Baptism: Peter & Ezela Tagliente

Ezela always went to church as a child because it was the right thing to do, but she didn’t have a relationship with Jesus.  She knew she was sinning.  She consumed, partied, and didn’t respect herself.  All of her decisions culminated when she got engaged in her 20s to someone who became her abuser.  She ultimately lost all of her self-worth.  It was after she left that relationship that she met her husband, Peter.

Peter was raised in the Roman Catholic faith and went through all of the sacraments.  When he grew older, he realized something was missing.  He drifted away from church and felt the void in his life.  His marriage and family relationships were in a dark place.  He couldn’t get away from the feelings of doubt, resentment, and anger.

During Ezela and Peter’s marriage problems, friends invited them to Northridge.  They accepted and kept returning.  Drew preached a sermon on burdens and said to ask Jesus to “take my burdens and pain.”  Ezela did just that. She felt Jesus grab her shoulder and take her pain, stress, and anxiety.  That was the moment she realized Jesus was her Savior and everything she needed.  She then began reading and researching the Gospels, and everything changed.  Her relationships with Peter, her family, and herself became joyous as they flowed from her relationship with Christ.  At this same time, Peter was unaware that his close friends were praying for his salvation.  He remembers the first time he came to Northridge and how he felt like the message was directed right at him.  It was so powerful he couldn’t hold back the tears.  As a result of attending every week, he put his faith in Christ.  His life completely turned around. Peter’s relationship with his wife and family got better, and he didn’t feel the anxiety, weight, and pressure he used to feel.  He is much happier now.

Peter is getting baptized today to publicly announce to the world that he is a follower of Jesus.  He is placing his trust in God and his kingdom forever.  Ezela is getting baptized to publicly proclaim loudly that Jesus has saved her and become her best friend. When she felt broken and damaged, not valuable or loved, Jesus loved her.