Valika Andrelli

I grew up as a Roman Catholic but I did not feel the closeness of God. The church was full of traditions. The teaching only stayed with me for a short time and had no effect on my heart. The church was cold to me so I did not return. However, I continued to search for God and He found me in 1995.

When there was a big problem in my life, I would just pray. However, as a Catholic I never learned how to pray with faith, humility and honesty. One day my son’s Italian teacher brought me to Bible Baptist Church on Csontvari Street. The acceptance and love that surrounded me and the Bible they gave me into my hands had a great effect on me. I started reading the Bible. I felt warmth in my heart, but I did not understand what I was reading. For a long time I had wanted to know what the Holy Word was which my mother used to quote verbally to me. We never had a Bible.

At the end of October, I began attending every service of the church. I attended the first Missions Conference where Mark Simmons preached. Gedeon asked me where my road was leading me – if I died where would I go to heaven or hell? I could not answer that, but I knew that I didn’t want to go to hell. Then I heard that I had an opportunity to get saved. This is when I first heard of salvation and turning away from sin. From the Bible I realized that I was born a sinner on this earth. Jesus Christ died on the cross for me too, and with His blood, He washed away my sin. This is how He saved me. I did not wait for one more day to pass without salvation. Because of this, on November 8, 1995, I confessed my sin and accepted Jesus Christ into my heart as my personal Savior and God became my heavenly Father. From that point, I have walked on the road of Jesus. I have eternal life. He opened my eyes and I started understanding His Word because Jesus gave light to me. He is the Light of the world. Later in May 19, 1996, I was baptized so I could follow Jesus Who lifted me from the muddy sinful life of the world. He leads me step by step. I am so sinful because I live on this earth; yet, my life is leading toward heaven. I am grateful to God that He led me to this church.

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