Growing My Faith After Baptism

My name is Chloe Cottle. I'm going to be My name is Chloe Cottle. I'm going to be a senior next year and I attend Blake at a senior next year and I attend Blake at a senior next year and I attend Blake at Baker. I started coming here about 2 years ago. I started coming here about 2 years ago. HSN [music] had a big thing called One HSN [music] had a big thing called One HSN [music] had a big thing called One Night and my friend was like, "You Night and my friend was like, "You Night and my friend was like, "You should go. Like I want to hang out with should go. Like I want to hang out with should go. Like I want to hang out with you." Walking in, it was huge based off you." Walking in, it was huge based off you." Walking in, it was huge based off like other my church I'd been to. It's like other my church I'd been to. It's like other my church I'd been to. It's about the size of that church, but about the size of that church, but about the size of that church, but instead of it being like a bunch of instead of it being like a bunch of instead of it being like a bunch of people of different ages, it was only people of different ages, it was only people of different ages, it was only high school students. But like knowing high school students. But like knowing high school students. But like knowing that my friends were there as well, that that my friends were there as well, that that my friends were there as well, that kind of made it feel more comforting. A week after I came to A week after I came to One Night, I was talking to my mom about One Night, I was talking to my mom about One Night, I was talking to my mom about wanting to attend here and attend church wanting to attend here and attend church wanting to attend here and attend church more often as a family. And then I told more often as a family. And then I told more often as a family. And then I told her I'd been thinking about getting her I'd been thinking about getting her I'd been thinking about getting baptized again. I was like, "Is that baptized again. I was like, "Is that baptized again. I was like, "Is that something that people do?" And she's something that people do?" And she's something that people do?" And she's like, "Yeah, of course it is." And then like, "Yeah, of course it is." And then like, "Yeah, of course it is." And then I made that decision to have my dad I made that decision to have my dad I made that decision to have my dad baptize me. It was just something so baptize me. It was just something so baptize me. It was just something so special. He'd always like talk to me special. He'd always like talk to me special. He'd always like talk to me about God in the car and just like help about God in the car and just like help about God in the car and just like help me me me center my emotions around uh Jesus' center my emotions around uh Jesus' center my emotions around uh Jesus' perspective. And so when he did that, it perspective. And so when he did that, it perspective. And so when he did that, it was it was a great day. Like I wanted was it was a great day. Like I wanted was it was a great day. Like I wanted [music] [music] [music] to do everything for Jesus and not worry to do everything for Jesus and not worry to do everything for Jesus and not worry about what other people said. I just about what other people said. I just about what other people said. I just wanted do it for the one person who I wanted do it for the one person who I wanted do it for the one person who I know cares about me the most and I know cares about me the most and I know cares about me the most and I didn't have to be afraid about what didn't have to be afraid about what didn't have to be afraid about what others could say about me because I know others could say about me because I know others could say about me because I know I was made in his image for a purpose.

I was made in his image for a purpose. I was made in his image for a purpose. When I got baptized, it was winter When I got baptized, it was winter When I got baptized, it was winter break. So there was nothing else I could break. So there was nothing else I could break. So there was nothing else I could focus on. Like there was no school or focus on. Like there was no school or focus on. Like there was no school or something that was distracting me from something that was distracting me from something that was distracting me from my relationship with God. But obviously my relationship with God. But obviously my relationship with God. But obviously after that, I went back to school. There after that, I went back to school. There after that, I went back to school. There was stress, there was tests, and there was stress, there was tests, and there was stress, there was tests, and there was exams. And so like reading my Bible was exams. And so like reading my Bible was exams. And so like reading my Bible wasn't the habit that it used to be. It wasn't the habit that it used to be. It wasn't the habit that it used to be. It started affecting like my mental health started affecting like my mental health started affecting like my mental health more. And so like when I started to feel more. And so like when I started to feel more. And so like when I started to feel like all that anxiety, I would just pull like all that anxiety, I would just pull like all that anxiety, I would just pull away and just kind of be with myself away and just kind of be with myself away and just kind of be with myself instead of like talking to someone about instead of like talking to someone about instead of like talking to someone about it or like I just wanted to act like it or like I just wanted to act like it or like I just wanted to act like everything was fine. everything was fine. everything was fine. >> [music] >> [music] >> [music] >> But it wasn't fine. >> But it wasn't fine. >> But it wasn't fine. And so going to camp, I was just really And so going to camp, I was just really And so going to camp, I was just really hoping that I would get that peace I hoping that I would get that peace I hoping that I would get that peace I needed and then also learn other ways to needed and then also learn other ways to needed and then also learn other ways to lean on God with everything and really lean on God with everything and really lean on God with everything and really give him all my worries because if I give him all my worries because if I give him all my worries because if I didn't do that I'd continue to struggle. didn't do that I'd continue to struggle. didn't do that I'd continue to struggle. It was so fun [music] like just It was so fun [music] like just It was so fun [music] like just worshipping with a bunch of other worshipping with a bunch of other worshipping with a bunch of other campuses. Like I not really knew that campuses. Like I not really knew that campuses. Like I not really knew that Southeast had that many campuses before Southeast had that many campuses before Southeast had that many campuses before and so seeing all the other high and so seeing all the other high and so seeing all the other high schoolers there as well. schoolers there as well. schoolers there as well. It was It was It was >> [music] >> [music] >> [music] >> like eye-opening. When it was decision >> like eye-opening. When it was decision >> like eye-opening. When it was decision night, you were told like if you wanted night, you were told like if you wanted night, you were told like if you wanted to recommit or if you wanted to make to recommit or if you wanted to make to recommit or if you wanted to make that first time decision, [music] that first time decision, [music] that first time decision, [music] that you would take this fabric and you that you would take this fabric and you that you would take this fabric and you would tear it in half. But I was trying would tear it in half. But I was trying would tear it in half. But I was trying to tell myself in the moment that I to tell myself in the moment that I to tell myself in the moment that I didn't need to do that because I was didn't need to do that because I was didn't need to do that because I was like well well I was baptized a couple like well well I was baptized a couple like well well I was baptized a couple months ago. But at the same time I was months ago. But at the same time I was months ago. But at the same time I was like, well like, well like, well I know that like just because I got I know that like just because I got I know that like just because I got baptized [music] baptized [music] baptized [music] doesn't mean that I was following him doesn't mean that I was following him doesn't mean that I was following him directly from that moment. And I was directly from that moment. And I was directly from that moment. And I was like there's been stuff that happened like there's been stuff that happened like there's been stuff that happened and I let that slip away. And so before and I let that slip away. And so before and I let that slip away. And so before I made any decision, I prayed. [music]

I made any decision, I prayed. [music] I made any decision, I prayed. [music] I just really sat there like trying to I just really sat there like trying to I just really sat there like trying to listen to what God was telling me. listen to what God was telling me. listen to what God was telling me. And then that's just when it clicked And then that's just when it clicked And then that's just when it clicked that that was something worth making that that was something worth making that that was something worth making >> [music] >> [music] >> [music] >> and that like even if I had worries or >> and that like even if I had worries or >> and that like even if I had worries or doubts about it, that like God had a doubts about it, that like God had a doubts about it, that like God had a plan for me and I just [music] didn't plan for me and I just [music] didn't plan for me and I just [music] didn't see it yet. see it yet. see it yet. I remember walking over. It was really I remember walking over. It was really I remember walking over. It was really loud so I kind of had to yell like, "I loud so I kind of had to yell like, "I loud so I kind of had to yell like, "I want to recommit." And then she asked to want to recommit." And then she asked to want to recommit." And then she asked to pray over me. I started crying because pray over me. I started crying because pray over me. I started crying because it's like having someone speak those it's like having someone speak those it's like having someone speak those words over me and like just [music] words over me and like just [music] words over me and like just [music] telling me that I am important and that telling me that I am important and that telling me that I am important and that God is there for me. I was just like, God is there for me. I was just like, God is there for me. I was just like, "Wow." It like really pushed away all my "Wow." It like really pushed away all my "Wow." It like really pushed away all my worries about not being enough or not worries about not being enough or not worries about not being enough or not being ready to do this. being ready to do this. being ready to do this. The morning after, you're just so like The morning after, you're just so like The morning after, you're just so like just so excited and I just felt [music] just so excited and I just felt [music] just so excited and I just felt [music] like being so much more focused. I was like being so much more focused. I was like being so much more focused. I was like, "Okay, right this part of the like, "Okay, right this part of the like, "Okay, right this part of the Bible, like I'll flip to that too. Like Bible, like I'll flip to that too. Like Bible, like I'll flip to that too. Like let me take notes." middle school and high school students middle school and high school students who are unconnected or unreached with who are unconnected or unreached with who are unconnected or unreached with the gospel of the living Jesus who loves the gospel of the living Jesus who loves the gospel of the living Jesus who loves them. And the only way them. And the only way them. And the only way that that is going to change is if this that that is going to change is if this that that is going to change is if this room asks for God to equip them and asks room asks for God to equip them and asks room asks for God to equip them and asks for God to produce in them and then for God to produce in them and then for God to produce in them and then falls on their knees and prays bold falls on their knees and prays bold falls on their knees and prays bold prayers.

prayers. prayers. >> I'd say um Reese's message really >> I'd say um Reese's message really >> I'd say um Reese's message really affected me affected me affected me >> [music] >> [music] >> [music] >> knowing that like when I'm at school, >> knowing that like when I'm at school, >> knowing that like when I'm at school, there's so many people who there's so many people who there's so many people who >> [music] >> [music] >> [music] >> aren't Christian. >> aren't Christian. >> aren't Christian. Like there's so much more outreach that Like there's so much more outreach that Like there's so much more outreach that you can do just even talking to someone you can do just even talking to someone you can do just even talking to someone on a day-to-day basis like how they are. on a day-to-day basis like how they are. on a day-to-day basis like how they are. And so I just realized that my school And so I just realized that my school And so I just realized that my school could become a mission field and just could become a mission field and just could become a mission field and just being able to like leading I could take being able to like leading I could take being able to like leading I could take that a step further and not just leading that a step further and not just leading that a step further and not just leading in that group. Like I wanted them to in that group. Like I wanted them to in that group. Like I wanted them to know who he [music] is and just have know who he [music] is and just have know who he [music] is and just have like this same like childlike faith like this same like childlike faith like this same like childlike faith where it's just so where it's just so where it's just so >> [music] >> [music] >> [music] >> like enjoyable to follow God. Before >> like enjoyable to follow God. Before >> like enjoyable to follow God. Before really finding my relationship with really finding my relationship with really finding my relationship with Christ, I [music] was really heavily Christ, I [music] was really heavily Christ, I [music] was really heavily focused on focused on focused on validation and just feeling like my validation and just feeling like my validation and just feeling like my worth was coming from other people. worth was coming from other people. worth was coming from other people. I'd say now like after going through so I'd say now like after going through so I'd say now like after going through so much with my walk in Christ and like much with my walk in Christ and like much with my walk in Christ and like having all those people still be there having all those people still be there having all those people still be there beside me regardless, beside me regardless, beside me regardless, >> [music] >> [music] >> [music] >> I know that my path might be something >> I know that my path might be something >> I know that my path might be something that might not always see, but I know that might not always see, but I know that might not always see, but I know that I want to be out there like helping that I want to be out there like helping that I want to be out there like helping and serving [music] and really just and serving [music] and really just and serving [music] and really just making my life a mission because without making my life a mission because without making my life a mission because without it I like if someone would didn't do it I like if someone would didn't do it I like if someone would didn't do that for me, I wouldn't have known God that for me, I wouldn't have known God that for me, I wouldn't have known God either.