Indiana

Paul Caudill was raised by his Adventist parents and was baptized in Louisville, Kentucky. During the 1970s, when the Cedar Ridge Church was organized, Paul and his wife joined that church, and some of his children attended the church school there. Paul also assisted the church's leadership at one time as head deacon. However, as personal problems in his home increased Paul began to withdraw from the church and God.

In the late 1980s, Paul's family separated in the aftermath of a divorce and Paul moved to Georgia. In his spiritually weakened condition, Paul began working on the Sabbath. Although he knew he was not doing right, Paul still resisted the conviction to change his life.

Eventually, Paul moved back to Cedar Ridge. When Scott Free of the Cedar Ridge Church learned Paul was back in town, he provided spiritual support. In early 2009, Paul returned to church. Because his name was still on the Indiana Conference records, he received and read the Lake Union Herald, and other denominational publications. What Paul read led to his conviction to be re-baptized. He shared his desire with Justin Childers, Cedar Ridge Church pastor, and a date was set.

On Sabbath, July 11, 2009, Paul buried his past in the waters of baptism. His decision, example and joy in his new life had a positive influence on his family members. Paul's brother, who left the church when he was 15 years old, now worships in the New Albany Church and also desires to be re-baptized, along with other family members.

In the early 1970s, Vicki Thacker was a baptized member of the Cedar Ridge Church. Her late mother, Nellie Free, took Vick and her 11 siblings to Sabbath school and church faithfully. Sadly, Vicki stopped attending after she got married 37 years ago, and most of Vicki's brothers and sisters eventually left the church as well.

Things began to change five years ago when her brother, Scott Free, made a new commitment to Jesus Christ and returned to church. Then, like a line of falling dominoes, more family members made decisions to return to God. These events led Vicki to pay closer attention to world events, reviewing what she remembered of the signs of Christ's Second Coming and the end of the world. This realization led her to again worship in church each Sabbath.

In time, the pastor visited Vicki, and they discussed God's plan of salvation and the promise of a new life in Christ. Vicki shared her eager desire to surrender her life anew to Jesus Christ by being re-baptized.

At her baptism on Sabbath, July 11, 2009, at the Cedar Ridge Church, her comment was, "I love being a member of the family of God."

Bruce Babienco, volunteer correspondent, Lake Union Herald, with Justin Childers, pastor, Cedar Ridge Church