Dear Jim and Angela,
 
Good to read your testimonies.  Back in 1977 I lived in Huntington Beach, CA, not too far from Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa.  When I was 18 years old back in 1974 I accepted Christ in my heart.  Actually, God revealed Himself in my bedroom much like Paul on his road to Damascus, where a white light entered my room and God spoke to me where I knew then that Jesus died on the Cross for my sins. (Even though I didn't have the Christianese language)
 
I understood that no matter how good I tried to be it would never be good or holy enough to enter into God's presence, His heaven.  I asked that night to have Jesus be Savior and Lord of my life.  I also asked God to lead me to others that were just like me as I had never been presented the Gospel and only 3 times I believe, did I ever go to church.  My parents were hostile to christianity and the gospel and thus that was not a part of my world experience, and amazingly, no other christian had come forward to witness to me that I can remember from school.
 
That very next morning I went to the corner to ride the school bus into Huntington Beach High School and there were 2 other guys standing there.  We got acquainted and they shared that they were Christians and I told them what happened. They explained that my salvation experience now placed me into the Body of Christ and I was now, too, a Christian. They led me that afternoon to the afterschool Bible Study from Calvary Chapel on campus.  From there was my launching pad.  Calvary Chapel has an important foundation in my walk with the Lord.  PTL that we all got taught some good beginning eschatology.  PTL.
 
Your sister in Christ in Houston, TX,
 
Patty Hayes