Hello my name is Jennifer Wedel and this is my story:

"I grew up moving a lot and never attended church.  My home life was dark and chaotic.  The only exposure to Jesus I had, was when I visited family during summer breaks, and also when I would attend church with my grandmother.  During one of these summer visits I became saved.  At 9 years old, I realized I was a sinner, that Jesus came and died on the cross for my sin, and that He was the only one that could save me.  And I trusted in Jesus for my salvation.  Even though I had no bible verses or hymns, I clung to the little hope and knowledge I did have in Christ during the darkest years of my life.

I didn’t understand the importance of God’s Word, going to church, or serving as an active member of the body of Christ.  Then in my twenties God brought me to His Word and through the Bible, my understanding of my sin, His sacrifice, and our call to obedience, grew deeper and fuller with truth.  I understood more the true depravity of my own heart.  I learned His love for me was so great that He knew the only way for me to be reconciled to Him, is if there was a perfect and worthy sacrifice to atone for my sin.  And that sacrifice was His son, the innocent blemish free Jesus Christ. 

Jesus substituted himself in my place, took my sin, paid my penalty, gave His life on the cross, and then covered me with His precious blood.  That blood proclaimed my righteousness before God.  And when Christ rose from dead, He conquered death and all creation knew God’s wrath was satisfied and Christ stood in victory.  When I understood all of this was done on my part, a sinner, and I had done nothing to deserve this love, nor would I have chosen it on my own, the only reasonable response was to grow in obedience and total surrender.  I had been redeemed, ransomed, and claimed.

I became transformed through the power of Holy Spirit and His Word and I am a new creature.  I have been looking for a church home for a while so I could follow my savior in obedience and be baptized.  I thank you church, after a long journey for welcoming me, and my family with open arms. 

I’ll end with a verse from Ephesians 2 “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith-and it is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”