I Choose to be a Christian / Ms Stephanie Roloson

Ms Stephanie Roloson

Involved in ...  Choir, Nursery, King's Kids,

and is getting ready to start a program for girls called Daughters of the King.

Moorhead Baptist Church

Moorhead, MN

I choose to be a Christian
I will follow Christ
Carry the cross that leads to life
I will be true, stand for my convictions
Whatever others do
I choose to be a Christian.

I’ve lived my whole life as a Christian. My dad was still attending Hyles-Anderson College when I was born. So, I grew up in the bus ministry. When I was seven years old, God called my dad to pastor MBC here in Minnesota. I’ve seen the heartache the joy, the smiles, the tears, the hurt, and the love. I’ve grown up a Christian.

But at some point, that had to change. It had to go from “I’ve grown up this way” to “I choose this way.” But like many kids from Christian homes, it took me awhile to figure out what I was choosing.

I was 14 years old when a teen girl in our church asked me why I wore skirts and always dressed modestly. I don’t remember what my answer was, but I do know I felt like it was not at all adequate. I was 16 years old when the girls in our church started talking about some wicked movie series. They asked me why I didn’t watch it. I was in college when I was questioned why I had never worn a pair of pants. I was at my work place when I was asked why I wore a skirt, go to church, never cursed, or did not touch the opposite gender. What was my reasoning? Sure, they were standards and convictions with which I had been raised. But were these my own standards and convictions?

I know that I wanted to live the Christian life, but it was not till the middle of my freshman year that I chose to live this life. I had lived too long in my parent’s shadow and under their Christianity.

I choose to wear skirts and dress modestly. I choose to make church a priority in my work schedule. I choose to remain pure with my dealings with the opposite gender. I choose to go soul winning. I choose to allow God to direct my steps. I choose to honor my parents by following in their footsteps.

Now, I don’t choose this blindly. I choose this life knowing that each of these standards and convictions are all there to help me strive to be more Christ-like… more like a Christian. I believe that these standards and convictions help me separate from the world. I have learned that as a Christian, I may be the only Bible the unsaved read. What are they reading?

Proverbs 22:28 says, “Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.” My parents gave me a wonderful childhood with standards and convictions that have stood the test. They never forced me to make these decisions. They guided, directed, and then left the decision up to me. I choose to be a Christian.