Start here
New to faith? Coming back to God? Start here.
You don’t have to have it all figured out, and you don’t have to clean up your life first. Take these five simple steps, one at a time.
The good news, in four parts
God made you and loves you
You were created on purpose, in God’s image, to know Him.
Genesis 1:27
Sin separates us from God
We have all turned away from God, and we can’t fix it on our own.
Romans 3:23
Jesus came to rescue us
Jesus lived the perfect life, died in our place and rose again.
Romans 5:8
We receive Him by faith
Salvation is a free gift. We receive it by trusting Jesus, not by being good enough.
Ephesians 2:8–9
Ready to trust Jesus?
“God, I know I have sinned and I can’t save myself. Thank You for sending Jesus to die for me and rise again. I trust Him as my Savior and Lord. Help me follow You. Amen.”
Praying these words doesn’t save you. Jesus does. This is simply a way to tell Him you’re trusting Him.
I prayed this — tell someoneGet a Bible you can read
The Bible is how God speaks to us. Choose a translation that’s accurate and easy to understand.
ESV
English Standard Version
Accurate and readable
NIV
New International Version
Simple, everyday English
NBLA / RVR1960
En español
Fiel y clara
No Bible yet? Download a free Bible app on your phone, or ask us. We’d love to give you one.
See our Bible guideYour first 30 days
Read one short chapter a day. Before you read, ask God to help you understand. After you read, ask: What does this show me about God? What does it ask me to do?
| Days | Read | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1–21 | The Gospel of John | Meet Jesus: who He is and why He came. |
| Days 22–30 | Psalms 1–9 | Learn to pray and worship through real, honest prayers. |
Learn to pray
Prayer is simply talking with your Father. Jesus gave us a model in Matthew 6:9–13. Try these four parts:
Thank God for who He is and what He’s given you.
Tell Him honestly where you’ve sinned. He forgives.
Bring Him your needs and the people you love.
Be still. Read a verse and let it guide you.
Find a church family
You weren’t made to follow Jesus alone. A healthy church will help you grow.
Look for a church that…
- Teaches the whole Bible, verse by verse
- Points you to Jesus and the gospel every week
- Has people who welcome you and pray for you
- Offers ways to grow: small groups, women’s ministry, Bible studies
You’re invited
If you live in or near Chowchilla, we’d love to meet you. Come visit Cornerstone Community Church and our women’s ministry.
8:45 AM, 10:30 AM or Español at 12:30 PM · 208 Fig Tree Rd. Chowchilla, California
Plan a visitCommon questions
What if I still have doubts?
That’s okay. Many believers have wrestled with doubts. Bring your questions honestly to God and to a trusted Christian. Keep reading the Gospel of John. It was written “so that you may believe” (John 20:31).
Do I have to get baptized?
Baptism is how a believer publicly shows she belongs to Jesus. It doesn’t save you, but Jesus commands it (Matthew 28:19). Talk with a pastor when you’re ready.
What if I’ve done terrible things?
No sin is too big for Jesus. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us” (1 John 1:9). His grace is bigger than your past.
Do I have to change everything right away?
God changes us over time, from the inside out. Start with the next small step of obedience, and trust Him with the rest.
You don’t have to do this alone
Have a question, need prayer, or just prayed to trust Jesus? Send us a message. A real person will write you back.
Send a message“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”
James 4:8