Testimonies

Jake Friesen

Aylmer, Ontario, Canada
Saved: Age 23

My Story

My name is Jake Friesen, and here's my testimony of how God saved me!

I grew up in a family who taught their children right from wrong. Being Mennonite by tradition, we were always told to be careful because we could wind up in Hell because of our sin. As a boy, I was in constant battle with myself, but I still sinned constantly. I knew in my heart that even though I had the best of intentions, I could not break free from the grip of sin.

My father was elected and ordained a Minister of a Mennonite Church when I was 9 years of age, and this was when I had an even tougher time with my sin. My conscience was continually pricked and it seemed as though Satan had complete control over my will.

In 1975, at the age of 14, my parents made a decision to move to Paraguay, South America. This trip was made by pickup truck and camper. My four younger brothers and I rode in the camper and our infant sister rode up front in the pickup with our parents. On the way down the Pan American Highway, I witnessed a continual downward spiral of conditions and morals. What I witnessed in the streets of some countries I would never have dreamed of seeing in Canada. Finally, we arrived in the village of Santa Clara, in North Central Paraguay. We lived there for a short period of time. While sin was not as evident as what I had seen during the trip, it was ever present. It does not matter where you live, sin is there. The human condition since the fall of Adam has not improved, not one little bit.

We then moved back to Aylmer, Ontario, Canada, where I spent the rest of my youth. At the age of 23, I came to the realization that my sins were leading me to hell, and that there was no way that I could better myself, in any way, shape, or form.

I had heard of a small group of my friends that were preparing for baptism, and my interest was peaked. I asked some questions about what was to be done for this, and I was told that if I confessed my sins to the bishop of the church where we were attending, I would be ready for baptism (which consisted of pouring water from a small glass container on a person.) I thought, “Yes, I need to have my sins forgiven. This will keep me from going to Hell!”

After confessing my sins, I went home and I did not feel any better. My conscience was still heavy. I couldn't sleep very well that night, so I opened up my concordance, and started searching and reading. Finally I found what I was looking for. I found out that Jesus Christ had already borne my sins! There was nothing I could do to save myself, Jesus paid it all!

I could finally go to sleep, knowing I was saved.

It is wonderful to know that all your sins are forgiven. A person who is saved can look forward to the moment when our Redeemer comes for us in the air. We will be completely free from sin and we will then stand in His presence for ever more!

I have since learned about the true form of baptism and in September of 2002 I was immersed in a baptismal tank at the St. Thomas Gospel Hall. Praise God for all that He has done!

I am hoping and praying that my testimony will be read by many and may help others to come to salvation through the finished work of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.