I have seen that the process of becoming Christlike requires so much more than just saying a prayer. It also requires the conscious effort to live a life focused around Jesus Christ.

Alan’s Faith Story
April 2007

My wife Tracy and I, along with my children Ethan and Abigail have attended Highland Park Baptist since February of 1993. We have been active members since July of 1998. I have served in a number of ministries including Children’s Sunday school, the Orchestra, and High School Ministries. I am currently a member of the Missions Board.

The story of my salvation is very much like many in this church and around this nation. I was blessed to be brought up by parents who each had a relationship with Jesus Christ, believed what He taught, and accepted His command to “train up� their children. I can still see my mother and I sitting on the floor of our family room when I was six years old, praying together as I made that initial contact with my Savior. I can fully understand the fact that many children, including my own, have come to know Christ at an early age.

But, using my own life as an example, I have sometimes questioned the validity of such a decision made so early in life. I’m not saying that I wasn’t saved from my sins and did not enter God’s family at that time, but as I have gotten older and have struggled through many difficulties, I have seen that the process of becoming Christlike requires so much more than just saying a prayer. It also requires the conscious effort to live a life focused around Jesus Christ. I didn’t realize this until much later in life.

I grew up in Waterford, Michigan, and attended the First Baptist Church of Pontiac. I am a graduate of Oakland Christian School in Auburn Hills. In 1985 I attended Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virgina, where Dr. Jerry Falwell would refer warmly to me as “Big Al.� I met Tracy there and we have been married for fifteen years. My life was filled with many things spiritual: I was in musical groups and traveled around the southern states with drama ministries; I went on short-term mission trips; but it wasn’t until the last few years that I have come to realize that more often than I care to admit, the most important thing in my life was ME!

I suffered from the disease of “chronic-selfishness.� Whether it was making sure that my needs were met before anyone else’s, or putting important daily tasks very low on my priority list so that I was always inside of my comfort zone, I was first! This type of behavior continued until about five years ago, when I found myself with an addiction to prescription drugs that threatened the relationships with everyone near to me, as well as my career. I am now free of those addictions, but I will say that I still can have real nasty bouts with the “chronic-selfishness.� I think we all do every so often, don’t we?

About a year ago, I was given a book written by Gordon MacDonald called Ordering Your Private World. Through the pages I began to realize that although I was approaching 40 years of age, I was essentially spiritually dead. At that time, I could honestly say that I had almost no spiritual influence on my family whatsoever. I hated that. I didn’t even want to think about it. But I did, and I began to pray about it, too.

The past year or so has not been easy. I often don’t follow through with my commitments to have a daily time with God or to strengthen my prayer life. I am the king of starting…and stopping… and starting again.

But there is spiritual life where once there was none. Now I want to be in the center of God’s will. Now I want to have a life that will be remembered by my children as significant where Christ is concerned. I am growing daily, even though I may fail. I am guilty of doubt, and, sometimes, the fear that I’m not praying or confessing properly. But I’ll keep on. Yes, I have learned many things and have witnessed God touch my family in many ways through this church over the past 5 or so years. For that we are grateful.