Myles - 8 years old

My name is Myles and I am 8 yrs old.  I am in the 3rd grade at Briarwood Christian School.  I have been visiting Mountaintop Church for over a year.  After I turned 8, I began thinking about becoming a Christian.  I started asking my parents questions about what it means to accept Jesus in my heart and I told them I wanted to do that.  For the next few months I began to pray a lot about it and I told Jesus that I wanted to become a Christian.  One night in my bed I asked Jesus to live in my heart and I accepted him as my Lord and Savior.  I told my parents to come upstairs to my room so I could tell them what I did.   They were so happy and proud of me and we prayed together.  I want to get baptized so I can show everyone that I am a Christian.  I am so happy because Jesus died for my sins so that I can have eternal life.

Allie - 8 years old

Mom and Dad came into my room and asked me if I wanted to make Jesus be my forever friend.  I love Jesus and I want to thank him for dying on the cross for me and letting me be a part of him and I made this choice to get baptized because I want to be with him forever and show my family and friends I love Jesus.

Destiny - 14 years old

I'm Destiny, I am 14 years old. My mom died when I was 9 years old and my dad was never in my life. I live with sister, brother-in-law and nephew. We have attended Mountaintop for two years now. Ever since I came to Mountaintop I knew this is where I wanted to commit my life to Christ. I try every day to live my life the way Christ would want me to.  Life can be challenging but with all I have been through I know I am a believer of Christ and He will be by my side always.

Daniel - 19 years old

I am excited to proclaim today, through baptism, that, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.

My story is one of rebellion, redemption, and rehabilitation. I have been coming to Mountaintop for 9 years now. Most of those 9 years, I would go just for a social outing, or to check my attendance off my “religious” checklist. I was not concerned about who God was. I did not understand the Gospel. I was only living for myself.  I was God, or so I thought.

All of this began to change my freshman year of high school. I remember stepping into Oak Mountain High School for the first time, and feeling this sense of loneliness. All of my friends had abandoned me for a separate lifestyle, and the only people that reached out to me were Atheists, Agnostics, and Buddhists. My friends in high school were basically a melting pot of ideas and worldviews that challenged my own. I instantly felt a nagging on my heart whenever I would talk about my “beliefs,” and really began to doubt that God even existed.

This nagging intensified on March 23, 2010 when my parents sat me down, and told me that my dad had this cancer called Multiple Myeloma. My questions turned from “God, do you really exist?” to “Even if you do exist God, how can you allow something so evil to happen to me? Is it not enough that I left my old friends for you? That I struggle every day to prove to my new friends and myself that you exist? That I’m lonely? Why do you have to take my dad from me? What do you want from me?!?”

I hit rock bottom. It was very dark place, but it was only there that I saw the light at top. Cham McCutchen, my youth pastor at the time, told me to watch this documentary called, “The Case for Christ.” I watched it and all of the sudden something clicked. I realized that proving the existence of God isn’t a matter of structuring this magical argument; it’s about Christ. It’s about realizing who He is, and He is God. I also realized that God almighty loved me, and died for me even when I didn’t deserve it. I realized that my sin was this destructive and immovable force that a religious checklist couldn’t “check off.” I needed a savior. I needed Jesus.

I accepted God for who he was that August day in 2011. I also accepted his gift of salvation that he so freely gives to me, and anyone who calls upon His name (Romans 10:13). Do I consider myself perfect? Absolutely not! However, I realize that I’m a product of Grace, and I’m still in this process of perfection.

I’m getting baptized today as a proclamation of that process. My name is Daniel Wertz, and Dying is how I Live.

Vanessa - 26 years old

I have been attending Mountaintop for a little over a year. My initial visit was only to observe, but then I came again and was hooked. I have not had the easiest time since leaving my home in California but this church family has been there for me through it all. I am proud to say I have built such a strong relationship and trust in God that I am ready to publicly announce my commitment to Him and live by His word.

My childhood was not influenced by any form of religious practice, though I had been subject to it by surrounding family members and friends. After years of self-destruction I finally realized what I was missing, the unconditional love of God!  A very dear friend of mine asked me to attend a service with her back home (in California) and that very first day I knew He was calling out to me and I felt His presence all around me. In that moment, I gave my life to Christ and I made the promise to study His word and live my life for His glory.

Since then, I have had my struggles to stay clean and accept the things I cannot change. With His love I have had the strength to change and my life is truly amazing with so much more in store. I thank Him every day for the beautiful healthy children He has gifted to me and the wonderful things in store for us.

II Corinthians 3:17-18

Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

And we who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the spirit.

Ryan - 11 years old

I have been coming to Mountaintop church for two years. I realized that I that wanted Jesus Christ as my savior when I lost both my great grandmothers in the same year.  I asked Jesus in my heart that year at V.B.S. I feel like Mountaintop Church is my second home.

Melody - 15 years old 

My name is Melody McVay and I have been going to mountaintop since I was in 3^rd grade.

I do believe Jesus Christ is the son of God.

I believe Jesus died for my sins.

What brought me to asking Christ into my heart is that when I was at exchange weekend I took a good look at my life and thought to myself, “I could of done so much better than that.” When we went up to tell about how the weekend was, I went up and I said that it felt like God slapped me in the face saying, “Strighten up your life. I have amazing plans for you, you just need to fallow what I say.” I know it will be hard for me but im willing to do it because I love God with all my heart.

When my dad got his new job at Gro landscaping, he hasn’t been as stressed and his company sent us to the beach and we stayed in a beautiful condo and we are getting to go again this summer. We all have been saying that it was a blessing that God has given us.

I diced to give my life to Christ at Exchange weekend. The speaker we had was amazing, he was so funny but at the same time everything he would say would be intense and he got me think about getting baptized and giving my life to God. 

Kaylynn - 9 years old

I have been wanting to be baptized for two years and I finaly get to on my grandfathers birthday.  I know that Jesus died on the cross for each and everyone of us.  So I want to open my heart up two him and for him.  So I really wanted to get baptized on my grandfathers birthday so we can celebrate his birthday and my baptism.  So I am so happy and lucky to open up my heart for him for he died on the cross for us. 

Sara - 15 years old

I've been going to Mountaintop for little over a year now. I asked Christ into my heart about two years ago. I was going through a lot with my aunt dying of lung cancer and I did not know a way out of the pain and suffering until September 10,2009 when I went to this "back to school bash" at North Park Baptist Church. During that weekend I realized that having a personal relationship with God is the only way I could be at peace with myself and others, and knowing that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins.

I want to get baptized and let everyone know that I am a Christian and I want to follow Jesus Christ. 

Maddie - 14 years old

I have been going to Mountaintop for about three years. The special moment that led me to Christ happened at exchange weekend. My mom sent me a message and said that my brother was home from the navy for the weekend. Tears of joy ran down my face because I hadn't seen my brother since early December and I was really missing him. I made plans to leave Exchange early and go home and see my brother. A few hours later I realized that Christ had blessed me by letting me see my brother and go to Exchange weekend. The very next morning I asked Christ into my heart.

Christian - 15 years old

I have been going to Mountaintop for almost two years now. I do believe Jesus Christ is the son of God and that he is my Savior. My life has been difficult and I got really angry at God and everyone else. At Exchange weekend I stayed with Daniel and the 9th grade guys. When I first got there I felt uncomfortable and I couldn’t say anything. But gradually I got to know the guys and they were amazing so I finally opened up. And so did the other guys and I found out that my problems are nothing compared to the other guys. I accepted God and Jesus Christ as my King and Savior at Exchange weekend. I am truly grateful.

Mary Ashley “Mash” - 14 years old

I have been coming to Mountaintop since the fourth grade. I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and my heavenly father.  I believe that he died for my sins. I asked Jesus into my heart in my friend’s bedroom with her mom who is like my second mom praying with me and talking about it with me.

I have wanted to get baptized for a year now. This year has been a rough year but it has brought me to God.  I just count on God to help me get through it all and I know he will always be there for me.

Chyanna - 14 years old

I have been attending Mountaintop for 9 years! A few weeks ago the high school and middle school ministries had an event called Exchange Weekend. It was an amazing weekend filled with Jesus, and fun!

On Saturday night of Exchange our speaker Andy said "We say we believe in Christ but do we live like it?" That got me thinking seriously about my heart. During worship that night I gave my life to Christ. It was the best feeling ever! I could feel The Holy Spirit, it was awesome to be surrounded by my brothers and sisters in Christ and finally join the family!

Barbara - 15 years old

Last year I had two people who were close to me commit suicide within 2 months of each other.  I have been raised in a Christian home.  But for 3 months, I didn’t feel God’s presence in my life.  I was trying to find something that would fill that hole in my heart. 

My best friend invited me to come to the Exchange weekend at Mountaintop.  I was hoping to meet new people throughout the weekend and I had decided not to pay attention to the whole “Jesus part”.  When I walked into the church building, for the first time in months I just felt this love come over me.  I didn’t know what it was or why it was happening but I brushed it off and just thought it might be the people who were surrounding me.  That night in worship, I could relate to almost every song we were singing and it really showed me that God was there and He was trying to get me to see that He loves me and that He is real.  That hole in my heart was then taken over by God’s love.  I gave my life to Christ.  Since then, so many doors have opened up for me.  I have met the most amazing people and now have a new “friend group” that I know will always be there for me.  I can’t remember the last time I was truly this happy. Jesus Christ has saved me.  And I want to follow Him in baptism.

Jack – 11 years old

I’ve been coming to Mountaintop my whole life.  I do believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  I know in my heart that He died for my sins.  I just wanted to get baptized to follow Christ and let people know that I am a Christian.  Thanks for letting me make this public profession of my faith in Christ.


Deborah, wife and mom of 2

My family and I have been attending Mountaintop Church for almost 1 year now.  I was raised in the Lutheran Church and grew up in the Church from birth on.  I was baptized as a baby. 

I have worshipped God and have acknowledged Jesus Christ as Lord of my life for as long as I can remember.  As an adult, I want to make a personal decision to get baptized and let everyone know that I am a follower of Jesus Christ. 


Hunter, 7 years old

I have learned how much Jesus loves me and now I want to make a profession that Jesus is my forever friend.  I want to follow Jesus and grow to know Him more and more as I grow older.


Taylor – Single, 28 year old

I know for a fact that I was saved from the day I confessed my life to Christ because on that day Christ confessed his life to me.  I began with a lot of faith like any 14 year old boy might, I prayed any time I had a thought in my head, and demanded things expecting immediate results.  In my heart I knew I might have asked out of turn, or made up some reason why He was too busy for my little, petty, needy desires.  God still existed.  I was told I only needed to have faith so that’s what I held on to.  Of course I didn’t need to play by the rules or stand in line and wait for anything.  Any short cut or easy answer to my momentary life style was all the reasoning I needed to make my next decision. 

As I looked back, time and time again God had rescued me from certain death.  It was only after an earnest prayer and time in prison that I came to find God’s plan for me.  Today I have a very bright future.  I’ve decided to go back to school.  I still don’t have my rights back, I still live with my mom, and I can say there are no short cuts in life.  God has the know-how, and the go to, with all the things I need to make all my dreams come true.  All I have to do is what He says.  I think He loves me.


Henry – 6 years old

I have been at Mountaintop Church since I was four months old. I have been raised in Church all of my life. 

I began asking my parents questions about salvation.  One day on the way to McWane Center, I asked my mom these questions, “Do all people go to heaven?” “How do I know that I will go to heaven?”  “How do I know if I believe in God when I can’t see Him?” 

After my mom answered my questions she felt that I was ready and that I understood becoming a Christian.  My mom led me in the salvation prayer, right there while I was in my car seat in the minivan, I asked Christ to forgive me of my sins and to come into my heart.

Wilma (single, 28 year old)

I and my sisters have been attending Mountaintop for 5 years. I was blessed to have
parents with strong Christian values and I became a Christian at a young age.   My parents encouraged me despite my disability.  I was born with a bone deficiency called Osteogenesis Imperfecta.  After losing my parents in 2001, I found it difficult to find that encouragement and hold on to my faith.  We got into the habit of not attending church regularly and I became depressed and doubtful.  After awhile we started attending many churches, there was one that remained in our heads and our hearts…Mountaintop!!!  I began to feel that sense of encouragement again.  I have rededicated my life to Christ and I want to get baptized and let my church family know how good God has been to me.

Kemonia (single, 23 year old)

I got baptized at a very young age.  Although I knew God, I didn’t completely understand the concept of baptism.  After losing my parents, my sisters and I didn’t go to church like we had in the past.  But college was a turning point in my life.  I started getting involved in Christian organizations there and things just felt right.  That empty gap I had after losing my parents was filled.  So that summer of my freshman year at Troy, my sisters and I started looking for a church home.  I learned so much from the teaching at Mountaintop and the congregation treated us like family.  I want to get baptized because I have no doubt that Jesus died for me and I want to live my life everyday for Him.

Tashee (single, 20 year old)

My parents introduced me to Christ at a very young age.  I always knew about God and wanted to obey Him, but I never understood about a real relationship with Christ until I lost my parents at 9 years old.  In my junior year of high school, my sisters got me interested in going to Mountaintop.  I soon began to thirst for more of that honest relationship with Jesus Christ.  I began to learn verses and apply it to my own life.  Last year, when Pastor Doug did the baptismal service…I felt God tug on my heart.  At the end of the service I was brought to tears.  God was telling me that I needed to get baptized.  When I was a kid, getting baptized was my parent’s decision.  Now that I am almost 21 years old, I have a greater understanding of what it means to follow Christ and God has placed on my heart to get baptized as my own decision. 

Amanda (30 year old single mom)

While I am still new to mountaintop church I have truly enjoyed my visits.  Mountaintop church feels like a great place where I can grow in my relationship with Christ.  About 2 years ago I watched grandmother slowly lose her fight to cancer.   A few days before she passed her Hospice care giver asked her if she had ever been saved and accepted Jesus Christ as her savior. My grandmother said no but that she would like to.  To see my grandmother at the end of their life find Christ warmed my heart but at the same time woke me up on the inside.

Six months after my grandmother passed away we found out my mom has cancer!  Now this is what broke me all the way down.  I will never forget that day... when I heard the word cancer again. It was like the word stopped for that minute. I remember being so angry with God.  Why would He do this to my mom?  My mom didn’t deserve this, she just watched her mom pass from cancer. How could God let this happen?  I remember feeling so let down by God.  As the chemo and radiation started I watched my mom loose her hair and get very sick.  I would smile and comfort her, hold her and love her. I had to be brave for her.   Behind closed doors I would fall apart trying to catch my breath.   I found myself so mad at God.  I felt so let down by GOD.   God was still there for me. He still loved me even though I had been so upset at him. God has carried my mom as well as my family through this cancer.   He has never left us and has blessed my mom so much.   I know now more than ever that God never left me when I was mad at him.   He stayed right by my side and held me.   He let me find him in all his glory!

The reason that I want to get baptized is because I have decided that I didn't want to wait until the end of my life to live for God.  I want to live for Him now. 

Makenzie (13 years old)

I've been going to mountaintop for a year. I've always believed in Jesus but, realized that I have never asked him to take control of my life. I wanted to follow Jesus in baptism because I wanted everyone to know I am a follower of Jesus.

Steve  (39 years old) 

We have been members of Mountaintop for almost a decade now and this has become my family's church.

Having been raised in the Catholic Church I was baptized as an infant, received Holy Communion as a child, and was confirmed while in high school. I have always believed in Christ, but living my daily life as a Christian has been extremely elusive for me.

My 7 year old daughter (Amanda) is being baptized today and it struck me that she is making a commitment that I really never lived up to. I have been extremely blessed throughout the course of my life, and I'd like for those blessings to continue for my family. I guess I'd just like to make sure that I am doing everything I can to be a better example than I have been so far.








Amanda (8 years old)
I want to be a Christoin because when Jesus died for my sins and I feel relly special.  I prayed to Jesus with my faimly and asked him into my heart now.  I am relly happy!!!  And the reson I want to be babitisd because-I want to show everone that I am a Christion.  (as written).









Tim (29 years old)

I was raised in a somewhat conflicted religious household, my mother being a Jehovah's Witness and my father of Catholic upbringing. By the age of twelve or thirteen, I had basically given up on religion, having never developed a relationship with God. As I graduated high school and advanced into college, my life became more and more self centered, indulging every whim. I only cared for myself and how I could be satisfied with things like alcohol, sex, and drugs. I lived like this for many years, living in the dark well into my late twenties.

I met my future wife, Amanda in 2009. We worked together for a year before the first date. I had always admired the way she handled herself, like she knew something I didn't. Well she did, it was our Lord Jesus Christ. After we started dating, it was quickly apparent to me that I had better clean up my act if I intended for this to last. We went to church here and there, but became so busy with work and school that there was no commitment. She helped me in areas of faith that I had struggled with including my prayer life and stewardship.
     
Although I had made a little progress in my faith, I had not surrendered to Christ. I had yet to really feel God's presence in my own life. In March of this year, my family lost my grandfather, Robert Grantham. He was easily the most godly man I have known. In the days leading up to his departure, Amanda and I visited him in the hospital. At this point, he had developed some dementia, somewhat confused by his surroundings. When we entered the room, he immediately recognized and greeted us with hugs. We visited for awhile, as his pastor, Jason Dollar came by. After Jason prayed over my grandfather, the strength and resilience he showed, announcing his faith in his Lord and his love for his church was really a turning point and a moment that will live in my memory forever. This was a man who was not afraid of the grave. As amazing a testament that was for me, my grandmother's grace as she watched him leave this world was just as awe inspiring. She knows there will be a reunion. 

His death pushed me towards refuge in the Bible, and in September of this year realized that Jesus Christ came to this earth and died to atone for my sins.  Amanda and I have been worshipping at Mountaintop for three months now. Pastor Doug's message has been a huge part of this transition. I wake up eager every Sunday morning to hear the good news.

I am not alone in the fact that this changed my life. Earlier this year, my brother Ryan was saved by God's grace and baptized. We both are very much influenced by the way grandfather lived his life. Ryan's salvation was really the motivation I needed to become baptized and give my life to Christ. Thank you, brother.

Ever since I received Jesus Christ as my savior, my outlook on life is completely different. I am no longer a slave to sin. Where there once was a anger, disappointment, and fear now resides joy, love and fearlessness! I am not alone, I walk with Christ!  I only wish I had come to God sooner. I am freer and happier than ever. This is the greatest time in my life!

Eph. 2:8-10  1 John 5:20
         

Connie  (41 years old)

I have been coming to Mountain Top for a little over 1-1/2 yrs.  My first time coming to Mountain Top was to watch my daughter get baptized.  She was attending Mountain Top already and wanted to be baptized here.  I kept coming back because I really enjoyed the services and this was the first place I’ve ever been where I sincerely felt God’s presence. 

My childhood into early adulthood I was a member of a religious organization that I didn’t feel God’s love at all.  I felt we were taught things out of fear not love and so many things didn’t make sense to me.  When I was old enough to make the decision for myself to leave, I did but it left me with a bitter view of worshiping God.  I was told I would be destroyed in Armageddon or that I would be stupid to be a part of any other religious organization because that would anger God.  I was basically taught that if I weren’t going to be a part of their religion then it would be best that I not go anywhere to any other churches & learn anything about the bible from anyone else.  So that’s exactly what I did.  I decided that I didn’t need to go to church because I would just stay in my bubble with God where we can have our own little relationship.  The problem with that though is that I never grew spiritually.  That was ok for me though for a while because at least I wasn’t “angering God by going to a church to learn false teachings.”  

After coming to Mountain Top for my daughter’s baptism, the small spiritual food I received just in that one day made me hungry for more.  I began to come more and more and I started participating in different events and small groups.  All of that made me start to grow spiritually and realize how much I’ve missed all these years. 

At the last group baptism I felt God move me.  I was moved to the point that I cried on the way home because I felt God was telling me that’s what he wanted me to do.  I cried because my heart hurt from what I had been taught (not to go to church or get baptized out of that particular religion) and here I was contemplating following Jesus in a church that I was once taught to condemn.  Well in retrospect, that’s why I thought I was crying.

Now I know I was crying because my Lord was telling me I needed to give myself to him and let him enter my heart and I was fighting it.  I have now decided to be obedient to God.  I do trust and believe that he gave himself in order for me to have life.  He is my Lord and my Savior.  I have been through so much that I know he preserved me and watched over me so that this day would come where I’d be willing to stand up and show him that I’m listening to him, that I believe and trust in him, and that I love him. 

Mark (28 years old)

I have been coming to Mountaintop Church since October 2011.  My parents brought me up in a Christian home in Amarillo Texas, and we went to church almost every Sunday.  When I was around eleven years old, my parents sent me to a church camp.  We had a service every night during the week of church camp, and some of my friends asked me if I would skip with them.  After skipping one of the services, my conscience really weighed on me and the next night I decided to get saved.  It really was the best decision of my life.  Jesus has helped me through so many situations when I felt lost and alone.  Just recently after re-reading the first 4 gospels of the New Testament, I knew the next step was to follow Christ and be baptized.  I want to show God that I am his faithful servant and dedicated to follow his teachings.

Kathryn (25 years old)