Michigan

In the fall of 1995, I, Scot Coppock, came out of the Western Michigan University book store and noticed a small paperback book on my car door titled Will America Survive? The book was an edition of The Great Controversy written by E. G. White. My roommates and I had been talking about how the world was heading toward ruin, and about secret societies that were running things throughout the world. I thought the book was on a similar topic, so I threw it into my book bag and went home. When I started reading the book, I realized that it wasn't so much about America as it was about God.

Earlier in my life, I had asked Jesus Christ to be my personal Savior several times. But I would soon go back to making the same mistakes and committing the same sins as before.

After graduation from college, I joined the Army and was stationed in Darmstadt, Germany, with the 440th Signal Battalion for three and a half years. I met my future wife, Manuela, and was surprised to find out that she was a Seventh-day Adventist. My paternal grandparents are Seventh-day Adventists, and I didn't know that the church was a world-wide denomination.

Much to my chagrin, I also found out that Manuela's father was a pastor in her German hometown church. I knew that the Seventh-day Adventist Church had a lot of "rules" that you had to follow—like not drinking alcohol or smoking, both of which I did. When Manuela and I were married, I wasn't sure if I would fit in with her family.

After I was discharged from the Army and returned to Michigan, we found the Wyoming Adventist Church and attended irregularly. We were invited to attend an evangelistic series conducted by Pastor Terry Nelson. At first I didn't make it a priority to attend the meetings, but I began to realize that the speaker wasn't merely interpreting the Bible on his own. He was letting the Bible interpret itself.

I didn't like some topics he presented because they were challenging things I thought I knew all my life. But the Scriptures were clear on these points, and I was left with no argument. By the end of the series, I felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to rededicate my life to Jesus and be baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church. I know that I will sometimes fail in living up to Jesus Christ's example, but I also know that He will be there to lift me up again and give me the strength to endure.

Many people have asked me if the book I found in the college parking lot has changed my life. My answer is, yes. It did change my life, but it was just one of many signs that were pointing me in the right direction. It helped me to understand the greater truths of Jesus Christ's sacrifice for me. For that, and the wonderful works He has done in my life, I am truly grateful.

Scot Coppock, Wyoming Church member