Hello everyone. I am a 17 year old Junior at Midland High School. I live out in Midland, Texas, and accepted Christ into my life on June 4, 1998, at Church Camp in Glorieta, NM.

October of 1997 was when I first really heard of God. Before that point, my thinking was like this: "Yeah, God is there, but I really don't give a flip." That changed in the fall of my 8th grade year. A good friend of mine told me that another friend of mine had been trying to kill her self, and had an anerexic problem, and would I pray for her. Honestly, this shocked me. I had never been asked that question before, and was taken aback. I said, yes, I dont' mind. So for the rest of the year, every night, I prayed for her. It was kinda awkward at first, but eventually I got the 'hang' of it. My friends persuaded me to attend the First Baptist Youth Group on Wed. nights. I now attend reguarly.

On June 1st, I left for Church Camp. I was excited and a little scared at the same time. Finally, on the fourth day--evening, rather--I went up on the stage with all of my friends, and excepted Jesus into my heart. It was an extremely emotional time for everyone, yet, you could tell that God was in that room. I could just tell He was watching.

Well, we left on Monday, June 5, 2000. Allready I knew that camp was going to be awesome. Yet, as we left I was upset--Saturday God showed me alot of things that I had put before Him, things that I didnt realize that I had put before Him. So anyway on the way up there I talked about it with a friend--she really helped me out. Christian friends are gifts from God, trust me on this one. Wednesday nite was when I rededicated my life to Christ, which was good. But then satan came after me and just blew me away and knocked me down--not cool and pretty frustrating actually. I didnt get back on my feet until Thursday afternoon and from there was smooth sailing :) But the best thing that happened at camp was Thursday nite where my Church Youth group met for our own time together (b/c we're split up during the day during small groups).

After evening worship I was standing around with Katie, Carra and Rebecca when Sarah Horn (summer youth intern) walked up and said "Shannon, Charlie (youth minister) wants to know if you would like to get up and talk in front of everyone (our church youth group) later tonite when we meet". Well, after I picked my jaw off the floor I was like "sure" ;-). So basically I have an hour to 'prepare' and then I start thinking of everyting I can say...but then I just walk off and start to think, and I realized that if I am the one thinking about it then when I get up there it will be me talking. So I sat down and prayed about this for awhile, then went up to where our church met. After we were done with the songs I stood up to the microphone and said "Hi, for those of you that dont know me my name's Shannon Murray and I'll be a junior at Midland High next year..." and thats all I can remember, b/c that's all the talking that I did--God did all the rest. Carra, Katie, Aaron and Andy (among the many) all basically said "wow! that was so awesome! God was speaking through you and I really cant describe it!" I was a little nervous as I got up there (in front of 150 people) but as I got going it just vanished and I realized that I loved it up there. When I was speaking I remember feeling that this was the coolest thing that I've ever done and that I really wanted to do it again! In fact, I did, at teen CBS (Community Bible Study) on 6-14 again in front of about 150 people. It's just so cool and fun to get up and talk in front of people. :):) Mainly b/c of that, now more than ever I'm sure that He want's me in the ministry--not sure exactly what yet, possibly youth or military chaplain corps. But I dunno, He'll show me what He wants me to do.

© 1997 Christ_isawesome@yahoo.com

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