Justin Porter

I did not grow up in a Christian home and would maybe attend church on holidays. I simply lived my life for me and did what was pleasing to me. My sophomore year of high school I started dating Emilie. My influence eventually drew Emilie away from church and the Lord to follow me. Although Emilie’s parents did not agree with my behavior, they continued to pray for me and invited me to church regularly. I attended their youth group and church services, but it wasn’t until our senior year of high school that the Lord really opened my eyes to my need for Him. Emilie’s mom encouraged us to hear a speaker, which was a former Iowa basketball player. As a sports fan I agreed to go and had no idea what God had in store for me that night. God opened my eyes to the blindness that was covering me and for  he first time I realized I was living for the wrong reason. The Lord called me to himself that night and I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior and have been forever changed. I understood that Christ had died for me to pay for my sins and rose again to be triumphant over sin and death. I understood my need for a Savior that night and desired to follow Him. 

Through the next few years of college, I began to find my own faith and was mentored by several Godly men and pastors. During this time my faith grew, and I learned what it truly meant to be a follower of Christ and live my life to glorify Him. I was involved in Campus Ministries and loved to share my faith with those around me. After marrying Emilie and beginning our lives together we have always made it a priority to be plugged into a church and small group. Throughout the years I have grown in my walk with Christ to be a God fearing man, one that puts Christ at the center of our home and with the help of the Holy Spirit have become a Godly husband and father. The sanctification process is continual, but I strive with the help of God to learn and grow each day. Our statement of Faith is to put God first in our lives as we strive to be disciples and missionaries for His gospel.