Testimonials 2


	Cross of Christ Lutheran School -Changing Lives - Both Students and Parents Parent Testimonials

	We don't know how many times our school has reached people with the Word of God. But I know of one for sure... me. You see I didn't believe in God. I thought religion was a crutch that some people needed in their lives... to make up for some short coming they had. But that changed. I didn't seek God, I did not seek knowledge of Him, in fact I was very content to let those who believed just go on their way if they'd leave me alone. It happened this way. Our daughter Jeni was finishing the third grade in a very good private school and they did not have a fourth grade class for her to attend. My wife did a lot of checking around and in the process found Cross of Christ. We enrolled and found it to be a good school, very nice people, Jeni made friends and enjoyed the classes. It wasn't long however until she brought home memory work... passages from the Bible that she was asked to memorize. Well I got stuck helping her... she would give me the Scripture and I'd read it as she recited. This went on and on every week. During the school year there would be programs in the church that the school kids participated in, the parents of course attended. More exposure to Scripture, but I didn't mind... I kept thinking every time I'd go up to the church or school... what a nice group of people... and they didn't try to push any of that religious stuff one me. Jeni finished 3 years at the Cross of Christ School and we needed to find a 7th grade class for her, which would be the Duncanville Middle School. During the summer Jeni asked if she could participate in the Confirmation class at the church that her fellow students were signing up for. I didn't understand the Confirmation class process and thought that the only reason she wanted to do this was to hang out with friends from the previous three years. We said Okay, they were a very nice group of people. In late August we found out that there would be a meeting of the parents for the new Confirmation class. We attended and met the church's DCE (JD Mull) who would be the instructor. He asked that the parents help and support the children as much as possible. He specifically asked that each parent come and participate in one of the classes. He said a sign-up sheet would be on the table after the meeting. When the sign-up sheet was passed to me I looked way into the future, trying to postpone this as long as possible. I found a date open in January and put down my name. In a couple of weeks the classes started. Every Wednesday night we'd bring Jeni to the church. She enjoyed the time with her friends and excelled in the studies... but more memory work... even more than before. And guess who got stuck helping her. Eventually the day in January came around... time for the parents to help with the class. I didn't know what to expect, but got to the class room and met with JD. He told me that the kids knew what their assignment was, and had prepared for it. He said he'd take half the class to another room and I could have the others. Their assignment was to compare the differences and similarities within the first four books of the New Testament. All I had to do was to listen to them, ask questions if I wanted to. We arranged the tables so I could sit across from them. There were about 5 of Jeni's friends who had been over to the house many times. They started talking... one by one... each one explaining some aspect of the Scriptures. As they continued, the most powerful sensation came over me. This was true, this really happened, Jesus Christ really did walk on this earth. These things that I had been listening to and reading about, really did happen. All I could think was why didn't someone tell me? How could I have been so blind my whole life. We finished the class and when I got home I took the plastic off a Bible that came with a book cover we had bought for Jeni's study Bible. I started reading these words now with new meaning and interest. Wonderful stories. I started going to the Church with Jeni instead of just dropping her off.... I asked the pastor if he could baptize me. Weeks of Adult Confirmation class and waiting for the pastor to find the right day finally came around....on 23 May 1999, my wife and I were baptized and confirmed in the church. "Rom 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." I know now that it is God's Word that opened my mind and heart when the Holy Spirit sat with me listening to these 5 young people tell me about the God they knew. Now I know Him too.---- Bill Pirtle