Jesus Christ Is My Lord And Savior

Early Experiences With God

When I was about five years old, I had my first encounter with the idea of God. I remember my grandmother pulling me aside one day while I was playing and asking, “Do you know who God is?” At that age, I didn't have much context for the question, and since the discussion took place over 60 years ago, some details have naturally faded with time. Still, what has stayed with me is the sense of curiosity her question sparked.

My relationship with God and understanding of him continued to develop during my elementary years. One memorable instance was in third grade, when I was attending the Minnesota School for the Blind. I was trying to find the building that contained the swimming pool. I didn't mind exploring on my own, but once I realized I was lost and must have made a wrong turn, I became frustrated— I just 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, something remarkable happened. Despite it being a perfectly calm day, a sudden gust of wind gently pushed me. In that moment, I felt a sense of certainty and peace, and I somehow knew I should walk in the direction the wind had blown. Shortly after, I found the building!

During elementary school, my family fairly regularly attended a Lutheran church. However, I remember finding the church services rather impersonal. What I did enjoy was Sunday School—especially the different teachers I had. Still, what was absent was any personal sharing or discussion about how Jesus Christ forgives our sins and the importance of believing in Him.

In retrospect, during my first eighteen years of experiencing God, I never had any negative feelings toward Him. However, aside from that one moment in third grade, I don’t recall having any real sense of personal conversation with Him.

Profound Change In 1974

In the fall of 1974, while attending the University of Minnesota, I vividly remember waiting for a bus to take me to Rochester one Friday evening. I was reading a Braille book about oil fields in the Middle East when a woman approached the bench where I was sitting and asked, “Do you know who Jesus is?”

It was then that I experienced a profound sense of peacefulness that seemed to wrap around me like waves of water. At the same time, I remember thinking how unusual this feeling was. Rather than having a desire to push a stranger away, or ignore the question—I felt drawn in.

We had a general conversation about Braille books, including the one I had in my hands. Then, my bus was announced, and I prepared to leave. Just before boarding, I felt an overwhelming inner prompting to ask her what she did for work and to confirm her name. She told me her name was Wendy, and that she worked for “Man Alive,” an outreach connected to 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.

My mind was restless during the weekend that followed, i couldn’t stop thinking “i need to learn more about jesus.” i also thouhgt about how I would try to contact wendy to learn more, whcih was silly considering tithat i didn’t have her phone number or event a lst name.

On Monday, I decided to dial 411 for directory assitance—the age before the internet—and asked for the number of Archdiocese of St. Paul. When I called, I asked for Wendy, but they said, “We need a last name.” I then asked for anyone involved with “Man Alive” and was given another number to call. When I called that number, I was insistent on speaking with Wendy. Eventually, I was connected, and that marked the beginning of my real relationship with Jesus. Wendy was God’s instrument in my life. She invited me to a prayer meeting, and over the next several years, I experienced an amazing conversion and the unfolding of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

46 years later my relationship with Jesus has never been stronger!