Second Friend Day - Elmer Towns

Introduction
A FRESH START IN LIFE
A Personal Testimony*
When I was twelve, I really wanted to do whatever you were supposed to do "to get right
with God." I didn't love God, but I had a deep respect for Him.
At that time my family was going to a church where the main emphasis seemed to be that
you had to be baptized for remission of sins. I thought that if I was baptized, everything would
be okay - that would make me a Christian and that's what "good people" were.
The important thing seemed to be baptized, but I was afraid to get up in front of all those
people and I didn't want to get wet and ugly. We were told that Jesus had died for our sins, but I
really didn't think I was a sinner because I'd always tried to be a good person.
I knew the procedure from watching from the pew on Sunday 'Mornings. The minister
would ask for people to come forward. I don't remember how he did it, or what he said, but I
knew once you were up there, he'd ask you if you believed Jesus was the Son of God. You
would say yes and get baptized. It all went very quickly. The congregation waited while you put
on a robe; then you were brought into the baptistry and submerged before them. So I went
forward, said yes and was baptized.
I also found out afterwards that in being baptized I had become a member of the church,
but I really didn't care about that at the time. I was just relieved to have the whole experience
over. Now I felt like an official "Christian."
I did have a pretty white Bible with my name on it that I enjoyed carrying around at
church. I still didn't read my Bible and couldn't understand it. My major experience with Bibles
had been memorizing verses for gold stars when I was younger.
We didn't spend any more time at church than we had to. We'd go for a morning service
on Sunday, then leave as quickly as we could get through all the handshaking and smiling. The
people looked friendly, but I didn't like being there. The outside church door meant freedom.
Years passed and I was in college. I studied hard and was still a good Christian person, in
my own mind. However, by this time I wasn't so sure about God, and "Jesus" had become a
name in history. Just in case, I kept praying and ended the prayer by saying "in Jesus' name." I
never understood why; it was just a formula.
*This testimony shows the change that comes from an encounter with Christ.