Rob Gettemy
Rob Gettemy Life was good before...Now it is great!
Everyone’s personal faith walk is a bit different. My journey to Christ may seem “boring” yet, I would suggest that folks like me are at a greater risk of never finding Christ, because according to worldly standards, I had a great life.
By my mid-thirties, I was a corporate executive with an impressive salary and responsibility. Yet something was missing; even though my accomplishments were satisfying, there was a hole in my life.
I started seeking something more in life. By Christmas 2001, my wife and I decided it was time to expose our children to God through a church.
In our quest to find a family church, we attended Antioch Christian Church and from that first service, we found the pastor’s message interesting and church was actually enlivening.
Over time I learned so much from Pastor John’s messages. Even more, I came to love and appreciate what God did for us by taking the human form in Jesus and dying on the cross for us. I accepted Christ and was baptized in January 2003.
During this faith walk, my life has changed in many exciting ways. First and foremost, I came to know Jesus. My love and appreciation for my wife is greater than ever and I savor time with my children. I’ve chosen a new career path as an independent businessman. I love having the flexibility to spend time with my family, helping with ministries at my church and volunteering with “Aid to Women,” a Christian crisis pregnancy center. In addition, I lost more than 50 pounds of weight and started running (I have even run several marathons).
How has accepting Christ impacted my life? The weight loss and extra family time are great. The world may question my decision to give up an impressive livelihood, but because of Jesus I have so much more, and now possess a greater contentment and appreciation for life.
If you feel something is missing in your life, I encourage you to find the answers in a relationship with Jesus.
Jim Mayhew
Seeking no longer.
There really wasn’t one event in my life that caused me to seek God; but even though I’d given up on God at times, God didn’t give up on me.
God sent a teacher, friends, co-workers and life events to minister to me throughout my life. Mr. Patrilla, my high school art teacher, told me about God’s mercy and how the worst sins could be forgiven, but it didn’t make sense and I felt like the Bible wasn’t for me.
God continued to surround me with believers through work and personal relationships. Yet still, I wasn’t ready to accept Jesus, nor did I understand how or why it was important.
In 1999, I lost my Dad to a sudden heart attack. I spent many days thinking about God and what He meant to me. I believed there might be a higher power, but didn’t quite know what it all meant.
Then a jolt…in 2002, my mother was diagnosed with cancer. While visiting my mom in the hospital, I found a pocket Bible of the New Testament that someone must have forgotten (or intentionally left behind). I opened its worn pages and began to read. It spoke to me like never before. I realized maybe I was supposed to find that Bible because my heart and mind were open to it. I thought of taking it with me, but decided to leave it behind for the next person. I would purchase my own.
I accepted Jesus into my life as my Savior in February of 2003. By July, my wife and I were baptized and in August 2003, we became members at Antioch Christian Church.
As I have grown in faith and matured as a Christian man, husband and father, I have found contentment. Honoring Him each day through my words and actions is a priority. I seek His wisdom and guidance in decisions so I can face the challenges of life with confidence and a positive outlook.
It is remarkable how God works!