Testimony of Arron Bergeron

I was born into a home that neither fostered nor discouraged interest in the areas of faith. God was a name we'd hear and be told to respect, but it seemed He was to be treated much the same way as biannual visit from a distant relative. It was as if we had some special relationship, as if we were connected, yet we wouldn't remember he existed as soon as the door closed behind him.

Fast forward through some very turbulent teenage years, and I remember having an encounter with the risen Christ. The violence around the house had erupted once again, resulting in a visit from the police. By this point of my youth I was already under threat of jail; if the officers had so decided I easily could have ended up in custody as I had already been charged with assault, among other offenses. I remember thinking "God, if you're real now would be a good time to let me see you. I've toyed with the idea of you, and if you're not there, than I want to check out. This is not how I want to spend the rest of my life. I feel like I've tried everything else, you're the only chance I have left". The inner peace I had after that, which I now know was the result of making peace with God, was enough for me to realize the difference His sacrifice makes for everyone.

Take another fast forward to the age of twenty-four. It was quite evident that there is a whole host of things set up in this world designed to both dissuade and distract us from ever truly having a relationship with our creator. I had been directed to the passage in Luke's gospel, chapter twenty-four, where the risen Jesus walks along the road to Emmaus with two of His disciples. They, being restrained from recognizing their Lord, exclaimed, "did not our hearts burn within us as He walked and taught us". Jesus spent the entire walk preaching about Himself from the entire Hebrew Scriptures, starting at the Law of Moses, and working through all the prophets. I needed to know; "God if this is true, then please show yourself to me the same way you did to the two on that road". The quest had now begun of which I am still on. I spent the next year reading those books of Jewish prophecy and history, seeing again and again all the visits of the preincarnate Jesus as the Angel of the Lord; reading acute and accurate prophecy which had come to pass in the life of Jesus at His first visit. Above and beyond all of this, though, which has left me forever changed in mind and spirit, was seeing Him over and again in the foreshadowing of His passion... His sacrificial death to pay our sin debt. From that day to this and beyond, I cannot go back the way I came, even if and when the attempt could be made. He is God, He is sovereign, and He is my Sovereign God.

I had investigated His claims about Himself from His word, the Bible.  I had honestly inquired as to the reasonability of putting faith in Him. He answered as He does to all honest skeptics, and given me more than I had needed to be able to truly trust Him with my salvation from sin and it's consequences. He has since then called upon me to not only know Him, but to encourage all men to know Him, and as is needed, to give a reasonable defense for the trustworthiness of His existence, His word, and His love.

I am at present a father of four boys, and husband of a woman better than I deserve.