Indian Creek Community Church

Anita Carr
Becca
Ben Stears
Buck Wimberly
Damaris Jimenez
David Cox
Debbie Ettinger
Debrae Bailey
Dorothy Shuler
Greg Durham
Jean Janner
Jennifer Arbuckle
Jim Lee
June Martinson
Shaina Summerlin
Shelly Elliott
Sheri Burrell
Stacy Edwards

Becca

Life Change

I read some very powerful stories on the Indian Creek website. My first thoughts were I could never be like those people. Especially, after some of the things I have done in my life.

I met Pastor Jim Lee at a funeral for my friend Jeff on August 26, 2006, that was held at Indian Creek Community Church. After the service everyone was filing out to their cars to head to the cemetery, but something compelled me to go back inside. I basically tossed my belongings to a friend and said, "There’s something I have to go and do RIGHT NOW!"

I hurried back into the church and sitting by himself in the front pew very quietly was Pastor Lee. I went up to him and asked, "You spoke at the ceremony, right?" He replied that he had, and I told him, "I have to get saved…RIGHT NOW." Pastor Lee gently asked me if I knew what that meant and I said yes. We said a prayer together and I instantly felt something inside me change.

When we arrived at the cemetery people were coming up to me and congratulating me and hugging me. I have to say that I felt a little awkward because I didn’t want to take anything away from Jeff’s ceremony. I remember Belinda Kendall giving me the strongest and warmest hug ever and she introduced me to Gary who also gave me another warm embrace and a congratulations. Then Belinda led me over to Jeff’s wife and said, "this is the girl that got saved today!" I didn’t know what to say. She gave me a huge hug and said to me, "Jeff is in heaven right now celebrating this with you." Both the tears and the joy were abundant that day. I felt something deep within me changing.

Later in our relationship Pastor Lee and I began talking about baptism and what the symbolism of baptism meant. On November 20, 2006, I was baptized at our church. People came up to me for weeks afterward and congratulated me. I remember being so frightened and Pastor Lee telling me it was okay. At the last minute I asked if Belinda would join in the ceremony. So, with the three of us in the "tub" Pastor Lee told the story of how we had come to be there that day. The three of us all cried and then I was dipped in the water and came out with what someone told me was "a smile that just lit up the entire room." For days I walked around feeling like I was floating on air. I knew then my life was changed forever.

In this past year-and-a-half so many wonderful and terrible things happened to me and my family. I faced a deep struggle with depression, the loss of more than one job—living on crackers and candy bars at one point, my Dad’s deteriorating health, my struggles to find a way to see eye to eye with my sister, I barely missed having hand surgery on both hands…I could go on. I also have made great friendships, reached out to others, found my purpose in life…I think, and have encountered people who care for me and have mended relationships with family and friends that I had destroyed.

I find myself today doing the "little things" that I think matter. I pray for someone I see crying, I offer to help carry things or open doors when I might be in a hurry. I try to be what God wants. So, while at Sonic today when my change was 3¢ I told the lady at the window "keep the pennies, someone might need them." She replied "we always need them, thanks." Today I called a company regarding some information about a job and she was so kind and so helpful I thanked her numerous times and then asked to speak to her supervisor. She sounded a little unsure and said, "May I ask why? My boss will want to know." I told her that I was going to tell her supervisor that she had done a beautiful job in helping me with my needs and that I recommend that she receive credit for going over the top. I did speak to her supervisor who told me, "This never happens, but I will be sure she gets recognized. Usually people want to talk to a supervisor when they are angry; you put a smile on my face."

I wear my "Live Out" bracelet every day to remind me that it is my job to Love God, Love People, and Live Out. Though I am not perfect and I have my bad days, I can honestly say that Jesus saved me. Not just for eternity, but He saved my life here on Earth and turned it around so that I could be the kind of person I never thought possible. I owe it all to God and Indian Creek.