally picked Good Shepherd.

My mom had to go through a “new members” class thing, and I attended the first meeting.  I found it to be somewhat boring and it was suggested that I try going to the senior high bible study.  So, the next week I walked in not knowing anyone and being a little shy but slowly started to get to know everyone there.  My mom’s classes would go on during the same time as bible study and we would attend service afterwards.  Well her classes ended but I did not want to stop going to the senior high group.  I felt comfortable there, at home when my real home was becoming less of one.  I told her that I would like to continue to go to bible study and she was glad to hear it even though that would mean she would do nothing waiting for me to get done or she would have to drive back home with the gas that we didn’t have the money to buy.  Slowly I found out what it meant to be a Christian thanks to my leader Brent and a good friend Danny.
My home life continued to deteriorate, but now I knew I was not alone and that He would help me through it.  I knew I could get through high school and get out and do something that only one other brother of mine could do.  But if I didn’t get to know Christ I probably would have continued to fall along with the home conditions, and I know that would have ended very badly for me.

 

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