Ready to suffer all even death

Every year I ask the confirmands, “Why are you willing to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from your confirmation faith.” Hopefully we can be encouraged by the responses of these six young ladies who confirmed their baptismal faith at Epiphany on May 2, 2010.

Mercedez Lynn Christopolis — “I am willing to be faithful even to the point of death because I know that I will get the crown of life. I know in heaven there is no pain or suffering and people shouldn’t be afraid of death because it isn’t the end, just a new beginning. To be honest, I can’t wait to die because it would just be a new beginning with no pain or suffering.”

Mercedez' confirmation verse: Revelation 2:10 Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Ashley Marie Dreckmann — "I am ready to face all, even death, rather than fall away from my faith in God because He is the true God and the Creator of the world and everything in it. He has given His only Son Jesus Christ to save me and everyone in the world so I could go and live with Him in heaven. He also gave His Word to me so that I would believe in Him. This is why I am ready to face all, even death, rather than fall away from my faith."

Aheley's confirmation verse: Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Kayla Renae Fink — I am prepared to face all, including death, because I never want to lose my faith in the Lord my Savior. Also, I know that if I really want to keep my faith, which I most certainly do, I will do all I need to do that even if it includes death. I also know that if I pray to God for strength to help keep my faith, he will certainly give it to me. In the church I also have many fellow beleivers who would be willing to help me stay in my faith. I NEVER want to lose faith in Him."

Kayla's confirmation verse: Revelation 2:10 Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Christina Marie Moore — “Jesus suffered and died for me so I should be just as willing to die in his defense and maybe even in spreading his Word. Falling away from faith is the worst thing that could ever happen to a person and if not brought back results in eternal damnation. Knowing this it should encourage everyone to grow in their faith and spread the faith to everyone and save them from that awful consequence. So facing a harsh world and even death is well worth it when you know you are doing God’s work, bringing people to faith, and death is nothing compared to what he went through for me.”

Christina's confirmation verse: Psalm 100:3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Jordyn Katherine Strutz — “Why am I ready? I am ready because God is the one true God and he died for me. God is the only God and he has blessed me with faith and he has been with me through every step of my life and he has prepared a place in heaven and I will be with him one day. I know that nothing that these earthly men do to me is anything when compared to the pain Jesus felt on the cross. Worldly people will never make me curse or renounce my faith in the one true God."

Jordyn's confirmation verse: Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Audrey Grace Young — “I would rather die and go to heaven than die and go to hell. So I would rather die and go to Heaven than fall away from Jesus and then die and go to hell.”

Audrey's confirmation verse: Joshua 1:9 Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.