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Take a minute. (Ok, ok just a few seconds) Can you think of how you have impacted someone for Christ?  How has your life inspired others to look to Christ?

 

Faith is a transforming experience!  It defines who you are: as a teen, college student or adult.  God has given us a responsibility to live out our faith for others to see -single or married, child or senior- express to others what Christ has done for you.  It will affect you tremendously as well as the community of believers here at Grace.

 

Do you see the importance of reaching your world for Christ?

 

We need to see the vital importance of reaching our school, our neighborhood, our workplace for Christ.  Saying this and making it happen are two different things.  For a lot of us it may seem like climbing a mountain.  We at Grace need both encouragement, and boldness that only God can give as we Christ rule in our lives. Let us explore together different aspects of reaching those in need around us. We hope that Biblical teaching and personal stories will leave you inspired to REACH!

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(Does it send shivers up your spine just to think about it?)

“That deep-seated conviction that the greatest favor I can do for others is introduce them to Christ.”

Paul E. Little–How to Give Away Your Faith

What is Witnessing?

“There was something about me that wasn’t quite right...”

 

Each true believer has a unique story to share. How they came to know Christ as their personal Savior.  That story is both amazing and transforming. It serves to remind us of God’s magnificent power in our lives. It’s an experience that brought joy in Carter Bigley’s life. He recently shared his story with REACH.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tell us a little bit about how you came to Christ. What did you go through and what your experience was?

My experience was: I wasn’t saved until 1985.  I was 52 years old.  And some of the things that brought it about was they shut the plant down here in Brockport.  And I had to relocate.  I had a job offer in Charlotte Michigan.   I went out there on a flying trip on a Friday.  Come back on a Monday and I had to be out there on the next Friday.  So I took my wife and a pickup truck and took off for Charlotte Michigan. The reason I was so old when ever I was saved was that I had it too good.  I really did.  I had a great wife, six kids. They were no problem at all to us. A home, a car, a good job, things were just too good.  Even at that there was something about me that wasn’t quite right. And I needed something, far be it from me to know what it was.  And then we went to Michigan. We lived on a temporary interstate, and with a pickup truck my wife didn’t want to drive herself to church. So I started driving.  The first time I just dropped her off.  I didn’t go.  But after that I thought this is foolish. I started going with her.  Through hearing the Word at church I felt that I don’t know much about the Bible.  So I got a Bible and started reading the New Testament.  And that’s how [He] really got me saved, by hearing the Word in church and reading and Word.  And I heard through the gospels in John whenever I come to the awakening that I did need Jesus Christ in my life.  So that’s when I asked him into my life.  And immediately I felt the void I had was complete.  I am sure happy I made the decision.  I don’t know why I wasn’t awakened earlier.  I am thankful that at my age that I was able and I knew God knew I would be saved ahead of time but he did leave me around long enough to do that.  He could have very easily taken me away.  I’m happy about that.   It’s helped our marriage too.  I think having both of us saved, in thinking alike doing things alike was great for our marriage.

 

I know you’ve mentioned this before, Marilyn’s impact on your life.

Right, yeah she did. She talked to me about going to church you know being saved.  She was saved and everything.  She prayed for me a lot I know that.  She wasn’t twisting my arm. And I’m glad. If she had been real forceful she might have drove me away a little bit. That’s the way I would treat others that I talk to about being saved.  Don’t use too much force, but be persistent.  Try to explain to them.  It’s not easy to some people.  I’ve been talking to one guy for years and he thinks he’s a good guy he’s going to go to heaven on what his works.  So I said read Ephesians 2:8 and see what it says.

 

What do you look back on as the turning point, was there a specific passage or something that turned [you to him]?

There was their in John. There was different ones of course I knew John 3:16, but in [John] 14 too. Where he said: “In my Fathers house are many mansions and I go to prepare a place, and where I go I will take you”.  That kind of hit home too. And then further down    I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the Father except through me.  They were very, very interesting.  I had a lot of people praying for me, I wasn’t alone. I appreciate all people’s prayers.  A lot of people are now up in glory right now.

 

What do you look forward to as a believer?  What brings you joy?

Well, One thing knowing God loves me.  That’s for sure.  I get a lot of joy out of going to church, Sunday school, learning and reading Gods word. We have that Bible study over at the nursing home on Monday morning.  I get a lot out of that too. I’m learning a lot out of it.  We take turns reading and when it’s my turn to read I always make sure I know what I’m talking about, or at least everything is right. I use the commentaries I read different bibles, different versions of the same Word.  I enjoy reading the bible.  Every time you read - you can read the same passage a dozen times. A little more comes out each time you do read it.

 

What would you say to other believers about witnessing to their family? You kind of mentioned that with Marilyn, but what other things from your experience you see as important?

One thing I can do I can show them me.  You know, there I was 52 years old when I was saved. It’s never too late, but I’d advise them to do it earlier – really. I missed a lot.  When Marilyn started going to church.  If I’d have started going - I missed awful lot.  I’m trying to catch up.  I’m reading God’s word everyday.  I was more or less convinced of it. It’s the right thing to do. That stuff may be not the right answer, but it is the right thing to do.  They would benefit by it and feel better through it too.  I sure know I did.  What a big awakening it was for me - Really.

 

That’s a great story Carter, I am glad you were able to share with us. And appreciate your willingness to be an impact for Christ.

 

Thank you for asking me to do this.