Joni Schmidt lives in Boerne, Texas, with her husband, Carl. They have three children and seven grandchildren and one on the way. The legacy she desires for her grandchildren is that they are certain that their “Mermer” loves Jesus with all her heart.
HOME / PROCLAMATION! MAGAZINE / 2015 / SUMMER / FAITH STORY BY JONI SCHMIDT
Having been raised a fourth-generation Adventist, I was proud that I didn’t have to search for Bible “truth”, because I had it. Consequently, when I was 10 years old, I was baptized into the Adventist church after a Dick Barron evangelistic series. I didn’t feel the joy, though, that I thought I should feel when “giving my heart to Christ”. Oh well, I thought, maybe I was just too young. So, at age 19, I was re-baptized. When I came up out of the water that time, however, all I felt was—wet.
I married when I was 20, had a daughter Nicole when I was 21, and divorced four years later. Through all the tumult, I was unquestioningly raising my daughter in the Adventist church.
I remarried at age 30, this time to a wonderful man who, although raised in the Catholic church, was not a practicing Catholic. He knew my beliefs and told me what I believed was wrong, but he didn’t bother me about my religion as long as I was happy. In fact, he used to joke with his friends that I was a cheap date: I didn’t drink alcohol, eat shellfish, or wear jewelry!
Shortly after our wedding, Carl and I gained full custody of his two children, and I began taking Alaina and Aric to church every week with Nicole. Alaina grabbed onto the structure of Adventism with both hands and is still an Adventist, but Aric just went to church to make me happy. Not sure how to “keep” the Sabbath, I made it a drudgery for my whole family. All I allowed them to do was to sit in the house and do “lay activities” [taking naps] like we did when I was growing up. It was a day of rest, after all.
When Nicole became a teenager, the criticism from older church members began: “Your skirt is too short.” “Your mother let you wear that to church?” She began to rebel, and when she was 17, she moved out and rejected Adventism once and for all.
Trying to connect with God
I figured it wasn’t biblical to get baptized every nine years, but not knowing how to connect with God without my sin getting in the way, I went forward at nearly every altar call for re-dedication. Those were the only times I felt any hope of getting close to Him. I couldn’t connect with Him during the week—I kept sinning, no matter how hard I tried to obey Him. Nevertheless, since we Adventists had the “truth”, I presumed God would see that I was sincerely trying to live up to all the light I had.
I could not believe how difficult it was to be a Christian! It was full-time hard work. I despaired at my shortcomings, and despite using every ounce of effort I could muster to follow Christ’s sinless example, I still didn’t feel saved. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out what the Savior did for me if I had to work so hard to be perfect.
Then, in 1999, my sister-in-law Lidia (and a third-generation Adventist) organized a women’s retreat to share what she had learned at a non-Adventist conference. She did the most unbelievable thing—she invited several non-Adventist Christian speakers for the weekend, and for the first time, I felt I could be close to God. After that, every so often, I felt peace. In fact, when Nicole visited on occasion, she would remark that I was different, and she wanted what I had.
In 2002, I helped organize a church plant in San Antonio for Adventists who liked contemporary music and an informal atmosphere. About 25 of us enjoyed our Northside Adventist Fellowship (NAF), but one weekend the pastor went out of town. Our elder (who was a very young man) preached that Sabbath on the new covenant, and he said that God’s grace is enough. I had never heard that message before! It resonated with me, but the thought that God’s sufficient grace might not be compatible with Adventism never entered my mind. Shortly thereafter, our little fellowship disbanded, and I was adrift—an Adventist without a home church.
I “Sabbathed" at home for several months before finally becoming a member at the Adventist church where my brother and sister-in-law attended. It never really felt like home, and I had to force myself to get up every Sabbath morning. I was discouraged about ever achieving the perfect character of Christ as Ellen White said we must by the time Jesus returned. In fact, several times I told my friend that I felt I had to die in church on Sabbath in order to go to heaven.
Venturing out
In the meantime, Nicole had been baptized in a non-denominational church called Oak Hills Church, had married a wonderful Christian young man, and had a daughter. Every so often they allowed me to take my one-year old granddaughter Brielle to Sabbath School and church. She should have access to the “truth”, I reasoned, and if her mother wouldn’t provide it, I would.
Moreover, I dropped comments to Nicole that she needed to find a Sabbath-keeping church if she was to be saved. Oak Hills might be nice, but it wasn’t the “true” church. Oh, how she resented my remarks!
“I love my church,” she would respond. Since she visited my church occasionally out of love for me, I would also attend church with her sometimes. (I didn’t tell her, but I loved her church, too! I could sense the Holy Spirit’s presence there.) Once, I even had the audacity to walk up to the minister, Max Lucado, and give him a copy of the Ten Commandments, Twice Removed by Danny Shelton and Shelly Quinn. Nicole almost died of embarrassment. Max graciously tried several ways to decline my gift but finally accepted the book.
In July of 2012, I was asked to become a worship director at my Adventist church. My task was to find someone to lead the song service each fourth Sabbath and to make sure the program flowed smoothly. I asked a talented young Adventist to lead worship, and he brought his band. Our head music director accompanied them on the piano, and the worship was beautiful—but only for some of the congregation. Several other members who were determined not to be “entertained” at church complained to the pastor. The next week the pastor notified the worship committee that this young man would not be allowed to lead worship again. That incident was the final straw for me. I knew in my heart I did not belong in an organization that held evangelistic series to bring new members in the front door while actively escorting our precious young people out the back door. I was not offended, mad, or vengeful, but the final ember of my Adventist joy had finally been irrevocably extinguished. I wrote a letter to the church secretary informing her I would not be coming back. This time, I was religion-less.
Preparing for radical change
A week later, the Adventist pastor visited with my sister-in-law Lidia and me to explain the Adventist teaching about God’s seal. God’s “true” church, he said, would be sealed with the Holy Spirit, and Sabbath-keepers would be sealed with a special seal. He supported his argument with a verse from the Old Testament that said the Sabbath was a “sign” between God and His people. When we pointed out that “sign” and “seal” were not the same, he claimed the words were interchangeable.
A quick word study proved the pastor was wrong. Lidia and I were now both sure we weren’t Adventists, but what were we? I couldn’t know that God was about to change my life radically!
On October 19, 2012, Lidia had news. After spending the whole night researching the word “seal” using the online study Bible eSword, she had discovered that the seal of God was not the Sabbath as the Adventist church taught. In fact, it had nothing to do with the Sabbath!
Immediately I remembered the sermon on the new covenant and grace I had heard years before from the elder at NAF. A little light was flickering in the back of my mind—could that grace be real? I had to find out!
I researched. The little light of hope brightened. Could it really be this easy to be saved? Lidia discovered the Life Assurance Ministries website, and there we found the online study “The Covenants” by Christopher Lee. I printed it out and, with Bible in hand, read it—and read it again. I highlighted sections of it. Then I read the entire books of Galatians and Ephesians—twice.
I burst into tears of joy! Yes! It really is that easy to be saved! God’s grace had saved me! Christ wasn’t my example—He was my Substitute! “It Is Finished” finally took on its real meaning to me. The old covenant was finished, and the new covenant was now in place. Finished means FINISHED—completed, ended, not continuing in the same old way. How I praise God that I live this side of the cross!
I mailed a letter to the Southwest Conference of Seventh-day Adventists requesting my name be removed from the membership roll and from all future mailings. My burden had finally lifted and would never weigh me down again! It amazed even me how quickly I shed the Adventist mantel. I began attending Oak Hills Church with Nicole and her family every Saturday evening. The sermons spoke to me like no sermon from an Adventist pulpit ever had, and it was comforting and encouraging to see that the pastors are humble men of God.
Christmas and Easter have taken on new meanings for me. Instead of being seasons to endure, I now understand why Christians celebrate the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and I finally know why I need a Savior.
In January, 2013, I listened to Chuck Swindoll’s sermon series on the radio entitled “The Grace Awakening”, and then I purchased the series on CD and two of the accompanying books: one for me, and one for Lidia. The amazing truth of God’s grace was now firmly planted in my heart. I cry tears of joy often when I think about Jesus’ sacrifice. Each time I hear a song about God’s grace, I bow before Him (if only in my mind) and thank Him for His indescribably generous gift. “Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone)” is my anthem. My God, My Savior has ransomed me; I no longer feel as though I have to prove my value to my Savior in order to gain eternal life. Hallelujah and glory to God forever and ever!
New mercies
Nicole and I attended the Spring, 2013, women’s Bible study at Oak Hills Church, and our relationship became more solid than ever before. It turns out that she and her table mates at previous Bible studies had been praying for me to find freedom from the Adventist church. The last week of the study, I was invited to give my testimony to the 175 attendees, and as I looked into the faces of the women there, I saw Nicole crying. I can’t thank God enough for my daughter.
My family of origin has varying reactions to my new life. My father, although shocked at my decision, was surprisingly supportive. He has since passed away, and I know he is in God’s hands. My mother still instructs me, “Joni, you shouldn’t shop (or work) on the Sabbath. For six days shalt thou labor…” Now I know how Nicole felt whenever I told her that. The contrast between Adventism’s teaching that the seventh-day Sabbath identifies those who are saved in the end times and the Bible’s teaching that believing in the Lord Jesus defines the saved could not be greater. The Sabbath (when we worship) makes Adventist salvation works-driven. Jesus (Who we worship) makes true salvation the work of God.
My marriage is much happier, too, because I am less judgmental and “right”. I no longer feel I have to be the “priest” of the home, and my respect for my husband has increased tremendously. After 24 years of marriage, I finally see that Carl has a relationship with God, and he leads our family accordingly. And that’s what matters. I also pray that someday soon my sister will be open to hearing about the joy I’ve found in Jesus.
On February 10, 2013, for the third—and last—time, I entered the waters of baptism, but this time at Oak Hills Church, not an Adventist church. When I arose from the water, I felt—free! And saved! And I felt joy, unspeakable JOY! The world seemed brighter, the flowers more beautiful, and the colors of nature more vibrant. I let out a war whoop of thanks and praise to my Savior.
The joy that a relationship with Jesus brings is what had been missing for me for 52 years! I applied for membership at Oak Hills Church in April, 2013, and it is such a delight to serve my Lord. I tell people how much I love my church and invite them to visit. In fact, often I even tune in online on Sunday mornings to hear the entire service again, after having attended the previous evening. Moreover, my brother and his family have also joined Oak Hills Church, so we’re together in church again.
Each quarter, when I receive my Proclamation! magazine in the mail, I read it from cover to cover, and I ask God why He let me flounder in Adventism so long. Then I remember that His timing is perfect, and I am satisfied. He is faithful! I have the rest of my life on this earth to tell others about Jesus and how much He loves them. I can’t stop talking about Jesus to everyone I meet. And I can't wait to meet HIM.
Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (Jn. 14:6). When I was an Adventist I thought I knew everything about doctrine and prophecy and was miserable. Now I know Jesus, and I have joy. I finally love Him! His grace is amazing! The Son has set me free! †
Copyright 2015 Life Assurance Ministries, Inc., Camp Verde, Arizona, USA. All rights reserved. Revised July 20, 2015. Contact email: proclamation@gmail.com
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VOLUME 16, ISSUE 2
JONI SCHMIDT
STORIES OF FAITH
