Why an invitation matters
Rina decides to get baptized
Sometimes it takes more than one invitation
"I've been blessed with Lilia's friendship since kindergarten - over 40 years of sharing life together. Throughout those years, she extended countless invitations to church, but I always declined."
Here is what Rina had to say about his decision to be baptized:
“I’ve been blessed with Lilia’s friendship since kindergarten – over 40 years of sharing life together. Throughout those years, she extended countless invitations to church, but I always declined, preferring to observe her faith journey from a distance.
This particular time was different. When Lilia invited me again, I finally agreed to join her family at Eastside’s Anaheim campus during their ‘At The Movies’ series.
From the moment I walked in, something felt different. The warm welcome, the engaging approach to sharing God’s message – for the first time, I found genuine hope and connection. I kept coming back week after week, drawn by something I couldn’t fully explain.
People in my life began noticing changes in me, which opened doors to meaningful conversations about faith. Soon, my friends and family, including my younger sister, started joining me at Eastside.
After months of spiritual growth and discovering God’s love in new ways, my sister and I both made the decision to be baptized in May. This step represented our personal commitment to surrender our lives to Christ.
I’m eternally grateful that Lilia never gave up on inviting me, and that God was working behind the scenes all along, preparing my heart for this beautiful journey of faith.”