On Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 7 p.m., I walked on stage in front of my friends, my Pullman family, and my new church family and shared my story -- the story of Taylor Penny. When asked to write my testimony, I found it very difficult to sum up my story. The best way I can describe the reasoning behind my decision to get baptized was a storm that has been taking over my life for the past two years. I realized from the start that there was a strange yet amazing sense of peace and reassurance that in Jesus, and there still is. I guess you could say that I was waiting for my moment, and this year I had it. I pray that everyone at some point will experience a similar moment that shows the mysteriousness, greatness, and love of Jesus Christ.

Before I made Jesus my forever friend, I made unwise choices. Now that I want to follow God for the rest of my life, I try to be a bit kinder and make better choices. I have gone through a lot of hard times, trials, and tribulations in my life. I am a very stubborn person so I felt that I needed to handle it all on my own.

Things were starting to get out of my control, and I realized that I needed help to get through life; I needed God. I know that it was my faith in God that got me through this crazy part in my life. This last year, when I was facing the most difficult time in my life, I truly understood the depth of how He worked in my life and how He prepared me for many of the challenges I faced. I live my life in a different way now, knowing that He has always been there with me. Each day takes on a new meaning knowing that His presence is there with me.

When you are baptized, you are visually preaching the gospel. As you stand in the water waiting to be baptized, you symbolize Jesus dying on the cross. As you are lowered into the water, you symbolize Jesus buried in the tomb. As you are raised from the water, you symbolize Jesus rising from the dead. Since you are being baptized, you are also saying, "I died with Jesus Christ, I was buried with him and now I am raised with Christ to a brand-new life."

Going up on stage in front of everyone, giving my testimony, then climbing into the tub to be baptized was a feeling I cannot describe. I have talked in front of many people before and I have been under water many times before, but I have never done it with Christ by my side.

I was very sick not too long ago. I am not supposed to be here today, and there is still no answer as to how I got so sick, and why I am still breathing. I had every type of doctor you can think of come and visit me. I knew it was out of anyone's hands, and there was a moment when I realized that it was God telling me that it was my time to go back with him.

Then, all of the sudden, I got better. Each day I was showing promising signs of recovery. Then, after two weeks of being in the ICU, I was able to go home. It was crazy! I knew it was God. He just wasn't ready for me yet. I feel that everyone has a purpose here on this Earth, and I have not fulfilled mine yet. I'm not sure exactly what my purpose is, but with God on my side, I know I will be led in the right direction.

I have always been a follower of Jesus, but I have not yet had the chance to publicly declare my faith, until now. I wanted to wait until I was really able to grasp the reality of what it was that Jesus had done for me on the cross. From then on, it was a process through which I began to dig deeper spiritually. I have now been taught what it looks like to live my life for Jesus, no matter what troubles come my way.