Finally a Plan That’s Fool Proof
By: Johniece Ray (our new sister in Christ!)

Finally a Plan That’s Fool Proof
By: Johniece Ray (our new sister in Christ!)

Jeremiah 29:11-13
“For I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Out of all of my expectations, and assumptions of what college life would be for me, I never in a million years believed that it would be the place where I would make the most important decision of my life. I knew that these four years would be incredibly important and that I’d develop lasting friendships, but I never anticipated that I would begin the most essential relationship of my life.

Coming into Clark Atlanta University, I was so focused on becoming successful and staying focused on my personal goals that I constructed a five year plan that I thought was fool proof, and that would guide me from the time I entered school until one year after graduation. Me being so naïve, I never left room for any changes or interruptions. However, I realized that I was in for a rude awakening and that my fool proof plan would crumble to pieces. I had prepared myself to struggle in my academics with subjects like math or science but what I hadn’t incorporated into my plan in any way or form was that I would struggle spiritually.

I thought that as long as I went to church on Sundays that I’d be okay. I had been apart of a church back home in Philadelphia from the time I was born until heading to Atlanta for college, and my plans were to keep things that way. My mother and other family members held positions in ministry there so I had what one may call a great religious background, but I never took the time to build a relationship with Christ for myself. There was always some hidden motive. Whether it was me trying to please my mother or making church an accessory to my “good girl” image, I never sought after Christ for a relationship of my own.

It wasn’t until this year that I was actually challenged on all of my previous beliefs and PRIORITIES. I was introduced to the Greater Atlanta Church of Christ last spring when Brandon Lane and Shawn Edwards, whom I’d know from high school, invited me out to service on the day of their baptisms. After the service several of the sisters invited me and my roommate to the Bible Talks on Tuesday. I began to attend the church services and bible talks and even personal studies until the semester ended. A week before the break a sister had asked me if I had a relationship with Christ for myself without my mother having anything to do with it. Although I caught offense to the question I got the gist of her question and begin to think about it. When the break was over and it was time to get back into the groove of things I became hesitant of what church I would attend when the semester began and although I visited several churches it wasn’t until a phone conversation with Christina Maldonado that I realized how much I needed to grow and where I needed to be.

Within a few days we started up the studies again and I realized that I never had a relationship with Christ for myself. He was like a mutual friend whom I had met through my mother, but never ceased the opportunity to get to know for myself. I was living off of my mother’s faith and didn’t even realize where that would leave me; in the darkness, because no matter how much faith she had, I had none for myself. On the first week of my bible studies, I was challenged on my priorities and introduced to Jeremiah 29:11, and from that point on I was inspired to learn more. Each week, I learned something and was challenged on it, which produced a sense of perseverance in me week after week.

The breaking point and decision to change my life completely came when we did the study on discipleship. It opened my eyes and showed me how so many things I believed in were religious but they were not true, and more importantly not in the bible. I began to see why the brothers and sisters were so on fire and zealous for Christ and “I wanted in”. I forgot about my own plan and I wanted to live the lifestyle I was called by Christ to live. I wanted to leave darkness and enter into the Kingdom as soon as possible. After a few more studies and actually repenting, I made the decision to shoulder my cross daily and to make Jesus the Lord of my life. I was finally able to put my sins to death, bury my old life, and partake in a new life. On Sunday, November 12, 2006, I was baptized and born again!

Although it’s only been a few days, I am more excited and anxious than ever. I look forward to all that I have to learn, to the fellowship to come, and most of all to making more disciples. More than anything I look forward to seeing God’s plan not only for my life but also the lives of my new brothers and sisters unfold right before my eyes. I’ve finally found a plan that’s fool proof!