Bruce Bates

My Testimony– I grew up an atheist. Never knew Jesus, never learned about Jesus, and never really cared to either. I was happy. I had great friends, a healthy family, and a good education. I excelled in sports, enjoyed playing video games, and loved to eat ice cream. It never seemed like I needed anything, but always felt like I was missing something. Even as a young child, I would lie in bed wondering What’s it all for? An infinite universe, a finite existence, and a lack of higher purpose. God had set eternity on my heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11). And I wasn’t all that interested in the “straight path” the world had to offer. Yet, my life felt like a movie in which I was the main character. In high school I won state championships, made the all-conference teams, had an attractive girlfriend… I was the man. Then God humbled me. When I was 17, I was distracted driving and struck and killed my family’s dog. My mom woke me up the next morning with tears in her eyes and informed me that my classmate had overdosed on drugs and died. That same day I played the worst basketball game of my life and threw the state championship for my team. Then two weeks later, Covid struck in the spring of my senior year of high school, and everything was canceled. No prom, no graduation, no lacrosse season, no parties, no girlfriend. Also during that time, my uncle who I looked up to as a father figure was diagnosed with stage four cancer. The architecture school I was enrolled in went completely virtual and required a vaccination for attendance. I started smoking daily, drinking heavily, craving sexual immorality, and falling into depression. I was no longer the main character, no longer the man, no longer happy. Then, in desperation, I began to pray to a God I did not yet know. And he answered me. Not with some dream, or vision, or miraculous healing. He answered me by placing people into my life who were willing to help me become the man he wanted me to be. I started studying the Bible daily, praying constantly, going to church frequently. And then on April 30th of 2023, I was baptized. It’s been over two years now, and I’m happier than ever. I have eliminated all the bad habits from my life, built friendships that will last an eternity, and I am about to be married to a true woman of God. I finally found a higher purpose—to teach others the same gospel that changed me, and help them become the men God wants them to be. My fiancée and I lead a ministry together, and I hope to eventually lead larger groups and play a significant role in winning this world for Christ. My content on here is part of that mission. Thank you for reading my story and for supporting me on my journey. Oliver Matthew Burdick