Celebrating Baptisms

I BELIEVE!

September 13 testimonies

Ariana Herr (age 9)

My name is Ariana Herr. I am in a family of seven. I have two younger brothers and two older sisters. I also like to read books and especially the Bible. I play softball and have a pet dog and a pet parakeet. The Bible sometimes seems complicated or unreal but going to College Church my whole life has helped me. At the end of each year, I feel closer to God and understand the Bible more than before. Now I understand and believe that Jesus is my Savior, and I'm on the right path with the Lord. I want to be baptized to become closer to the Lord. Being baptized is something that God wants Christians to do. The Lord has done a lot for me (like dying on the cross for my sins), so I want to obey him and be baptized.

George Truitt (age 16)

I’m a sophomore at Wheaton Academy, and I play football and wrestle for sports. I also like to do quiz bowl, climbing team and trap shooting. I have been a Christian since the third grade, but in seventh grade, it started to click for me. When I had my hand injury during eighth grade in 2018, that’s when it sort of took a big leap, and it started being more of a personal faith. I want to be baptized because I want to make my faith publicly known, and I essentially want to say in front of a bunch of believers, “Hey, look at me! I’m a Christian and I am saved.”

Trevor Smith (age 16)

I am 16. I go to Wheaton Warrenville South. Because I have God's Spirit in me, because I am a man of faith, because I am a prayer warrior, Jesus is my Savior. I know him a lot, and I know I can be with him forever in heaven.

Caitlyn Knudson (age 12)

My name is Caitlyn Knudson. I am in seventh grade at Franklin Middle School. My parents are missionaries, and I was born and raised with my older sister and brother in Bolivia, South America. Because my parents are missionaries, I grew up in a Christian household. I have gone to church my whole life and went to a Christian school in Bolivia. When I was four, I accepted Jesus into my heart. Because of my faith in Jesus's death and resurrection, he gave me the Holy Spirit and eternal life. Since then I have learned more about God through family devotions, Bible class at school and discussions with my family and teachers. I want to be baptized so that I can publicly proclaim my faith. In the Bible, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. I think it's important to follow Jesus's example. Baptism is a sign that you have been saved; it symbolizes your sinful life dying and starting your new Christ-led life.

Moriah Herr (age 11)

My name is Moriah Herr, and I have four siblings. I go to Franklin Middle School, and I play the French horn and the piano. I like to play softball in my free time. Ever since I was little, I have gone to church every Sunday. Lately I have been either watching the live stream or going to the outdoor service. It got me thinking that Jesus was really helping us through this challenging time. I started praying about people who are in a challenging time. This made me want to help others to know Christ as I was privileged to come to know him at a very young age. I want to be baptized because I want to lead others like my friends to know and love Jesus. I know that I can lead others even if I am not baptized, but I feel that God will guide me, and my path will become clearer if I obey him and am baptized.

Elsa Herr (age 13)

My name is Elsa Herr. I am 13 years old, and I have four younger siblings and a dog. I enjoy reading, swimming and spending time with my family. I have always gone to church, but sometimes I used to find it hard to believe that God and Jesus could do things like create the earth, raise people from the dead and every other miracle in the Bible. I was so confused about how that was even possible. I also sometimes had a hard time believing that God would accept me. But in the past two to three years, I have begun to understand the Bible more and find it easier to believe that it is true. I believe that God and Jesus are capable of things that may seem impossible at first glance. I also have accepted that Jesus died on the cross for me and all the other sinners on earth. I know Jesus is my true Savior, and I want to become closer to him. I want to be baptized because God commanded baptism, and I feel it is my job to obey God's commands. I also think it is important that I publicly declare my obedience to God and that I know Jesus is the only Savior.

Lauren Walsh

I'm 31 years old, married to Mike Walsh and we have a son who will be two years old the end of October. I had been attending College Church for about five to six years, when Mike and I first met. I have been attending regularly since. Before having our son, William, I was volunteering in the STARS program and loved it! Not too long after having Will, I switched to volunteering in the nursery and loved that as well. Being around young kids and serving them brings me so much joy.

Some things I really enjoy are spending time with my family and Mike's family. Whether it's just getting together to let the cousins play or going on family vacations. Family is really important to me! I also enjoy going on walks with Will and watching him explore new things.

I grew up in a Christian home and gave my life to Christ at an early age. As I entered high school and attended public school for the first time, I started making my relationship with the Lord my own and a priority. I wasn't being fed Scripture and praying each morning like I was at Wheaton Christian Grammar School; I did it on my own surrounded, of course, with Christian friends from church and my youth group. I want to be baptized to publicly share my commitment to Lord.

I have had numerous conversations with my husband about baptism and what it means and why we are called to do it. For a while, I felt like I needed to be baptized so I could become a member of College Church, which is something Mike and I want to do. I also felt I needed to be in a certain place spiritually with the Lord, like on a spiritual high and things are going well in your relationship with the Lord. I felt like those were not good reasons to be baptized, and I struggled. After talking it through and understanding a bit more, I realized God doesn't want me at my best, he wants me in all stages, and even though I have questions, my desire is to know Jesus more and more and to bring my questions or confusion to him. Jesus is my Lord and Savior, and ultimately, I want to live my life for him.