Meredith Fortner
I grew up in a “normal” family. My parents took my brothers and me to church on a regular basis, and when I was 11 I remember praying a prayer asking Jesus into my heart at Mauldin Methodist Church. I knew all the Bible stories and believed that Jesus loved me and died on the cross for my sins, but I never really had a true relationship with Him. During my high school and college years I became a party girl. I just wanted to have fun and be the life of the party. During my first semester of college, my party life came to a screeching halt when I was in a serious car accident that took the life of a great friend and seriously injured myself and another friend. Soon after months of recovery, I met my husband -to- be through a mutual friend. He had such a great family, as did I, but there was one difference. There was no question that the Lord was the absolute center of his family.
Jackie’s mother and sister were constantly asking us to attend church with them, and we did from time to time. As our relationship grew and we began to consider marriage, we both felt the desire to find a church to attend. I totally thought this was my idea and had no inkling that this was the Lord’s hand nudging me closer to Him. We came to FBNS where we immediately loved everything about the church! I remember several times the pastor talking about how you must have a relationship with Jesus to gain salvation and that a change would take place in your life as a result of that relationship. I realized that I did not have that relationship, but I was still hesitant. One Sunday morning, I remember a special song being sung and I was so overcome by the feeling that God wanted me to surrender my life to Him that I could not stop crying and wanted to just leave. I tried to get up, but it was as if the Lord was keeping me in my seat. It was there that I made certain of my salvation by praying the Sinner’s Prayer and asking Jesus to be my Savior.
Since then, my life has changed radically. We eventually joined the church and began to attend Bible Fellowship class. I was lonely for Christian friends who had the same interests that I now had and God supplied me with so many great friends that keep me accountable in my walk with Him. I now teach Adult Bible Fellowship and am involved in many different areas of ministry in the church. It amazes me everyday that God can use even someone like me to tell others about Him and to show His love through me.
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