Workplace Witness The new girl in the office led this teen to an understanding of what it meant to serve God. By Cecelia Morgan

As a child I tried to be good. I thought that since I went to church every once in a while and because I believed in God, that I was a Christian, so I tried to act like it. However, there really was no difference between my life and that of an atheist. I was just the same as everyone else. I lied and was really mean to my nieces, nephews, and sister. I wanted to be good, but I just could not.

When I was seventeen years old, I thought that maybe God was just a myth, so I decided to go out into sin and at least try to enjoy it. I started doing more sinful things, such as stealing, trying to find something that would satisfy my heart. That did not work either, and at age nineteen, I came to a point in my life where I needed to make a change. I thought that if I did something really bad, that maybe it would satisfy. I had been a “good girl” practically my whole life, so maybe the thrill of doing something radical would be what I needed.

About that time, a new girl was hired where I was working; I was actually training her for my position. She invited me to church, and I thought, Well, maybe that is the change I need. I had not gone to church for a long time, so I began going with her, and I noticed something different about the people in her church. They seemed to be so satisfied with their lives. Oh, they had bad days like everyone else, but they were happy. They had joy! The girl I was training was so different and it appealed to me. I decided that I wanted whatever it was she had.

Still, I considered myself to be a Christian, and I tried telling her that I was. I had always compared my life to that of the people around me, and since they were not very godly, I thought I was pretty good. However, the new employee's life condemned me. It was not what she said as much as how she lived. I realized that Christian means “Christ-like.” It means you emulate Christ and you pattern your life after the Bible.

On January 13, 1995, I went to another service with my friend. At the close of the meeting, the pastor led us in a hymn and asked those of us who wanted to find salvation to go and kneel at the alter of prayer. I did not go. After singing the closing hymn, my friend said she would like to kneel down in the pew and pray. She asked if I would like to pray with her. I thought, What am I going to say? No? It would be rude, like I didn't care, and I did care.

So I got down next to her. As I bowed my head, my friend's mother noticed us praying and came over to join us. I remember her saying, “Cecilia, ask Jesus to come into your heart. Tell Him that you are at His feet asking for forgiveness, that you want Him to come into your heart and to save you tonight.”

At first I did not know what to do. I never had anybody pray over me before. I could hardly concentrate on my own praying. I thought, Are they expecting me to get saved tonight? I want to be alone. I can't do this. It was so hard for me to concentrate. Then, as I began praying and also listening to what people were saying, I really started to pray from my heart.

The pastor's wife came over and joined us. I could not believe that anybody would love me enough to pray for me like that. We were there praying for about two hours. Several people joined in, all praying for my salvation. I thought at that moment, Oh, how they do care about and love me so! I was in awe. And then it just clicked: if they love me this much, then God must really love me! After all, He was the One who died on the Cross for me. At that moment, the pastor's wife said, “Jesus died on the Cross because He loved you so much. Now let His death be for a purpose. Let Him wash away your sins. Let Jesus come into your heart.”

Then I felt the weight lift away from my shoulders. I released my anguish with tears. The pastor's wife asked, “Honey, how do you feel?” I lifted up my head and I said, “I feel as if a burden has left me.” Everyone took turns giving me hugs as they welcomed me to the family of God. That night I had finally found salvation.

I remember thinking the next day, Oh, no, what did I do? because I had never been able to be good even though I had always wanted to. I thought, How am I going to be able to do this? I had told everyone that I had gotten saved, but how was I going to live to please Him? Then, the Lord spoke to my heart and said, “That's why I saved you, because you can't do it on your own. You need Me.”

That has been the case for almost ten years now. He has guided all my decisions. I used to make really bad choices, but now I just take everything to Him and He helps me. He guided me in finding the best husband ever. He's helped me with my job, with what school to go to—He has just helped me with everything, big and small. He is everything in my life, and I am thankful for what He means to me.

Cecelia Morgan is a member of the Apostolic Faith Church in Portland, Oregon.