I want to share something deeply personal about my journey in faith—not as a debate, but as a testimony to the transformative power of Christ through His Church.
For years, I struggled with a sin that seemed impossible to overcome. No matter how much I prayed, read Scripture, or relied on my own resolve, I kept falling. In those moments, I felt the crushing weight of failure, despair, and guilt, questioning whether I could ever truly be free.
It was through encountering the Orthodox Church that everything began to change. At first, I was hesitant—used to thinking of faith as purely individual, personal, and “Scripture-alone.” But as I approached the sacraments, especially baptism, I experienced something I cannot fully describe in words. Immersed in the waters of baptism, I felt an overwhelming sense of cleansing—not just of sin, but of despair, shame, and the chains that had bound me for so long. It was as though Christ Himself reached into the depths of my heart and lifted a burden I could not lift alone. Tears flowed freely, and my heart felt both humbled and profoundly free.
Step by step, through participation in the Eucharist, confession, and the prayers of the faithful, I began to experience the grace of God working actively within me. These were not just rituals; they were living encounters with Christ. Slowly, the patterns of sin that had dominated my life began to break. It wasn’t instant, and it wasn’t because of my own strength—it was because I was participating in a living faith, preserved and handed down through apostles, martyrs, and saints, connecting me directly to Christ in a tangible way.
This journey led me from an evangelical, “Scripture-alone” mindset to a life rooted in the apostolic faith. Not because of argument or persuasion, but because Scripture itself points to Christ as the cornerstone, and the Church as the living Body through which His grace flows. I came to see that God’s Word and the apostolic faith do not contradict—they fulfill and complete one another.
Today, I can testify that freedom from sin, growth in holiness, and true transformation are found in Christ, made real and powerful through His sacraments and the Church He established. Baptism was the first doorway into this grace, and every sacrament since has reminded me that I am not alone—the Body of Christ carries me, sustains me, and draws me ever closer to Him. This is not about opinion or preference; it is the living, active work of God in a surrendered heart.