You do not need a church, a priest, a pastor, your parents, your teacher or anyone else besides Jesus Christ in order to contact God. In fact you don't even need Jesus if you're a perfect person. But based on the fact that your a human being, perfection most likely isn't something you've obtained. And whether you've committed one sin or a billion, it really doesn't matter, because just one is enough to separate us from a Holy God.

The one true God of the Universe created each and every one of us in order to have a loving relationship with us. And while He is a just God and must judge our sin, He is also the epitome of love. So out of His great love for us, and intense desire to reestablish the relationships lost due to sin, He sent His solution to all our problems.

God Himself took the form of a man and sent His Son to die on a cross for the sins of the whole world. This Jesus was perfect, yet He was made to suffer and die as payment for our sins. But He conquered death, and on the third day He rose again and went to prepare a place for us in heaven.

Still, God gave us free will. And just like He won't force you to read this, or work hard, or treat others nicely, He won't force any of us to love Him either. He has very simply offered us a free gift that is the answer to everything we need, encompassed in a relationship with Him.

If you want to contact God in person there is only one way, it is very simple and the most important decision anyone ever makes. By receiving Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior you can experience immediate contact with God that will last for eternity. Yet most people choose to turn from God and not accept the free gift of salvation. You can choose God by:

Simply praying this prayer out loud and believing it in your heart.

"Jesus, thank You for making me and loving me, even when I have ignored You and gone my own way. I realize I need You in my life and I'm sorry for my sins. I ask You to forgive me and become Lord of my life. Thank You for dying on the cross as payment for my sins. Please help me understand it more. As much as I know how, I want to follow You from now on. Please come into my life and make me a new person on the inside. I accept Your free gift of salvation. Please help me to now grow as a Christian. Amen."

The Bible says in Romans 10:9:  "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

If you prayed that prayer as described above, not only can you continue to contact God in prayer, but He now lives inside of you. He entered you in the form of the Holy Spirit the moment you believed. And while you will make mistakes that adversely affect your life here on earth, and your relationship with God, you will never lose that relationship, therefore never lose your salvation. You have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior... You (the real you, not this fragile body of flesh you live in) will never die. Welcome to the first day of your eternal life.

Four things that will help you now are:
1) Find a Bible believing Christian church and fellowship there.
2) Get a New International Version of the Bible and read one chapter a day in the book of John.
3) Continue to talk with God in prayer just like a friend.
4) **Tell somebody what you've done.**

If you need any help or have any questions call me, 
Pastor Carey Snellings, at 301-977-7700
or email me: pastorcarey@morningstarcc.net