Indiana

As a new member of the Terre Haute Seventh-day Adventist Church, Sean Newman began to tell his spiritual journey with the words of a familiar song:

This is my story, this is my song,

Praising my Saviour all the day long!

I think it was January 30, 2006. I remember the day, because it was a very unusual 60 degrees outside. A friend of mine called to see if I wanted to ride motorcycles. It sounded like a great idea, so I invited him over.

We enjoyed riding as usual, but somehow our time together that day consisted more of conversation than recreation. We talked about how unusually warm it was. I shared how I had always heard that the Bible says the seasons will change rapidly before Jesus' return. My friend had heard the same thing, but since neither of us had ever studied the Bible for ourselves, this information was only hearsay.

Later that day, with the topic pressing on my mind, I headed for the only Bible my family owned, a pocket-sized edition. I figured that whatever I needed to know about the end of the world would be found in that "scary" book of Revelation. So I started reading, determined to read the entire book in one sitting.

The book didn't make a lot of sense to me. But when I came to chapters 17, 18, and 19, I suddenly concluded: "I have cracked it! I have figured out what everyone else has missed!" I thought those three chapters were talking about September 11. I was on a mission now. I read and reread, matching up facts about 9/11 with text after text. (God would later reveal to me what those chapters were really talking about.)

As I read, a burning desire grew within me to continue studying. I felt, for the first time in my life, that God was communicating with me. I began to watch Christian television, and searched for any information I could get about prophecy. I prayed earnestly. I told Jesus I knew He had tried to speak to me for years, but I hadn't listened. "I'm ready to listen now," I said. "So, here I am. Come in and take over."

When I gave Him control, He didn't waste any time! I was at home one day not long afterward, when, for no apparent reason, I cried like a baby. It was at that moment that I realized something was different. Life had taken on a new meaning for me.

My wife, Rhonda Newman, and I began to attend a local church. I invited my mom, Laura "Dodie" Newman, to attend with us. She had attended church at various times in her life, but never found one she was comfortable with. She eagerly accepted the invitation, tickled that for a change she wouldn't be dragging me to church.

For the next few months, my mom and I studied Revelation together, attempting to link texts with 9/11. As we studied, we grew closer than we had ever been before.

I became infatuated with world events and enjoyed reading world news online. One evening as I read, I came across an ad for free information regarding end-time prophecy. I jumped at the chance and obtained the information. The article explained how church leaders had changed Sabbath observance to Sunday, contrary to scripture, and how the books of Daniel and Revelation together give answers for our times. I proceeded to research documents and study the prophecies. The more I found, the more it all made sense! I had been deceived all this time! The seventh day was the Sabbath. It was time to take my stand for God!

By then it was April, and I began to research Sabbath-keeping churches online. I discovered the website for the Terre Haute Seventh-day Adventist Church. I called the local pastor listed, Ernie Peckham. We discussed the things I had learned, and he invited me to attend church the following Sabbath. We did just that, and immediately felt right at home.

We began to study the Bible with the pastor and with members of our new church family. We have been amazed at all we have learned.

My mother, my wife, and I were all baptized November 4, 2006. Since then, my dad, Jim Newman, has begun to attend church and is studying the Bible with us. We thank God for His many blessings, for our new church family, and most of all for leading us to the truth.

Sean Newman, Terre Haute Church member, as told to Karen Peckham, Terre Haute Church communication secretary