Hello beloved. My name is Alphonso Ross Bass Jr. You can call me AJ. I have been a Christian and baptized in the faith since I was 11. My family has believed in God ever since I was born. I have been practically raised in the church throughout my whole life. Although I have called myself a Christian most of my life, one could say I definitely was not living the life as a true image-bearer of His Son. I considered myself a ‘dead’ Christian until I was 27. I truly had an identity problem with myself as to who I was in Him and my relationship with my Savior was utterly absent. There was much misery and confusion for myself growing up because deep down I did not want to admit I was not spiritually rooted in the one true faith.
I had deeply struggled with smoking weed, looking at women lustfully, being sexually immoral and looking at pornography. I had also been in unequally yoked relationship with a non-believer and that did not help my faith and walk with God as either. I was always too prideful to repent ever.
Thankfully through the Father’s mercy and grace, He had revived me through His son Jesus Christ after I had prayed a sincere biblical prayer to Him. (Psalm 51) I humbly came to the Father with a contrite, repenting heart and He immediately poured the Holy Spirit back into my spirit. It was at a time when I was listening to a couple of sermons from Dr Timothy Emerick where I knew it was God speaking directly to me. I felt the conviction within my heart, and the burning sensation for Jesus and I knew it was Him.
After that, reading His word became easier to read and clear to me about the Father’s will. Started to understand who God truly is and the love He has for everyone that truly wants to come to know Him. I am now a full believer in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.