Joanne was recently baptised at Grace Church Wakefield. Someone is baptised when they personally trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for their forgiveness.
Here Joanne tells her own story.
I was brought up from birth as a Jehovah’s Witness.
It was very hard living up to their high standards. So at sixteen I made the decision to leave.
As I got older I always knew in the back of my mind that there was ‘something else out there’, I just didn’t know how to find it!
I joined in with Grace Church Wakefield’s Sunday morning services just after lockdown started, following along on Zoom, and I started to read the Bible myself. I learnt so much!
When I finally attended a Grace Church service after lockdown I can honestly say it was like coming home. Everyone has always been so friendly and kind to me.
I realise that my biggest problem is that I am a sinner and there is a day of judgement.
I realise that my biggest problem is that I am a sinner and there is a day of judgement. The good news is that Jesus' sacrifice for me isn't what I thought. I now know that Jesus was abandoned by his Father for me. And because he has risen from the grave I know that I will be resurrected one day as well.
Because of my JW upbringing, I used to think heaven was a place called 'paradise' where there would be a wood cabin, with a tiger in the garden and that I could cuddle ferocious animals. All we had to do was 'be good' to get there.
Now I know that I will actually get to go to the real heaven that the Bible speaks about. And the best thing about it is that I will get to meet Jesus there.
I have realised there are always things I am going to get wrong. But now I know that when I get it wrong I know I can go to God and say I am sorry and he forgives me. I now realise that with God I can try again and again.
I now know that Jesus was abandoned by his Father for me
My life has started to change. I look forward to coming to church on a Sunday. My appetite for knowledge has grown so much. I now have my own small library of Christian books! I know God's plan is to make me like him. I am not perfect but I will always keep trying with the help of the Lord, Grace Church and my family.
I came across this passage in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you declares the lord plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”
I cannot wait to see what the Lord has planned for me, my family and my Grace Church family.