Michigan

Sue Norris looked out the window to her backyard lawn one Monday morning and said to herself, “Since my husband has to work this Saturday, I am going to worship at the Delton Adventist Church.” The thought had come to her before, and she often promised herself she would worship there. However, each time Sabbath arrived, she found some excuse not to attend.

On Wednesday night she heard a knocking sound. At first, she thought it was her daughter, Janice Mead, who liked to tease her and lived in the next apartment. Sue’s husband also heard the sound. Sue felt she should go downstairs to check on her husband's 91-year-old mother, Evelyn Norris, thinking maybe she needed help and was trying to get her attention. When she arrived, Evelyn told her she had not been knocking and suggested it might be Satan trying to get control of her life. Evelyn encouraged Sue and her three sons, Dillon, Douglass, and Noah, to begin attending the Adventist church.

Sue, however, considered a different possibility. She remembered the Bible saying that Jesus knocks on our heart's door. She believed Jesus knew she was ready to accept Him as her Savior and thought He was trying to get her attention. She decided to go to church the next Sabbath and telephoned her daughter, Janice, to tell her. She was happy to learn Janice wanted to attend with her.

After attending for three weeks, Sue and Janice told Marilyn Rorabeck they wanted Bible studies to prepare for baptism. Marilyn told her husband Herb, a head elder, who passed the information on to Bill Cowin, pastor. Bill took twenty-six lessons of the Good News Bible studies to the Norris home the following Tuesday. In just three weeks Sue and Janice completed all twenty-six lessons.

The Delton Church does not have a baptistry so Bill arranged for their baptism at the Urbandale Adventist Church. Following Janice's and Sue's baptisms, Bill gave an invitation for others to invite Jesus into their lives, and prepare for baptism. Janice's brother, Danial Norris, responded. After completing his studies, Scott Manly, current Delton Church pastor, baptized Danial.

These decisions for Jesus brought new life and blessings into the Delton Church family. You, too, can find the joy of salvation by inviting Jesus into your life and preparing for your own baptism.

Herb Rorabeck, Delton Church head elder, with Bruce Babienco, Lake Union Herald volunteer correspondent