Indiana

Who was I (Pamela Jean Wollenmann) and what was my mission? My quest for acceptance and a purpose in life was my first big search. During most of my life, I assumed God was a big entity somewhere in the universe.

My awareness of God grew when I was eight years old. Mother took me, my brother and sister to get baptized and "saved" at a riverside service. I went into the water, and it confirmed something deep inside. I was later thrilled when I received a certificate that said I was a member of God's kingdom. It helped me feel Christ's love and acceptance.

Mother kept trying to influence our spiritual walk. Our family devotedly went to Sunday school. Sometimes we stayed over night at my aunt's house, and the church bus picked us up. I can still remember I was the only child to recite the Ten Commandments, and receive a ten dollar reward. I thought, Wow! These people are nice.

As I grew older and away from my innocence, I began experimenting with life. I had low self-esteem because of feelings of being ashamed. I felt more like a nobody when we began attending a parochial school. Because we didn't attend worship services with the other students, they mocked and teased us; we were "heathens" to them. Worldly activities consumed my time and separated me from the spiritual.

Providentially, my mother, Virginia Patton, received a mailed invitation to a seminar, "Prophecies of End-Time Events." It was from the Seventh-day Adventists. We had only heard bits and pieces about the book of Revelation so our family wanted to attend. I didn't comprehend too much, but decided to just go and listen. I was happy my mother was converted and convinced by what she learned from the Bible lectures. She became a Seventh-day Adventist and has remained one for more than 25 years.

After I married and moved away, I again experimented with various things. On that path, I didn't have time to think about God, prayer or going to church. Several times religious people came to my door and invited me to take Bible studies. Although I was thankful for their visits, I wasn't ready to give up my sinful lifestyle. Somehow, I always felt God was close by, faithfully watching over us, even though I didn't acknowledge Him.

One Sabbath in 2007, I decided to attend my mother's church in Huntingburg, Indiana. I had always believed what her church taught came closest to the truth. The members revealed the Bible in their lives and words without forcing it on me. Soon, my husband and I started consistently attending the Adventist church. My search for God had begun in earnest. We attended their seminars and took Bible lessons from the head deacon, Tim Thomas. I learned these people were just the kind of church family I needed.

Last spring, Justin Childers, Huntingburg Church pastor, conducted a series of meetings called ShareHim; we decided to attend. When the meetings concluded, I requested baptism. Today I am so happy that Jesus Christ is my personal Savior. I want to share my witness to family and friends. By God's grace, I hope to have a part in introducing them to the Kingdom of God.

Pam Wollenmann, member, Huntingburg Church, as told to Bruce Babienco, volunteer correspondent, Lake Union Herald