Conversion Last copy
Tell us about your conversion experience and your call to Christian service. Include information
that helps describes who you are as a person, your goals, and your dreams. Tell about church
ministries and activities in which you have participated, particularly, those in the last two years.
Double Spaced, two – four pages in length.
I was in pitch darkness as a blind woman, not understanding myself, my surrounding, nor
other people. My intention today is to share with my audience about an amazing conversion
that undoubtedly changed my entire life. As a result of this conversion, my life was shifted
from a life of spiritual darkness to spiritual light. Not just any conversion experience, everyone
needs the Holy Ghost conversion experience. The Baptism in Jesus name is also part of this
conversion experience. My graduation from Cheyney University and my first teaching
experience were key moments in my life that lead to my great conversion and my call to
Christian and community service. Futhermore,
The first key moment in my life that led to my conversion happened after I graduated from
Cheyney University. In May of 1979, I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education. This was
truly was a great moment in my life that made me feel like a champion. My proud parents,
family, and friends, came to my graduation to witness the ceremony. President Jimmy Carter
was the key note speaker and everyone was exhilarated after hearing his speech. In spite of
achieving a degree, I continued wandering in darkness and this resulted in smoking marijuana,
drinking liquor, and stealing when possible. Furthermore, the inappropriate behaviors began to
dominate my life and could have affected my teaching career. I truly thank God for my
conversion experience from darkness into the light.
They second key moment in my life that lead to my conversion happened when I received
my first teaching position at Rush Middle School in Philadelphia. The principal recommended
that I co-teach with a lady named Carolyn Johnson because I was a new teacher with no
experience. God was setting up the beginning stages of a conversion experience from darkness
into the light. Carolyn Johnson and I taught together the entire year and she was truly a woman
of God. She shared many stories about the move of God in her life and encouraged me to come
out to her church. During lunch she opened her bible and shared this scripture found in Acts 26:
18. This scripture inspired me to think about making a change in my life from darkness into the
light.
The next key moment in my life that lead to my conversion happened when I visited the Rose
of Sharon Church. Who would ever believe that I became interested in attending church on a
regular basis. This turned out to be a scary experience but exciting at the same time. I was so
embarrassed the first Sunday I attended because I was dressed as if I was attending a party. I
should have known better but I hadn’t attended church since I was 10 years old. As I observed
how the church members were dressed, I began to feel out of place but I didn’t allow that to
stop me. My dress was extremely tight with a split reaching up to my hip. During the service the
choir sang beautifully and Bishop Briddell preached out of his heart. He preached “you must be
born again in order to make it into heaven”.
The altar call was made and Carolyn Johnson encouraged me to respond to the altar call
and I did. As I proceeded to the altar, I felt as if I was on my way to be executed. As I
approached the altar, Bishop Briddell spoke to me directly and explained the importance of
committing my life to Christ. He went into more detail about repentance and the importance of
baptism. He said to me, “if you walk out this church without obeying the word of God, you will
regret it because you don’t know where death is”. I decided to be baptized that Sunday
morning. Words cannot express how excited I was to be baptized in Jesus name and it just felt
like a great load lifted off my shoulders. This was the beginning of my conversion from darkness
into the light.
The final key moment in my life that lead to my conversion happened when I ve
received the Holy Ghost and developing a personal relationship with God. Carolyn Johnson
began to take time with me explaining the importance of receiving the Holy Ghost with
evidence of speaking tongues. In fact, I thought that the entire church, including Carolyn was
crazy about this Holy Ghost. How in heaven name was a spirit going to take up residence in my
body. As a result of my lack of faith, it took three months to receive the Holy Ghost. I
continued tarrying for the Holy Ghost every Wednesday evenings with Sister Caroyn and Sister
Avery.
Nevertheless, Bible Study was something I really enjoyed because the teaching brought me
closer to understanding the Bible and God’s expectations. Bishop Briddell made it clear that I
should stay on the altar until God filled me with the Holy Ghost. I became more determine to
receive the Holy Ghost because there were others in the prayer room seeking for the Holy
Ghost. In fact, the others came through with the Holy Ghost and I heard them speak in other
tongues. On December 31, 1979, I made up my mind to trust God beyond measure as I
proceeded to kneeled down on my knee’s with my spiritual cheerleaders by my side. While on
my knees, I told Jesus in my minded that he minus well give me the Holy Ghost because I wasn’t
leaving the prayer room until he filled me. In my imagination, I leaped up into the clouds until I
grappled on to Jesus leg. I was hanging on his leg saying “give it to me now because its mind”. I
won’t let you go and at that moment, God filled we with the Holy Ghost. Right before I spoke in
tongues there was and beautiful sensation that went through by cheeks as I began to speak in
tongues.. My two cheerleaders were literally doing flips in the prayer room. The question they
asked me was how did I feel. I response was that God filled me with the Holy Ghost.
It was the best of times and the worst of time as I journeyed into a new era of my life
I was
given my first teaching position at Rush Middle School in Philadelphia, Pa. in September of
1979. The beginning of a new journey and I was feeling very insecure. The principal set me up
to co-teach with an older teacher name Carolyn Johnson. We taught together for the entire
school year. Carolyn Johnson is the woman of God, who began to share different stories about
the move of God in her life. On several occasions, I came to work feeling low, she knew how to
pick me up with her encouraging words. Finally, she invited me out to the Rose of Sharon
Apostolic Church where Bishop Brudell was the Pastor. I never thought I would become
interested in coming to church on a regular basis and this turned out to be the best decision I
ever made.