Ethan's Testimony
I was privileged to be born into a Christian family. My grandfather and great-grandfather on my mother’s side were both Independent Baptist preachers, and because of their faithfulness, I was blessed to hear the Gospel message from a young age. As a child, I made a false profession of salvation. It was a mental acknowledgment of Christ, void of true repentance. I held on to this false profession for years. God would convict me, yet I would cling to this memory of having prayed a prayer. As I think back, the profession was motivated by seeing others my age getting saved and missing out on the bread served at the Lord’s supper. As time went on, the conviction about my soul’s condition grew. I would rationalize away the conviction and fight against the Holy Spirit working on my heart. I’m so thankful we serve a longsuffering God; On June 7, 2007, I finally humbled myself and admitted I was lost. I called upon the name of the Lord and accepted Christ as my Savior.
Call
As a young teenager, God brought me under conviction about His will for me to serve Him while attending a Bible summer camp in Binger, Oklahoma, with my church. I distinctly remember God calling me into ministry and surrendering to that call during an evening service. While a field or specific direction wasn’t given, I knew that He wanted me to preach. So, I started serving by doing whatever the Lord would allow me to do. Serving on the bus, children’s ministries, choir, and visitation ultimately led to God allowing me to serve on staff for eight years at Beth Haven Baptist Church.
In mid-2023, my wife and I started to pray earnestly about calling a family to replace Jon and Emilie Rettig, and we made ourselves available if God so chose to send us. At the beginning of November 2023, God made it apparent to me, through preaching at our Men’s Retreat and confirmed by counsel from my spiritual leadership, that His will for my family was to minister in the Czech Republic. God very rapidly opened doors and provided for us to go on a survey trip, and were able to be in Prague from November 10th – 21st. We were blessed to be able to see the city, meet the church people in the church that the Rettigs planted, preach to the people, and gather information to help in our immigration to the country. During this trip, God increased the assurance and peace that He had already given us when we initially surrendered to go.
Eternity's Testimony
I’m a third-generation Christian and had the honor of growing up in a pastor’s home. Growing up in a pastor’s home, I quickly learned the right words to say, things to do, and actions to take. I made a false profession of faith at a young age. I wanted to make my parents happy and knew that doing that would make them happy. Unfortunately, I had a head knowledge of God but not a heart knowledge. Growing up, I clung to the false profession of faith, hoping it would be enough. As I got older, I quickly realized I wasn’t saved. However, I believed Satan’s lie about how if I got saved now, I would embarrass my parents and would face disappointment from the church family I had.
One night in 2009, we had a college group come in and sing and give testimonies. As they sang, the conviction I had been living with became unbearable. I wanted the joy they said and talked about. I wanted the peace they so obviously had. On the way home from church, I realized I didn’t care what anyone else thought about me getting saved. I decided I wouldn’t go to hell for anyone’s opinion. When I got home, I went to my mother and father, bowed my head, and accepted Christ as my Savior. The peace I so desperately wanted was finally mine, and I understood the joy of the Lord.
