SALVATION STORY

We were asked to share our Salvation Story and Growth Story for NYGO. Here is my Salvation Story.

My Testimony

Before

Hi, my name is Craig Helfrich , and this is my story of how I came to know Jesus.

Before I met Jesus, I felt that I was walking in life alone. I was basically just living day to day not really getting anywhere. I grew up in a Christian home and had good Christian parents. When I was young, we went to church every Wednesday and every Sunday. I felt like my life was full of routines and I was just going through the motions. I didn’t really have a personal relationship with Christ; I was just kind of going with the flow. I felt like church was expected and I didn’t have a say in it. I didn’t want to disappoint my parents so I tried to please them as much as I could. I knew that there was something missing at an early age.

How

It was at the young age of nine that I was sitting in an after school Bible Club in Swayzee, Indiana that I really began to understand what a relationship with Christ really meant. I remember my Bible Club teacher, Anna Miller, who really did care about me and my friends. She was the perfect example of a Christ Follower and what it meant to live it all for him.

She read this story around Christmas time about a candy cane. She explained what the candy cane meant spiritually. She explained how the white stripes represent Christ because he is clean and pure and then the red stripes represent us, with sin in our lives. She then went on with the story of salvation and what it really means to have Jesus Christ in our hearts. At that point, I could really feel the tug from Christ.

I remember just crying my heart out when she gave the alter call. I prayed the salvation prayer at a younger age, but I really didn’t mean what I was praying. I basically prayed it because I was suppose to. At this time, I knew that my life was pretty stale and I needed Jesus Christ in my life. I then realized that I was set free of any sin I committed and that I fully belonged to Jesus Christ. I felt a peace in my heart that I have never felt before. Not only was Jesus in my heart now, but he was my best friend.

After

Since that day in Swayzee, Indiana at the age of nine, I have been seeking the face of God on a daily basis. I will tell you this; life hasn’t been easy at all. I have gone through a lot of trials in my life. With Jesus in my heart, I know he won’t give me something too big that I can’t handle. There are still days where I struggle, but instead of doing something stupid or not Christ-like, I have learned to rely on Jesus for all my needs. The world would tell me to go out and drink, smoke, have sex, whatever sin you want to throw out there. After accepting Jesus in my heart, the only thing I need is him! I have the love and compassion of Jesus in my heart and I want to be able to share that with the world.

Through my life, this has always been a verse that means so much to me:

Jeremiah 29:11:
“For I know the plans that I have for you, “ says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
(NLT Version)

NYGO

For the past few weeks, we have had a class to prepare us for our NYGO trip that we will be going on at the end of June. The class has been very beneficial. We are doing a journal by Andy Stanley called "MAX Q." It has been a really good study. Each week the students and leaders go through this journal and it has really made me stop and think about many areas of my life. This past week dealt with setting standards in our lives. It was a real eye-opener for me. I remember my high school and college days well and I know I had set some pretty high standards in those days. There is a big difference between setting the standards and actually following the standards.

Jesus set some pretty high standards for all Christ-Followers. I had a great discussion yesterday with my small group about if we follow God's standards for our lives, everything should fall into place. One fact is true, none of us are perfect. There will be many times where we will get pressured in our lives (drinking, smoking, entertainment, sex, language, etc.) If we have set our standards high and follow those , God will be with us when those tough issues arise. My take is that each one of us need high accountability in all of these areas.

This week also dealt with friendships. I believe it is very important that we have friends who are very trustworthy and honest with us. I don't think it is healthy just to have friends that are "yes friends." I believe a real friend is one that isn't afraid to tell you when you are doing something not Christ-like and is going to say something to you because they love you. This is an area where we really need to be careful. I am thankful I have good Christian friends who care about me and want to the best for me.

During NYGO preparation, we have to write out our Salvation Story and a Growth Story. I will be sharing those this week.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

Galations 2:20

High School Baseball- Miss It

Last night I had the opportunity to head to Ft. Wayne and Wizards stadium to see two very good high school baseball teams. #1 ranked Norwell (23-0)(Class 3 A) took on #6 ranked Homestead (4A).

Before 1,500 fans and over ten major league scouts, Norwell won 4-0. My former high school basketball coach invited me to the game. Norwell has a big-time MLB prospect pitcher in Jerod Parker. Parker is predicted to go as high as the top 5 in next month's Major League Baseball Draft. After watching him pitch last night, I can see why. The kid is going to be a MLB pitcher someday. He is that good!

I remember playing high school baseball and seeing some scouts at games, but never did I see as many as 11 radar guns and 2 MLB general managers in attendance. It was pretty impressive. Just watching the game last night really made me want to go out on the field and take some grounders and hit a few.

It was a great night. Caught some supper at Red Robbin and then headed over with my former coach and family. Great night, good baseball.

Melinda Gone? R U Kidding Me???

I can't believe it! Melinda went home last night on American Idol. I didn't get to watch it because of church! I am so upset! Melinda was an awesome singer, and more importantly, a good person.

So now, it is Blake against Jordin for the finals next week. I really don't care much about it now. I would like to see Blake win now I guess.

It is just so disappointing that America didn't vote for the BEST SINGER in the competition. I thought that is what this show was all about. I guess not!

A Night Of Worship

Tonight we will be honoring our Seniors with a night of worship. The night will be divided up between different types of worship: singing, reading, praying. It is always a great night when we honor those leaving us, but it is also sad to see them leave. I know God has great plans for the Class of 2007. It is really hard to believe that another school year is almost over! As I get older, the time just goes so much faster. As I was reading this morning in my devotions, the saying "Take one day at a time" really hit me. We need to live each day like it may be our last. I know I want to die knowing I was totally seeking the face of God and following after his heart.

I will post later on how the night went.

Lots of TV tonight

It has been a crazy weather day today. For most of the day, it was 87 degrees and humid, much like a July day. In the afternoon, we had some bad storms with some strong winds and lightning. I was suppose to have a softball game and that was cancelled. I was looking forward to playing tonight, but there is so many good things on TV that it may be a good thing the game got cancelled.

TV line-up:

6:00 Sports Center

7:30 Dukes of Hazzard

8:00 American Idol

8:00 CMT Music Awards

9:00 Bulls vs Pistons

Wedding Fun

Here is a picture of the wedding party I was in this past weekend. Good times....