Jesus Christ Is My Lord And Savior

Early Experiences With God

When I was about five years old I remember having my first experience in hearing about God. My grandmother pulled me aside one day as I was playing and asked me if I knew who God was? I really didn't have much context for that question and since the discussion  occurred 62 years ago my memory could be fading concerning that incident. The key memory that I still retain from that incident is that of curiosity!

I remember in third grade being in a situation where I was trying to find the building that contained the swimming pool at the Minnesota school for the BLind. I didn't mind exploring but when I realized I was lost and must have made w wrong turn, I became annoyed because I wanted to swim! I remember distinctly as if it were yesterday, saying "god please help me find the swimming pool building." Immediately after I prayed, the totally calm day changed and a gust of wind gently pushed me. I remember that I had an understanding to walk in the direction that the wind blew. It was like I just knew and there was a certainty and peacefulness. Shortly after that I found the building!

My family attended a Luthern Church fairly regularly during the time I was in elementary School. I remember that the church service wasn't that interesting. I did enjoy Sunday School and especially enjoyed the different teachers I had. There wasn't really any personal sharing or discussion of how Jesus Christ was crucified and rose from the dead!   How Jesus Christ forgives  my sins.

During my first Eighteen years, I really never had a negative feeling about God. I don't recall that I had any real conversation with God,  other than the one incident in third grade.

Profound Change In 1974

I was attending the University Of Minnesota in the fall of 1974, and recall vividly one Friday evening waiting for the bus to take me to Rochester. I was reading a Braille book about Oil fields in the Middle East when a woman  came up to the bench I was sitting on and asked me "do you know who Jesus is"? I remember experiencing a profound sense of peacefulness wrap around me like waves of water! At the same time I remember thinking in my brain that this was a very unusual feeling and reaction. I had no desire to push this person away or ignore the question. The person then introduced herself as Wendy, and asked what I was reading. We had a general discussion about Braille books, As well as the particular book I was reading.

My bus was announced and I was about to leave. Before I left, I had an overwhelming prompting that rose up in me to ask what this person does for work, and what was her name. She said that her name was Wendy, and she  worked for "Man Alive" which was part of the Archdiocese Of St. Paul.

The entire weekend that followed I remember repeatedly thinking that I needed to learn more about Jesus and that I would try and get a hold of Wendy to find out more. This was kind of silly since I din't have a phone number or last name. I came back to school Sunday evening and on that following Monday, I dialed 411 for directory assistance, (before internet) and asked for a number for the "ARCHDIOCESE Of St. Paul." After dialing the number I asked for Wendy and was told that I needed to provide a last name. I then asked for anyone in "Man Alive" and was given a number to call. When I called that number I was insistent that I speak to Wendy! I was connected and that became the beginning of my real relationship with Jesus! Wendy was God's instrument. Wendy invited me to a prayer meeting. Over the next number of years I experienced amazing conversion and the unpacking of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ!

It is now 48  years later and my relationship with Jesus has never been stronger!