My name is Elizabeth and this is my story:

"My husband and I have been members at Henderson Hills for fifteen years. One Sunday, God spoke so clearly to my heart, that I now find myself sitting before you today.

When I was six-years-old, I told my parents I was ready to become a Christian. I was the youngest in my family and everyone else had already made this decision. I knew it would make my whole family happy if I, too, was a Christian.

So, one Sunday afternoon, my mom led me in praying for forgiveness of my sins. Even during the prayer, I remember thinking, “This is going to make everyone so happy!” Following that day, I was baptized.

For a few years following those events, I wrestled with God. I knew I had said the prayer, but I also knew my motives weren’t right. There came a point when I was about 9-years-old that I became very aware of my sinfulness. I was so heavily burdened by it that it consumed my thoughts. I knew the consequence of sin was separation from God and it broke my heart.

I so clearly remember a day when I was at my babysitter’s house and I could no longer take the weight of my sin. I ran to the bathroom and locked myself in. It was there that I cried out to God, begging Him to take my life and make it His. I gave every piece of myself to Him that day. It wasn’t about making anyone else happy. It was about chasing after my Savior because I was so broken over my sins.

Over the years, I’ve often wondered if I needed to be baptized again. As I wrestled with this, I kept telling myself that God knew my heart. He knew I was young and that it didn’t really matter the order in which the salvation and baptism happened. I told myself that it was all good. Truthfully, there was some pride involved as well.

John preached about baptism and why we do it. The Bible is very clear that baptism comes after salvation. While I do believe that God knows my heart, I also believe that it matters to Him that my heart always be chasing hard after Him. I’m was baptized because I want to be obedient to God’s command."