My name is Robert Szwan and my faith story begins when I was a baby. I was born in August 1964, shortly after my birth my parents had me baptized in the Methodist Church. My parents did not go to church but for some reason they decided to have me baptized. I grew up in Harvey, IL and when I was young my parents separated and eventually divorced.

I don’t have many memories of my dad. Once my parents were separated, he chose to stay out of my life. One of last times I saw him was the 1^st Christmas after he left, he came to the house with a present. He gave me a clock radio. Then he just dropped out of sight.

During my early grade school years, I was sent to Indiana on Sunday mornings for Sunday school. The First Baptist Church of Hammond Indiana would send a bus through our neighborhood and me and my brother would go church. We would leave really early in the a.m., I guess about 7:00 A.M. or so, and would not return until 3:00 - 4:00 P.M. During the church service one day, an invitation was given. I remember raising my hand and someone came up to me and asked me if I wanted to go to this room off to the side. I must have been in 3^rd or 4^th grade and I got scared and I didn’t want to leave and go to this mystery room.

Also, around this same time I was attending an AWANA type program, I think it was on Friday nights. One night I can remember a woman giving a talk or telling a story. During her story I remember raising my hand and this woman sat next to me and prayed with me. I don’t remember what the prayer was, all I remember is we prayed something together.

After about the 4^rth or 5^th grade, I don’t remember much about attending church. Until I was in the 8^th grade, we moved to Oak Forest, IL. Living next door to us was the Wood Family (no relations to Pastor Phil Wood). They were nice to me, I would help around their house cutting grass and doing odd jobs. They invited me and took me to their church (Homewood Baptist).

Now through out all these years I kept this clock radio my dad gave me. I couldn’t get rid of it, it was old, and I got a new digital one. But my dad gave me that clock radio. I had an emotional bond with a stupid clock radio. What I really wanted was relationship with my dad.

When I was about a freshman in high school I started to attend Homewood Baptist church with the Wood family. The pastor there gave me a bible. I would attend bible studies and other high school group activities. When I was 15, the Woods paid for me to attend camp for a week. By the end of the week of this Camp, one night after chapel time I stayed after to talk with counselor. I prayed with this counselor to re-dedicate my life to Christ. Throughout all of high school I attend the youth group bible studies and activities. But I never really felt like I was apart of the group.

By the time I was 18 I started working full time and I was feeling like I didn’t fit in anywhere. All the kids from the high school group went off to college. My mom moved to another town, and I was persuaded to live with the Woods in their basement. I was working a 2^nd shift. My best friend moved to Florida. From the time of my parents’ separation, I still had no contact with my father. I was alone.

One night all alone in my basement room I cried out to God. I remembered the time I prayed with that woman. I remembered the time I re-dedicated my life at camp. I did not ever remember asking God to forgive me for my sins and to come into my life. That night, I asked God to forgive me for all my sins and to come into my heart and save me. This was the night I met my real Father. For the first time in my life, I felt loved and I no longer felt alone.

What happened to that clock radio? I threw it away; I no longer needed it to remind me of my dad.  I now have a new gift from my Heavenly Father.  The gift of Salvation.

This is what I believe:

Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 2:8,9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.

John 1:12 - Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God–

John 3:3 - In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, unless a man is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

John 14:6 - Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

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.

Revelations 3:20 - Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will go in and eat with him, and he with me.

I ask you today, do you know the day you asked Christ to forgive you and to come into your heart and to save you? He stands at the door of your heart, waiting for you. To receive Christ as your personal Savior is as easy as ABC…

Admit that you have sinned (Romans 3:23)

Believe that Jesus Died for you (John 1:12)

Confess Jesus Christ as Lord (Romans 10:9-10)

PRAYER: Jesus, I know I am a sinner and believe you have died in my place to pay the penalty for my sins. Come into my heart, rule my life today, and show me how to live. Amen

If you prayed this prayer today, please let us know. You can email me at bob@swanservices.com or Pastor Phil Wood at powood@juno.com.