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Ingleside Baptist Church
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Testimonies
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TESTIMONIES OF OUR MEMBERS
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I was born and raised in South Africa by missionary parents. I attended church in my mother’s womb long before the light of day dawned upon me. In 1958, at age five, I saw Oil Town USA, a film produced by the Billy Graham organization, when it was shown in the City Hall of Port Shepstone. An invitation was given at the end of the film for people to receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. I wanted to go forward but my parents suggested we go home and talk about how to become a Christian. That night before I went to bed, I asked Jesus to forgive me of my sin and make me His child.
From that day forward I grew in my faith and understanding of what it meant to be a Christian. At age twelve I was ready to be baptized and did so on a Sunday evening at Woodland Baptist Church. The next couple of years were difficult for me. My parents’ work as missionaries required them to travel between the U.S. and Africa every five years. The problem was, I did not adjust well to the different school systems and the challenge of moving between the academic calendars of the northern and southern hemispheres. The decision was taken to send me to boarding school at age 13 and then to a children’s home at age 14 while my parents traveled back to the U.S. without me.
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Dr. Peter McLewin
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During these two years I began to question many things about the Bible and my faith. During those days I did not consider myself to be a Christian. Returning to my parents’ home after two years was not easy, and I continued to question if my faith was my own or my parents’.
In 1972 I attended Explo ‘72, a youth event attended by 50,000 students, held in the Cotton Bowl. There I met kids my age whose faith seemed real. By the end of the week I was ready to make a fresh commitment of my life to Christ. From there I went on to attend a Christian college and eventually God called me into the ministry.
I have a strong sympathy for kids who have been raised by Christian parents in a good church. It is natural for kids to question whether their faith is their own or merely an extension of their parents’ faith. I am so glad that I have come to have a faith grounded in the truth of God’s Word and the reality of Christ in my life. I’m glad I did not have to experiment with drugs, tobacco, alcohol or sex before I discovered that Christ could be as real for me as He is for my parents.
Many people have long stories about the horrible things that God set them free from. My story is just the opposite. I am grateful that God kept me from going down the wrong path while at the same time helping me to see my need for Him.
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