Testimony for Ben Siege
My name is Ben Siege, and my testimony begins in the year 1980. That was the year I was born. I was adopted shortly after birth, and grew up in a loving family. I was always taken to church as a child, but never really cared for church, and left the family of God as I entered high school. By the time I entered college, I was really searching for something to fill the void I felt.
I used my history major skills to try to research the existing ideas and religions to determine the most logical “truth”. After a while, I became known as a very wise person to those around me, because I could draw from such a multitude of philosophies and schools of thought. But deep down, I still felt foolish. My words consoled others, but they never could console me.
My freshman year in college, I began working at a Chick-Fil-A restaurant near my hometown. My two bosses were devout Christians, who both tried to guide me back to Jesus. Naturally, I resisted. After working with them for a couple years, the general manager asked me (and several other young men my age at the store) go to Fort Caswell, a beautiful Christian retreat based at an old Civil War fort on the North Carolina beaches. I, fully prideful, originally resisted his offers. I was doing my own thing, and didn’t need anyone telling me what to believe. Joe, the manager, convinced me to go by baiting me with two of the loves of all males: basketball and girls.
I, full of pride, traveled to Caswell that summer of 2000 with my coworkers and some people from my manager’s church. I couldn’t wait for the first fast break on the court, or the first flirty smile from a girl. Those things would lose all importance when a much more important event happened. I was saved.
In individual group meetings, questions were brought up. Nagging questions which I had buried began to resurface. And the twice daily worship services began to give me a weird feeling. My manager, in our private sessions, spoke to me. All of this reached a climax on the last night of worship. I literally felt a presence pulling me towards the altar. I had felt it more and more during the week, but now it was overwhelming. I cried as I went, and gave my life to Jesus.
The story could have ended here, but it didn’t. I was baptized, later in 2000. However, I didn’t come down the mountain, I fell off. Soon, I was right back into my old lifestyle, more prideful and arrogant than ever. About two years later, of all ironies playing basketball with my friends, I doubled over sick. Managing to get out of their view as not to be embarrassed, I then watched with horror as blood began coming out of my mouth. I had always had a horrible case of acid reflux, and had never known. The acid eventually ate through my esophagus, and I was bleeding internally very badly. I managed to crawl into my parent’s room, unable even to speak. My parents (both in the medical field) came to my aid. I remember my father telling me to stay awake, and I remember thinking I was going to die. I fought for awhile, and then I gave up. The last thing I remember before closing my eyes was feeling sorry for wasting the talents God had so mercifully given me.
I woke up in the hospital, in the ICU. My recovery was very quick, and miracle of miracles, I was out of the hospital in three and a half days! With a proper diet and some precautions, I have not had a single problem since.
The feeling of helplessness I felt before I passed out has never left me. Although I accepted Christ into my life in 2000, it wasn’t until then that I truly realized how much I owe Him, and how every day is a blessing. I surrendered to the blood loss that afternoon, and after being delivered through it, I completely surrendered my life to Christ. Right there in the hospital.
I began looking for avenues to better learn about the Bible when I returned to school. I knew that God had saved me, and that He obviously still had a plan for me. Otherwise I wouldn’t be writing this now. I wanted to understand him and be His loyal servant, but didn’t know where to start. I decided that a Bible study at UNCC would be the best idea, but none fit into my schedule. Dejected, I was complaining about how my schedule was so full, and that I really wished that there would be a Bible study during one particular slot of time. A stranger I didn’t even know handed me a handout from Campus Bible Fellowship which he had gotten. The time fit perfectly into my schedule. Such are the ways of God!
Two years later, I am still in Campus Bible Fellowship. It has allowed me to grow in ways I never could have imagined as a Christian. I thank God every day for this ministry, the people in it, the work it does, and the fact that I am even here to receive its rewards. And if you are searching, as I was, I strongly recommend that you seek answers there as well.
Ben Siege