“She doesn’t want to be a silent Christian,” I heard the pastor say just before I shared my testimony at my baptism. Little did the church know how ironic those words were.

Just a few years before, I had gotten in trouble for skipping school when it was my turn to give a speech. I think speaking up front is uncomfortable for most people, but I felt like my world would end. I was probably the shyest person I knew.

When I really experienced the Lord’s love in my life for the first time, I truly became a transformed person. I had a new sense of holy boldness. I still felt my shyness, but I also felt a new strength to face my fears. The Lord had healed so much in my life, I felt a strong conviction that I needed to share my testimony up front at my baptism. This was the beginning of a new era in my life.

Not long after my baptism, I heard my grandma say, “Let’s go door to door and see if anyone has any prayer requests.” This was not my first choice for Christian activity. I had already given my testimony and felt I had done my duty. But, again, I felt a strong conviction that this was where the Lord was leading. I chose to be willing to be made a fool for Him. We experienced tremendous success, and before I knew it I was giving Bible studies and going door-to-door by myself.

The Bible says that God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. I am praying that, as the Great River People hear the life-giving message of the Gospel, they, too, will choose not to be silent Christians.

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