Indiana
Recently, the Lord brought two individuals to the Irvington Church. These are their stories.
In 1973, I (Lela Bertram) had my first Bible lessons at an Adventist church. As I studied what they taught from the Bible, I was amazed at what I was learning. Most of all, hearing about the seventh-day Sabbath was a real shock to me.
Back home, I got up in the middle of the night to study my Bible. My studies always included some more about the Sabbath. I just could not believe that as a dedicated Christian, I kept the wrong day all my life. It took a lot of extra study and prayer on my part to wrap my mind around that truth. However, one night as I again studied about the Sabbath, something clicked in my mind. I came to believe the seventh-day Sabbath was the right day to worship God. After that night, I never again doubted the Sabbath.
However, many years passed before I had another chance to hear the Adventist message. This time I listened to a Bible instructor preach and teach basic Bible messages. I remember on the last night the speaker asked if anyone wanted to come forward and give their life to Christ. I declined, but the speaker continued, "I pray if there is someone here [who] God is speaking to, and they are not responding to His call, I pray they will not rest until they respond." You know, I believed those words were spoken just for me as I surrendered my heart to Jesus.
Now, 34 years later, I am finally baptized. As I review my past, I believe if I had given my life to Christ when I first learned about the Adventist message, I would have been happier, healthier and wiser. I'm just glad God didn't give up on me because today I am a member of His family.
I (Teresa Warner) am 46 years old. I was raised in a church where I was baptized by sprinkling at age seven. After I reached adulthood, I moved away from home and began to worship in congregations of many different denominations. This church-hopping experience left me disheartened and spiritually numb, so I walked away from all churches for about 20 years. Through a series of dreams and tragedies in my life, I felt an urge to get back to the scriptures.
Almost a year and a half ago, a man came up to my husband Jim in a grocery store parking lot and asked for $3 in exchange for a book entitled National Sunday Law. Jim gave the money. When Jim came home, he handed me the book saying, "This is something I think you would be interested in."
I picked the book up to read casually, at first, but the more I read, the more enraptured I became. I did not put it down until I was finished. Then I went to my Bible and began to read the truth about the Sabbath, and end-time prophecies. A whole new window had opened for me. Still needing further confirmation, I went to the library the next day. I was so engrossed, I sat on the floor of the religious aisle with books all around me. I remember saying, "Oh, merciful God, Saturday is the Sabbath!"
The next week I began to keep the Sabbath at home. Before this, I did not think anyone but those of the Jewish faith kept the seventh-day Sabbath. I kept the Sabbath at home for about six months. During that time, I was introduced to the Amazing Facts radio and TV programs. I started their 27-lesson Bible correspondence course and received my diploma.
As an eager reader, I soon began to read books authored by Ellen G. White. One day, I telephoned Amazing Facts to ask about their School of Evangelism and was told about the Seventh-day Adventist Church. I called the church nearest to me that evening, and began to attend the next Sabbath. I asked how I could be baptized. I was given a 32-lesson Bible study course. Nine months later, on May 5, I, along with Lela Bertram, was baptized at the Irvington Church by Fred Troxell. Oh, what a wonderful day it was.
It all began with me reading the National Sunday Law book. I want to say "thank you" to the author for sharing his love of the truth, and for changing and saving my life. It has been a long journey, but I am rejoicing in the Divine intervention which revealed to me Jesus and His last-day message.
Lela Bertram and Teresa Warner, members, Irvington Church, as shared with Charlotte Dodd, Irvington Church communications leader, and Bruce Babienco, Lake Union Herald volunteer correspondent
