By Elizabeth Wilken

Our eighth grade students were confirmed at Community Lutheran Church campuses in Escondido and San Marcos on Sunday, May 19th.  In case you missed it, we are posting twelve of their testimonies here on our church blog.

Hi my name is Elizabeth Wilken. My parents are Paul and Desiree Johnson, and I have a younger brother, Ryan Johnson. I was baptized on May 9, 1999 at Our Lady Queens of Angle Catholic Church in Newport Beach, by Father Bill McLaughlin.

My life has changed in the past few years. God has become a bigger part of my life. My baptism has affected my life today because it has put Jesus and the Holy Spirit inside of me, and he is helping to guide me. My baptism also influences my decisions because I have support and family. My parents and god-parents have supported and raised me to be a Christian, because of that I have started to make my own decisions and follow in God’s word. One thing about baptism that has changed my life is that I was saved from original sin, and am choosing to believe in Jesus, so that I can walk with him in heaven.   I am also going to have a future. My faith and baptism could affect other people besides myself, such as coworkers, or a boss. If I got the chance to share Jesus and God’s word with them I would, and I could tell them how if they truly believe, then the Holy Spirit can save them and they too can walk in heaven. I also want God to stay with me through my life, and I want to make sure I continue to follow and believe in him. If I fall away I want him to catch me and help me rise up to him again.

I remember when Mrs. Donna came and helped us find our spiritual gifts. Mine are Faith, Hospitality, and Craftsmanship. Hospitality is the enablement to care for people. I find myself noticing when people are upset, and I can be there for them. Faith is the enablement to act on God’s promises and have an unwavering trust in him. For me I have had a more trusting relationship with him, I have asked him to let me know what path I should choose or if I’m doing the right thing, and I feel as if sometimes he is physically right there with me, to help guide me. But now craftsmanship took me by surprise. Craftsmanship is the enablement to design and create items used for ministry. I didn’t think I was all that artsy, but I did start to notice me enjoying trying to draw every now and then, and maybe I’ll get better later on in my life.

Now in Ten years I hope to be finishing collage or already out of college. I hope to have a job and getting ready to start my life. I want to give the faith I have and pass it down to my kids and have them grow up and be taught the same way I did. Although, I mostly want to continue to attend church with and stay in touch with my family, but I mostly want to stay in touch with Jesus. Thank You.