Tony Humbert

“I wasn’t raised religious. My grandpa was Mormon, but we didn’t really go to church or talk much about God. One day, out of nowhere, I just felt like reading the Bible. I can’t explain it. It wasn’t a big revelation or anything. I just felt like I should. And every time I did, I felt peace. The day went right. I started realizing that when you’re walking with God, even when things go wrong, they go wrong the right way, if that makes sense.

As time went on, of course, I decided it was time to go to a church. There was a Christian girl I was trying to impress. I thought to myself, ‘Okay, well, I'm reading my Bible, but she's going to church. She's definitely a step above me.’ So, in order to maximize my chances of things going well, I felt like I needed to keep up with her pace.

Long story short, that relationship didn't end up happening. But it did start putting more of Christianity in my life. By the time I graduated high school, I was already reading my Bible and going to church.

My next step in my Christian walk was basically the same story, just different girl. She was, so to speak, on an even higher level than the last one. She would go to church more than once a week, so I tried to match her energy.

The problem with that was that this wasn't my faith yet. It was just me trying to impress people.

Around this same time, I was working at a plumbing company and had to deliver some parts at a Catholic University. As I was driving, the radio started picking up interference. I turned the radio knob to where the interference was coming from, and suddenly this guy — Doug Batchelor — is talking about the Sabbath. I’d never even heard of the Sabbath before. So, funny enough, I learned about the Sabbath on the campus of a Catholic school.

I was impressed by what I was hearing, but I didn’t jump into the Adventist Church right away. I’m cautious. I wanted to be sure. I kept listening to Bible Answers Live and getting answers to questions I didn’t even know I had. But I’d still make excuses for working on Sabbath, like, ‘Well, I can pick any seventh day I want.’ Then, every time I’d come up with a new excuse, Doug would preach a sermon that blew it apart. It felt like God was timing it all perfectly.

Still, I had doubts. What if these people were weird in real life? What if this was some kind of cult? So, I decided to read The Great Controversy by Ellen White for myself, just to see. I figured if she was crazy, it would show. But halfway through, it hit me, ‘This woman’s not crazy. She’s telling the truth.’ So, I joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

At first, I was pretty legalistic. I thought Christianity meant following every rule perfectly. Eventually, I hit a wall. I realized, ‘I can’t do this. I’m not good enough.’ That’s when I finally understood the righteousness of Christ. That it’s not about what I can do, but what He can do, and what He’s already done. That changed everything. It humbled me. I started to see that I’m not the main character in this story. God is.

Now, when I’m worried, I don’t try to outsmart the problem. I just give it to God. And it’s so freeing. I just say, ‘Lord, show me what to do,’ and I let go. If there’s one thing I’d tell anyone, it’s this: God just needs your willingness. You don’t have to be smart enough or strong enough. You just have to be willing.”

— Tony Humbert, from the Franklin Church, Kentucky