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Confirmation Faith Statements: 2014

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My Faith Statement
By Zachary Baschnagel

What do you believe? Take a moment to think about it. What we believe may differ from each other, but we should look to God and the Bible for guidance. Who or what is God? In school last year I read The Shack, by William P Young. In the story God is female but says, “I am neither male nor female, even though both genders are derived from my nature. If I choose to appear to you as a man or a woman it’s because I love you.” For me, I believe that God is not one gender, even though most people refer to God as a male figure, how do we know God isn’t a bush, a cobra, or an angel? The main character sets out on a mission back to a shack, a place with painful memories, believing God is calling him. It is not an easy journey for Mack; is it easy for any of us?

Jeremiah 1:12 NIV The Lord said to me, “you have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled.” is a verse that speaks to my heart. I know that he has a plan for us and is always watching us no matter what. He will always be there to guide us to make sure that his plan is fulfilled. I pray for God to walk with me and continue to show me his plan.

In my 14 years I have had the chance to attend a handful of different churches around the world. In Las Vegas we attended an ELCA church that was a bigger church but did not have the community feel like here at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. We also attended a non-denominational church, Central Christian Church. Their service was full of worship music and a message but lacked the traditional pieces of the ELCA church. Our church in Macau, Oasis International Christian Church, was a contemporary service with a focus on God’s word. We were a close community there and felt welcomed, like here at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.

As I reflected back on the influences in my life, I am proud to stand before you and restate my desire to continue to grow as a Lutheran. Attending confirmation classes has been fun and I liked learning more about people and events in the Bible and what we as Lutherans believe. Brainstorming ideas for my faith statement helped me identify a gift God has given me- the desire to help and serve others. I have most enjoyed helping with Cornerstone Mission, Kids Against Hunger, New Day Foster Home in China, and outreach of passing out Bibles in Macau.

 

What My Faith in Jesus Means to Me
By Lauren Bushman

The person whom I love most in my heart is My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus loved us so much that he died for our sins so we could be forgiven.

My favorite Bible story would have to be Mark: 7:24-30. Where a women asked Jesus to heal her daughter from the demon that had possessed her. But Jesus refused because she was a Syrophoenician. Jesus said, “The children must first be fed! It isn’t right to take away their food and feed it to the dogs.” The women replied “Lord, even dogs eat the crumbs that children drop from the table.” Jesus was impressed by her persistence that he healed her daughter. When I thought about it, it inspired me that if you care,  God will be by your side.

Another one of my favorite Bible stories is the one about the woman in the New Testament who was very sick. She had spent all of her money on doctors but her disease would not get better. One day she heard about Jesus and how he healed people. She tried to reach him, but the crowd was too large.  She leaped over the crowd and touched the edge of his cloak.  Suddenly, she was cured. This story shows us that even with a small amount of faith and persistence; we can with God’s help overcome obstacles in life, whether physical or mental.

Simply, my faith and my family mean everything to me.  Jesus died for the forgiveness of our sins. Without him and that great sacrifice I would be lost, as would everyone else.

 

Faith Statement
By Martin Mead

God means different things to everyone in the world. For example, to some people, God is a man that can’t cause any harm, or a very powerful person that can destroy everything. I’m going to talk about what God means to me.

My early years that I can remember God was the force of luck in a way. If something went right I would thank him for giving me what I sought. If something went wrong then I would blame him for what happened to me. He was a guardian angel to me. I didn’t think much of Jesus other than he died for me, and descended into hell. I didn’t understand what he did for me, or why. The Holy Spirit was not anything that made sense. The word Spirit (ghost) was in its name, and the imagery for it was a dove. My mind was exploding from confusion.

The more I aged, I began to understand why Jesus died for me, but the Holy Spirit still didn’t make any sense. With all these questions that I couldn’t answer I started to think logically and scientifically. So I came up with some outrageous ideas and I pushed those questions aside and that made me feel so much better.

When I started Confirmation those question came back to disturb me, and were answered over time, but as they were answered more questions came. Some questions haven’t been answered, and others you ask Pastor Becky, and she replied right away. I thought more of God, and what he has done, and what Jesus, and the Holy Spirit have done for me that happened thousands of years ago, but still affect me today.

Now God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are guardian angels to me that when I fall into darkness they will lead me back into the light. In the future I trust they will still lead me back into light. My future holds lots for me, and I hope they will lead me into the right direction.