From: Tony

Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2005 1:32 PM

To: Doug

Subject: Karolyn

Hello Doug,

KT (Karolyn) and I wanted to let you know our good news Wednesday night at church, but KT was too excited and I thought we were all busy and I was not sure I would be able to communicate well enough, in the short amount of time we had, the many praises I had for the staff & members of FBNS.

The good news is KT accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior Tuesday night at home. This was the result of God working in my families life on many different levels, most of which I had no clue or concept of. This email will serve many purposes, communicate to you the great news about KT, thank & praise the staff and members of FBNS. It will also allow me to capture and write down all the aspects God has touched ours lives over the last year, and many more before I am done with this email.

About a year ago, (no better way to put it), but I was on the fence. I was reluctant to get involved in church and at that point, my family did not have a church home. I now know that my inability to provide (spiritual growth) for my family, made us homeless. Not homeless in the physical sense, but in a more importance sense. We were void of God in our life. (while I am typing this, I had to pause a moment when my fingers typed the words "void of God").

Last year, my wife (Kristen) was pushing me to decide on a church home for our family. We visited many churches in the area and had not decided what church to "join". In my mind, I was definitely thinking of the word "join", not become a "member" or much less an "active participant" but simply join. I told my wife to find the biggest church and we will join that one. My thoughts were, in a big church I would be able to sit on the back row during service and no one would know I was even here.

I don't remember if we started to going to bible fellowship when we fist joined or not. But it didn't take long after joining the bible fellowship class for my wife and I to; Start going to bible fellowship functions, start attending church on a more frequent basis, attending one of the marriage classes, my wife became a group leader, I became the prayer coordinator.... All of a sudden, I realized that God had different plans for me and my family, besides sitting on the back row during service. AND I was enjoying serving God! Mickey said it best a few Sundays ago, when he said. "I would rather be here than eat". That hit home for me.

In my past, I was not involved in church (I should say, I was not involved in Gods work) enough, to have the opportunity to witness to others as He has commanded us to do. Recently I have been praying that God will provide the opportunity for me to lead someone in the sinner's prayer. Mike said during one of his sermons, that you will never forget the first person you lead to Christ. I had NO clue God would make that statement so true in my life. I was able to lead KT in the sinner's prayer Tuesday night.

Tuesday when I picked up the two girls from daycare after work KT started right away talking about baptism. Over the previous few days we were talking about baptism and what it means to be saved. That day during my lunch break, I made a trip to the Christen book store to pickup a book called, Leading Kids to Christ. The book is something I was planning on reading to KT over the next few weeks, but it was clear to me within a few minutes of the ride home. I did not have the luxury of a few weeks. KT spotted the Christen supply bag on the car seat and asked with a lot of excitement. Daddy, did you buy me a book on baptism? Can I be saved tonight?

At this point, I am second guessing myself. Tony, do you know enough to lead someone to Christ? Tony, do you remember the sinner's prayer? Tony, what if you mess up? Tony, the risk is too great. Tony, Tony, Tony, Tony....

I prayed... GOD!!!, give me strength, knowledge & wisdom I will need to fulfill your commandments. Let my body be a vessel to deliver your message.

Once we were home, KT & I sat down and we spent about 45 minutes going through scripture, leading up to the sinner's prayer. At age seven, (8 on December 19th) she was so excited. I would read a passage, and she wanted to read it after I did. Up until this point in my life, you could NOT have convinced me I would have been able to have a deep conversation about Jesus with a seven year old. When we read, Isaiah 53:10a NIV "Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering". KT stopped me and asked why God wanted to crush Jesus? Up until this point, all of her questions were easy... This one.... Wow, this one.... The answer to this question was crucial (at least, in my mind). I am sitting here, in front of my keyboard, trying to remember what answer I gave KT... I can remember the message as clear as day, but I can't remember the words I used to deliver the message...??? What I DO remember, is the look on that beautiful face, the glowing look of... Joy, Excitement, Belief and most of all FAITH. When I finished answering the question, her eyes were incredibly big, and focused on me and the words coming out of my mouth. She looked at me..... she shivered.... and said in a quiet loving voice. Daddy, I just had a chill.

At this point, I knew God had answered my prayer about using my body as vessel to deliver His message.

Tony