Ann Arbor Assembly of God

Ann Arbor Assembly of God Stories...

Toby's Story (added 12/21/2009); Aileen's Story (added 12/21/2009); Billy's Story(added 12/21/2009);

Carl's Story (added 12/21/2009); Daisy's Story (added 12/21/2009); Eleanor's Story (added 12/21/2009);

Toby's Story:

I grew up in a Christian home, in fact I was a ‘PK’ (pastor’s kid). Both my parents were (and still are) actively involved in the ministry and as a little kid I loved God and everything about church.  Even though I loved God and everything, I still hadn’t asked Him into my life to take over.  One afternoon in June, I was about 7 or 8, my dad called me and we started talking and he had the ‘salvation talk’ with me.  He asked if I had ever at any point asked God to be Lord in my life and surrendered to Him and I said no.  That June afternoon, I asked Jesus to be Lord in my life.

I wish I could say that once I did that life became a bed of roses; unfortunately, that was not the case.  A couple of months later, I started forming a really terrible habit of lying.  By the time I was 9, I was a hard core compulsive liar.  I lied about everything and anything.  Thankfully, I had really prayerful parents who were always on my case and God dealt with this habit in my life.  By the time I was 10, I was off the lying path and back on track and I rededicated my life to God.

Looking back through the years, I have seen God at work in my life. There are a lot of things that I would have done, which would have made my parents and God not very happy and messed me up for a while, but I know I have been protected from doing a lot of those things and for that I am grateful to God and also to the people who I know haven’t stopped praying for me!  Yes, I know I am not perfect, and I probably won’t be until I see Him, but for 9 years of my 19 years on this earth, I have been able to lead a life that I know God is proud of (for the most part!), and even when I do mess up, He is always there to correct and love me.  I have discovered that as long as my heart is right with God and my focus is on His plan and will, it’s all good!

It is because of His love for me (and for you) that He is always there, with His arms wide open, saying, “Come!  Yes you have messed up, but I still love you.  You still are my child.”  It is also because of this amazing love that He sent His only son to die.  So, if you haven’t, why don’t you invite Him into your life and see the awesome changes He will make happen in your life.  Jesus definitely makes the difference!

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Aileen's Story:

In the spring of 1983, the Lord called my family to serve him.  I have to share the amazing story of how the Lord called my mother.  On day, while experiencing chest pain, a bright light surrounded her chair, and a voice said, “Worship me.”  She saw a vision of herself with her hands raised, praising God.  God led my parents to an Assemblies of God church, where I met Christ.

A Sunday School teacher presented the gospel to me.  At three years old, I dedicated my life to the Lord.  I had the privilege of attending a Christian school from the first through twelfth grade.  At sixteen, I was baptized; that day was the happiest day of my life.

I sought the baptism of the Holy Spirit since my pre-teen years. In college, I was blessed to attend a wonderful spirit- filled church, where I received this beautiful gift.  God knew that I would encounter many challenges and questions during those next few years.  He saw me through every one.

Since, God has blessed me with a heaven-sent husband and two sweet dogs.  The Lord has seen me through every trial, sickness, and need.  He’s always been there, and I’m very  grateful for his presence in my life.  I know that I’m nothing without him, but He has a plan and purpose for my life.

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Billy's Story:

My best friend tricked me into getting saved.  I had just entered my first semester at college and recently broke off a two year relationship.  I was having a hard time making friends at a commuter school, missing high school and the friends there, and it just seemed that no one cared in college.  I was very lonely and depressed.  One of my friends from high school and I kept in touch and we hung out every so often.  During Halloween, there was an opportunity for me to get extra credit by attending a play on campus.  My friend, Erin, agreed to go with me, but the night of the performance I was depressed and I told her I didn't want to go to the play.  Erin wouldn't let me back out.  She said she wanted to hang out and go to a play.  Reluctantly, I agreed and Erin came and picked me up.  As we were going to the play, I noticed Erin was not going toward campus.  She said that since I really didn't want to see the play on campus, she was going to take me to see another play.  It was at her church!  I was irritated, but since we were already there, I went in and watched the play.

Nightmare on Embury Street put the fear of God into me and hundreds of others that night.  The play showed a plane crash and what happened to the people on it after they died.  As the people died, their names were searched for in the Lamb's Book of Life.  When the names were not found, the people were carried off to hell.  Even good people were getting sent to hell because they didn't have a relationship with Jesus, thus their names were not in the Lamb's Book of Life.  Finally, one person's name was in the Lamb's Book of Life and God then welcomed that person into heaven with open arms.  I wanted that - to be welcomed with open arms and loved.  After the performance, the pastor of the church asked if anyone wanted to know, without a shadow of a doubt, that they’d be greeted with open arms in heaven when they died.  He encouraged people to come to the altar.  I wanted to go, but I couldn't move.  There was heat and fire climbing up my legs and I literally couldn't move.  Erin touched my shoulder and said, "It's okay."  Instantly, the heat disappeared, and I felt a sense of peace I'd never felt before.  I went to the altar,       accepted Jesus into my heart and we've been best friends ever since.  Life still isn't easy, college didn't get any easier, but with Jesus with me, it didn't seem quite so lonely anymore.

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Carl's Story:

After I attended one semester of college in 1950, I joined the Navy in order to avoid being drafted into the Army.  I had no direction in my life and knew nothing about the Lord.  My     parents and family were nominal Christians.

In the Navy, I was trained as an aircraft mechanic and was    stationed in the San Francisco area.  I became good friends with another enlisted guy by the name of Bill.  We hung around together at bars and clubs at night and worked at our jobs during the day.

At the time, Bill was dating a girl by the name of Lucy who lived in Oakland, California.  Lucy, along with her mother, had found Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.  They attended Calvary Temple in Oakland.  Lucy invited Bill and I to come with her one evening to hear a young evangelist who was speaking in their church.

As we attended the service together the next evening, this young man told us how Jesus died a terrible death to pay the price for my sins.  The realization that I was not only a sinner, but that I was not acceptable in God’s Kingdom in that         condition, was made very real to me through the presence of the Holy Spirit.  That evening His conviction caused me to    accept the offer to come forward and accept Jesus Christ as my Personal Savior.

My life has not always been smooth and painless since that day but, I can say, that looking back over the past 58 years, there is no question in my mind, that our Lord and Savior has directed my life and prospered my spirit.  I am truly blessed by His Grace and blessed with a wonderful wife and family.

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Daisy's Story:

I grew up attending a mainline Protestant denominational church.  I knew all the Bible stories and sacraments, but did not know Christ as my personal Savior.  The summer before my senior year in high school, I determined to be a better Christian.  This meant to me that I wouldn’t cuss (which I   didn’t do much of in the first place) and I’d attend church and youth group.  I met a boy at school who asked me, “What is a Christian?”  I realized I couldn’t give him a good answer.  He invited me to his youth group (at Ypsilanti A/G) and there we watched a movie.  While I didn’t go to the altar to receive Christ, my heart was beating so hard in my chest that I thought it would slam right out!  Two days later, Nov. 2, 1984, I knelt at my bedside and asked Christ to be my Savior and Lord.

I look back and realize that someone somewhere down the road had prayed for me and the Holy Spirit was nudging my heart.  I am so grateful that He did! (“You did not wait for me to draw near to you, but you clothed yourself in frail humanity/You did  not wait for me to cry out to you, but you let me hear your voice calling me.”)  I was a pretty good kid (good grades, respectful to my parents and family, no drinking, no drugs) so I can’t say what Christ saved me out of, but I am certain He saved me from some bad decisions I would have made in college had I not received Him in high school.  It is amazing how He has been with me through trying circumstances and how He has changed me.  (“There’s a peace I’ve come to know, though my heart and flesh may fail/There’s an anchor for my soul I can say, It is well.”)  I can’t imagine living this life without having the stability I have found in my Savior.  (“I’ll say of the Lord, You are my strength, my shield, my fortress, my portion, deliverer/My shelter, strong tower, my very present help in time of need.”)  The longer I follow Christ, the more I realize that I not only need Him more, I want more of Him! (“Now my life to You I give/Hallelujah/Hallelujah/Let my lifesong sing to You.”)

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Eleanor's Story:

I was about 8 years old when I accepted Jesus Christ as my   personal Savior.  I do not remember many of the details that surrounded this event, however, I do remember I was in my  Sunday School class and I was the only one there other than my teacher.  I also cannot remember the Sunday School lesson or my teacher’s name, or, for that matter, what she looked like, except that she had shoulder length, dark brown hair.  I do   remember, however, her question to me, asking me if I would like to ask Jesus into my heart and my answer was, “yes”!  I have always been so grateful that our Heavenly Father knows each one of us so well.  He even knew us before we were born.  He knows everything we are going to say even before we say it.  He knows our personality, our nature, our beginning, and our ending.  He knew that when I was 8 years old, that I was a very shy little girl.  That is why, I am sure, He arranged the one-on-one situation on that day for me to say, yes to His invitation to    accept Him as my personal Savior.

I am so grateful that I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart.  I am also ever so grateful to Him that He baptized me with His Holy Spirit when I was 14 years old, as I am sure that it was the reality of this experience, as well, that kept me strong and     focused on Jesus during those teen years and beyond.  There have been many ups and downs in my life over the years, but I knew I could always come again and again to the foot of the cross for his forgiveness, mercy, and grace in my daily walk with Him.  Mostly, I am eternally grateful to a Sunday School teacher with shoulder length, dark brown hair, that even though I was the only child in her Sunday School class that day, she chose to keep me there, to teach me, and to lead me to Christ.  I don’t remember her name, but I know I will recognize her and know her name when I see her in heaven someday and then I will be able to say, “Thank you!”

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