Annette is in her late fifties and came to a church service for the second time recently. Like many Germans she had been raised in a traditional church and did not find what she was looking for. Her search for truth led her to India, meditation and the teaching of karma. When her guru claimed to be a living master just like Jesus was, her heart said “no”. She realized that the teaching of reincarnation brought no real forgiveness and redemption. But what would? The message that Sunday in the church included an explanation of the Ten Commandments. After the service Annette asked AGWM Personnel, Pastor Steve Dunn what “picture“ could help her understand that the death of Christ on the cross was enough to free her from all guilt before God. Pastor Dunn says, “The Holy Spirit led me to Colossians 2:13-15. It says that God ‘wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us… having nailed it the cross.’ I explained that when blood covers something, it leaves a stain that remains. The blood of Christ covered her sin. The ‘stain’ of forgiveness cannot be washed out. I could see light enter her eyes. A smile spread across her face. She reached out and hugged my neck as she said: ‘Thanks so much! I got it!’”

Dunn relates the story of another who is searching. “Nicole has been searching for many years, often looking in the direction of the esoteric. She first came to our open air service last July and has been to just a few meetings since then. Two weeks ago Nicole came again. She said that something keeps drawing her to our church and that she needs to make a decision about belonging to our group. I told her that her decision must first be one for Jesus. We are praying for Nicole that she too will ‘get it’”.

Annette is in her late fifties and came to a church service for the second time recently. Like many Germans she had been raised in a traditional church and did not find what she was looking for. Her search for truth led her to India, meditation and the teaching of karma. When her guru claimed to be a living master just like Jesus was, her heart said “no”. She realized that the teaching of reincarnation brought no real forgiveness and redemption. But what would?

The message that Sunday in the church included an explanation of the Ten Commandments. After the service Annette asked AGWM Personnel, Pastor Steve Dunn what “picture“ could help her understand that the death of Christ on the cross was enough to free her from all guilt before God. Pastor Dunn says, “The Holy Spirit led me to Colossians 2:13-15. It says that God ‘wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us… having nailed it the cross.’ I explained that when blood covers something, it leaves a stain that remains. The blood of Christ covered her sin. The ‘stain’ of forgiveness cannot be washed out. I could see light enter her eyes. A smile spread across her face. She reached out and hugged my neck as she said: ‘Thanks so much! I got it!’”

Dunn relates the story of another who is searching. “Nicole has been searching for many years, often looking in the direction of the esoteric. She first came to our open air service last July and has been to just a few meetings since then. Two weeks ago Nicole came again. She said that something keeps drawing her to our church and that she needs to make a decision about belonging to our group. I told her that her decision must first be one for Jesus. We are praying for Nicole that she too will ‘get it’”.