Alberto Cruz

我在一個虔誠的基督教家庭中長大。從我記事起，我就認為我與耶穌有著個人的關係。然而我天生內向，我的家人也經常搬家，所以我從未找到一個足夠了解的人來聊聊信仰。此外，在成長的過程中，我的家人受到了一些人和社區的傷害，這也讓我對別人產生了不信任。

由於這些原因，我從未尋找過教會。我認為聽別人講道和解經，加之自己研讀聖經，和家人一起禱告，就足夠了。

我的一生經歷過很多極端情況，有極度的歡樂和豐裕的時刻，也有令人難以置信的悲傷和貧困的時刻。在所有這些時刻中，我都一直尋求讚美上帝、禱告，並確保他是我生活的重要組成部分。

我想起馬可福音四章三十六節，耶穌為門徒止息了海上的風暴。他陪伴著門徒度過了旅程中最糟糕的部分，也向他們展示了最好的部分。通過與他們一起經歷這一切，主耶穌向門徒展示了他們信仰中的錯誤，並教導他們（以及我們）堅定的信仰應該是怎樣的。

我是一個罪人，通過耶穌在十字架上為我們而死，以及隨後的複活，我才得救。我一生都追隨與神同在，靈命緩慢而持續地成長。最近，神使我的心柔軟，他向我展示了我拒絕和害怕教會的錯誤。我現已準備好，並願公開宣告我的信仰，與大家分享我對上帝的信任和愛，以及他對我人生的計劃。願在你們的幫助下進一步發展我與上帝的關係。

Growing up in a deeply Christian home, and I had a personal relationship with Jesus for as long as I can remember. However, I was naturally introverted and my family moved around a lot, so I never really got to know anyone well enough to share my faith. I also developed a distrust of others because of some of the people and communities my family met and was hurt by along the way.

For these reasons, I never sought out a church community. I thought that seeing the word preached and explained by another, along with study and contemplation of the Bible by myself, and prayer by myself and with my family, was enough.

I have lived a lot of extremes in my life. Moments of immense joy and prosperity, juxtaposed with moments of incredible sadness and poverty. In all of these moments, I have always sought to praise God, pray, and ensure that God was a major part of my life.

I’m reminded of Mark 4:36 when Jesus called the storm on the boat with his disciples. He was there for the worst parts of their journey, and he was there to show them the best part. By simply being there and present with them through it all, he showed them the error in their faith and taught them and – and by extension us – how resilient our faith should always be.

I am a sinner, and through Jesus’s death on the cross for us, and subsequent resurrection alone am I saved. I have been on a slow and continuous journey of spiritual growth in my faith, and with God throughout my life. Most recently, God has softened my heart, and he has shown me the errors of my ways in rejecting and fearing the community that is the church. I now feel ready and excited to publicly share my faith with this community, to share my trust and love in God and his plan for my life with you all, and to grow further in my relationship with God with your help.

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