Month of February

Tia · 02-03-2004, 11:24 AM

Name: Nicole
How Long has he/she been saved? 7 years
Age: 19
Area of residence: Seattle, Washington

Personal statement of faith:
I want every youth to know how important they are! They need to know how unique and wonderful they are! God has a huge plan for them and He LOVES them!

Her testimony:
In seventh grade, a few of my friends starting getting involved at their youth group, and it was looking like the next “cool” thing to do. One of my friends invited me to a youth group event. They were going to play Whirly Ball. Want to know why I went? The boys! Oh yes, the junior high youth group that I had finally gotten involved with became a dating game. It was a complete social circle. But as soon as the pastor dimmed the lights and began preaching, my heart and my mind became still.

A few months later, I went with the rest of the youth group to a JUNIOR HIGH RETREAT! I was so excited! I went and bought my first bible before hand. The bus ride on the way to Tall Timbers was so fun! We all forgot about being cool. We all began singing worship songs. My heart was singing! I didn’t have to worry about being someone else. I could be me, Nicky Petersen.

That weekend, my heart was changed. I realized that I hadn’t been happy living the life I had been living. I was following the “in” crowd and following my worldly desires. I realized that I wasn’t living. I was merely trying to survive. On the first night, the pastor preached on Ephesians 4. This was the first sermon that I heard God’s voice and felt convicted.

“With the Lord’s authority let me say this: Live no longer as the unGodly do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their closed minds are full of darkness; they are far away from the life of God because they have shut their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They don’t care anymore about right and wrong, and they have given themselves to unmoral ways. Their lives are filled with all kinds of impurity and greed. But that isn’t what you were taught when you learned about Christ. Since you have heard all about him and have heard the truth that is in Jesus, throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, in God’s likeness- righteous, holy, and true.”

Those were the very first verses that I memorized. Ephesians 4:17-24. The verses titled in my bible as “Living as children of the light”. That did it. I could not be the same person any more. I wanted to be “in God’s likeness- righteous, holy, and true”. That night, alone in my room, I found a section in my bible that explained how to become a Christian. I did just that. I prayed the prayer by myself, in my dark room, lit only by my flashlight.

The next morning was Wonderful! I felt as though a heavy burden had been lifted off of my shoulders! I could be myself and it would be okay. I spent the rest of the weekend among Christian peers, and had a blast in the snow. I think all of us were changed that weekend. We learned that we would be loved for being ourselves; the way God created us to be.

How she tells others about Christ:
I am a Youth Pastor in training at my Church, New Life Center (nlcyouth.com). It is the best experience I have ever had! I have the opportunity to tell others about Christ through my messages (small sermons) and when I spend one-on-one time with other youth. I like to hear about other people and their stories, and then I like to talk about mine. I talk about how God loves me and knowing Him has been the best thing that has ever happened. Then, I talk about how God loves them and whats to know them too. God can use you in so many ways if you just tell him, "yes, God, use me, speak through me, and let my actions reflect your love." You'd be surprised in how many people want to know the Lord but they need that extra nudge. Be that person!

02-03-2004, 11:24 AM	#1
Tia Tia Edit Alone	Name: Nicole How Long has he/she been saved? 7 years Age: 19 Area of residence: Seattle, Washington Personal statement of faith: I want every youth to know how important they are! They need to know how unique and wonderful they are! God has a huge plan for them and He LOVES them! Her testimony: In seventh grade, a few of my friends starting getting involved at their youth group, and it was looking like the next “cool” thing to do. One of my friends invited me to a youth group event. They were going to play Whirly Ball. Want to know why I went? The boys! Oh yes, the junior high youth group that I had finally gotten involved with became a dating game. It was a complete social circle. But as soon as the pastor dimmed the lights and began preaching, my heart and my mind became still. A few months later, I went with the rest of the youth group to a JUNIOR HIGH RETREAT! I was so excited! I went and bought my first bible before hand. The bus ride on the way to Tall Timbers was so fun! We all forgot about being cool. We all began singing worship songs. My heart was singing! I didn’t have to worry about being someone else. I could be me, Nicky Petersen. That weekend, my heart was changed. I realized that I hadn’t been happy living the life I had been living. I was following the “in” crowd and following my worldly desires. I realized that I wasn’t living. I was merely trying to survive. On the first night, the pastor preached on Ephesians 4. This was the first sermon that I heard God’s voice and felt convicted. “With the Lord’s authority let me say this: Live no longer as the unGodly do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their closed minds are full of darkness; they are far away from the life of God because they have shut their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They don’t care anymore about right and wrong, and they have given themselves to unmoral ways. Their lives are filled with all kinds of impurity and greed. But that isn’t what you were taught when you learned about Christ. Since you have heard all about him and have heard the truth that is in Jesus, throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, in God’s likeness- righteous, holy, and true.” Those were the very first verses that I memorized. Ephesians 4:17-24. The verses titled in my bible as “Living as children of the light”. That did it. I could not be the same person any more. I wanted to be “in God’s likeness- righteous, holy, and true”. That night, alone in my room, I found a section in my bible that explained how to become a Christian. I did just that. I prayed the prayer by myself, in my dark room, lit only by my flashlight. The next morning was Wonderful! I felt as though a heavy burden had been lifted off of my shoulders! I could be myself and it would be okay. I spent the rest of the weekend among Christian peers, and had a blast in the snow. I think all of us were changed that weekend. We learned that we would be loved for being ourselves; the way God created us to be. How she tells others about Christ: I am a Youth Pastor in training at my Church, New Life Center (nlcyouth.com). It is the best experience I have ever had! I have the opportunity to tell others about Christ through my messages (small sermons) and when I spend one-on-one time with other youth. I like to hear about other people and their stories, and then I like to talk about mine. I talk about how God loves me and knowing Him has been the best thing that has ever happened. Then, I talk about how God loves them and whats to know them too. God can use you in so many ways if you just tell him, "yes, God, use me, speak through me, and let my actions reflect your love." You'd be surprised in how many people want to know the Lord but they need that extra nudge. Be that person!
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