Indiana

I (Nancy Walters) was reared in a church that didn't teach the seventh-day Sabbath. I had so many questions as I attended church, but they were never answered satisfactorily. No one ever taught me how to find answers in the Bible. I always believed in God and His salvation, and that was enough for many years. Today it seems like it was a shallow relationship.

Several years ago I wanted to know the Bible answer to the purpose of life, but was told it was a question with no satisfactory answer. That didn't seem like a reasonable response, so I began my personal search to discover the purpose of life by taking a closer look into many different Western and Eastern religions. After a lot of investigation, I came to the conclusion Christianity was the teaching to follow. All the other belief systems had tenants of faith I could not accept.

Next, I explored a denomination I thought offered the most logical and spiritual method of worship and mission. I discovered many rules and regulations I didn't like or thought unnecessary. Closely tied to another denomination by my employment and volunteer activities, I one day telephoned its spiritual leader and set up appointments to discuss how his members were taught to live. His answer was for me to continue to "do good works," and have my sins forgiven weekly. It was all about me and what I decided, I needed, I wanted, [and] I chose. I could continue living as I had been, but now with "the assurance of Heaven." It was so easy to be counted as a regular member, no matter what I did.

One day my dear friend, Phil Kleintank, challenged me to prove my doctrines, which I insisted were Biblical. No matter how hard I tried to prove them, I couldn't do it. However, I struggled with my inner convictions for over a year before I left my church and again began my search for the purpose of life.

I began observing the seventh-day Sabbath and attended Seventh-day Adventist church services. I also continued my search for answers to the spiritual ideas I was hearing in the Sabbath school classes and sermons. Again, I think I drove people crazy with all my questions since I had so much to learn and unlearn.

Finally, I surrendered to the urging of the Holy Spirit. It was a call for me to accept the Bible truths I had come to know and love. It was time for me to respond to my need to be officially baptized, and become a member of the Adventist church. The day I telephoned Conrad Reichert Jr., Marion Seventh-day Adventist Church pastor, to make arrangements, I knew I was ready, but couldn't describe the joyous feelings. I just knew I had been touched. I had been changed. My thinking, my attitude, my desires were in harmony with God's Word. I was now committed to follow Jesus forever.

It is interesting that Phil Kleintank, the one who challenged my earlier beliefs, and I were baptized on the same Sabbath, November 19, 2005. It is a day of joy I will always remember!

Nancy Walters with Bruce Babienco, Lake Union Herald volunteer correspondent