Joel Samuelson

I grew up in a home with loving parents who did a lot for us.  I was probably not the easiest kid to raise but I definitely wasn't the worst kid on the block.  We grew up going to the united church every now and then.  Christmas and easter is when we definitely attended.  My mom always made sure we knew the true meaning of those two holidays.  I remember when I was young I just lived like all the rest of the kids my age.  Getting into bits of trouble every now and then was not uncommon.  However I think I was a pretty good kid because of my parents instilling in me some good values.  I wasn't doing that great in school and my mom decided to put me in a new school starting in Airdrie.  Airdrie Koinonia Christian school.  Bible memorization was mandatory as well as attending one of the school wide classes called Chapel. I became friends with kids there, one of which was the principals son Jonathan.  I still remember Jonathan telling me later on how much I swore when he met me.  Guess he wasn't used to that.  I started hanging out at his place where his dad did devotions with us at breakfast or dinner time.  I also started attending the Pentecostal church where the school was located.   This was my first exposure to what a weekly walk with God kind of looked like.  After attending there a while, I was not making the grades that were required, and spent a lot of time after school in detention working on homework.  Therefore I would have to get rides home from my principal.  I remember getting a ride home one night and my principal asking me if I have ever asked Christ into my life.  I lied to him and said yes.  I still don’t know why i did that.  Before I went to bed that night I knelt down beside my bed and asked Jesus for forgiveness of all my sin and to be Lord of my life.  From that day I definitely had a different outlook on life.  However I feel like I just started going thru the motions of "having" to learn about Him instead of starting a personal relationship with Christ.  Through the next couple years after graduating grade 9 and moving to the east side of Airdrie, I started attending Bert Church High School.  I remember during that time praying to God and asking why he moved us to the east side.  I had always lived on the "west side" and wanted it to stay that way.  However shortly after moving I found out why.  Walking down the same path as me to school was a guy named Dave who came to be a great friend of mine.  After a few times of him asking me to hang out, I finally decided to.  One night I ended up staying the night at his house.  I’ll never forget in the middle of the night him asking me if I knew that Jesus died for my sins.  I said "yes I did", and that's all that was said.  We both went to sleep and from then on formed a great friendship.  I only bring up Dave because without God putting him in my life, I believe I could have easily fallen away from Christian influence without the circle of friends that resulted from that friendship.  The youth from my Pentecostal church started hanging out with his friends from the Baptist church and we started youth hopping.  I look back and know God had a plan the whole time.  Everything was going fairly well but I feel I was still just going through the routine and putting Christianity in a little box of don't do's and rules.  As a friend of mine has said, "Don't swear, don't chew, don't go with girls that do" is more how my Christian walk was playing out.  I was more concerned about girls and where all our friends were hanging out on the weekend.  I then started attending college. My friends did the same and we all got too busy too hang like before.  Of course I started hanging out with non-Christian classmates.  Unfortunately when Christianity is anything other then a relationship with Christ and involving Him in my daily living, it's very easy to get sucked in and tempted to get into doing things that are not what God wants for us.  Which is exactly what happened.  After college I started working. I hung out with my old church buddies again and obviously was getting back on track.  I was getting easily swayed to and fro by friends rather than standing on a solid foundation of Christ. Then through out the next years I had positive influence and ended up dating Laura.  We then married and started our life together.  We had lots of good times and some crazy bad times.  Again I fell into not pursuing a daily relationship with Christ and I unfortunately hit a rock bottom point during that time.  Not too many people know this and could tell, but I became seriously depressed as a result and at one point cried out to God for forgiveness and to change my life.  From where I was then to where I am now could only be a result of God’s incredible grace.  I have been learning about God and seeking His will more then ever.  Thankfully God gave me the best wife on the planet.  My friend Trevor and Harvest Bible Chapel have been a great challenge to me to get into God’s word and learn about who Christ is, and how He wants me to live my life.  I’ve never had anyone in my life to encourage and challenge me like this and I’m very thankful.  It’s funny how people see the Bible as this holy book that is all old stories that nobody knows or gets anything out of, instead of seeing it as God’s Word to us inspired by Him, never disproven in thousands of years, backed up by history and full of life changing truth that still applies today.  From God’s word I know Christ has forgiven me through His grace alone and has taken away my sin through His incredible sacrifice on the cross.  Only Christ's love and sacrifice for me is what will guarantee me meeting my Savior as long as I believe and walk in Him.  There is such incredible freedom in Christ that I wish so many people knew about.  I no longer need to worry and try to get through this worlds trials on my own.  I know there is a greater purpose for my life then to just live then die.  I wish I would've had a relationship with Christ back when I was young but know that without trials, tribulations, and sin I would not “need” a Saviour.  I would not “need” to be saved from anything, and probably wouldn't be where I am today.  It has helped me realize what a relationship with Christ really means.  It’s crazy how even knowing this, some days can still be a struggle.  Yet even though I will always fall short, I am so grateful and thankful that because of Christ I will one day be with my Lord in heaven. I'm so looking forward to seeing what God has for my life in the the future.