William A. Baxter – Testimony

Hello my name is Bill. I’m a retired police officer. I’ve been married to my wonderful wife Gayle since 1990. I liked and played sports like basketball and football. My youthful hobby was weight lifting. I’d like to complete a physical trainer course at some time in my life. Im just an average person with appropriate interest or comittments. How about you? What are some of your interests? If you have a few minutes more can I share with you about how I realized I needed Christ in my life

Many people have had some types of challenges where they begin to realize that they need the loving unconditional help that only Jesus Christ can give. Maybe that’s true for you too?

THIS IS MY LIFE BEFORE CHRIST. I grew up in the Orchard Park Housing Projects in Roxbury Massachusetts. At age 15 my family moved to Dorchester, Massachusetts. I attended Catholic schools through to my high school years and eventually earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. In school I had always been taught about the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spriit) and Jesus’ ressurection from the dead, but it was never made clear that I could have a relationship with Jesus. In retrospect, the Catholic school experience was just filled with rituals, observing special days and praying to statues and saints. In my later years I began to follow others influences, subsequently making juvenile choices that brought hard times for me and my family. I realized I needed something more than street wisdom to guide my life. I had no peace in my life. My life was like a man trying to build a house on sand. I can remember having the thought that I should give Jesus a try. Like I was giving him a chance, but all along I was the one getting the chance to make the best decision of my life. I realized I needed Jesus (the Rescuer and Savior of the World).

I DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS of the bible (I recommend the NIV translation) and to function through discipleship, outreach and evangelism with my church family. That’s when I learned about Jesus calling people to repentance, and to receive Gods forgiveness, which I knew I needed. I read that Jesus gives all people an opportunity to repent (Matthew 4:17) and to follow his teachings in his up-side down Kingdom of God on earth. I also recieved what I took as a personal invitation from Jesus written in scriptures. This scripture informed me that, by coming to Jesus and learning from him to participate with his work/mission, he would give me rest (Matthew 11:29-30). I accepted the invitation. Subsequently my church community experience is where I have received authentic teaching straight from the bible and got my questions answered within a cultivated safe, healthy family environment – in keeping with the fact that Jesus would explain the parables and answered the questions of his disciples. Essentially, people that have some curiosity about following Christ need to get their questions answered too. Maybe you have questions/curiosity about Jesus or the church that you would like to ask someone?

Since I have committed to following Jesus’ teaching I have begun to understand what it means to be a real man with purpose. Jesus’ teachings have also taught me to imitate him by sharing his Gospel and protecting, serving and loving my neighbors/community. I found that following Jesus is like the life of a poor man who is hungry and thirsty. What does he do each day? He awakens everyday in search of bread and water to sustain his life. Now I live my life just like that man. In search of Jesus’ everyday through prayer, reading my bible and engaging with others in a very inclusive authentic manner. Finally, I have learned that sharing the love of Jesus is more than just giving good advice, but it’s about providing justice for all.

After beginning to follow Christ my life has been transformed through repentance and not continuing in old patterns but evolving with new ones primarily those mentioned above at the end of the last paragraph. I don’t always get life right, but I humble myself in order to be taught the right ways by being loved through gentle correction with scriptures by those I consider family. I am also being trained to do the intentional work of a disciple (a person who follows Christ in verifiable ways) who serves and protects others while having been commissioned (Matt 28:18-19) to make disciples which begins with sharing the Good News of Christ (The Gospel).

I thank and love Jesus also known as the “Son of Man” spoken of in the book of Daniel 7:13-14 for his life’s earthly mission: dying on the cross, his ressurection from the dead, and his promise to return to establish his Kingdom now on earth and forever and ever.

Amen !

• Have you ever heard of Jesus?
• Have you ever formed an opinion about him?
• Do you have any curiosity about Jesus/God?
• Have you ever had a church experience? What was that like for you?