Terry - Romania

Nickname: Ray

I was raised as a Nazarene but did not come to know Christ as my personal savior until my late teens. I was at a revival meeting in our church, and the speaker was giving one of those "fire and brimstone" messages, and quite well I might add. So when he gave the altar call I went forward, probably more for the sake of acquiring "fire insurance," than to have a personal relationship with Jesus.

That being the case, and due to a lack of discipleship (being a new Christian at the time), I found that I was one of the seeds sown in shallow soil; and while in the army, I drifted further and further from Christ.

Finally, after many years I began to change my life and turn back to the path of Christ that I had so long ago forsaken. In 1996, I rededicated my life to Christ and in 1998 was finally baptized.

This return to Jesus brought with it a revitalization of my faith and a new feeling of the Holy Spirit being present in my life. I am reminded many times that even though we may fail and even forsake God, He will never forsake us. I know that He is always with me even when I am not focused on Him, and I am reminded daily of His love for me.

In rededicating my life to Christ, I felt a call in a new direction. Giving up the "American dream" lifestyle, my wife and I moved to Romania to minister to the people there. Now we see God working every day in us and through us in the service He has given us to do.