Militant atheist” is how Ben Friedman described himself less than two years ago. Even though he had rarely attended church and his parents were not Christians, Friedman had examined Christianity and decided that atheism was more logical.
But earlier this year, the 20-year-old Moorestown, N.J., native was baptized and gave his testimony before a packed sanctuary at First Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa.
“During the last two years, my worldview has changed radically,” he said. “My hope is that my testimony will provide a cause for celebration among Christians and, more importantly, offer a challenge to everyone else.”
The opportunity to run track and cross country at the University of Alabama (UA) was the only reason Friedman chose to move from New Jersey to Alabama. That move set in motion several circumstances and introduced him to people who were instrumental in leading him to examine his atheistic beliefs and instead embrace Christianity. He recognizes that none of this was coincidence but was the work of the Holy Spirit drawing him to Christ.
During the weeks before his freshman year, a young woman told Friedman their friendship couldn’t go further because he didn’t share her Christian beliefs. Not wanting to end the relationship, he agreed to investigate Christianity.
“I figured I’d give it a couple of months and it would blow over,” Friedman said.
Making good on his promise, he went to a large bookstore to find a book on the topic. As Friedman walked in the door, the first book he spotted was “The Reason for God” by Tim Keller. He read it in less than 48 hours.
“The book took me by complete surprise and I devoured it. Keller answered so many of my questions really concisely and logically. It was incredible,” Friedman said.
About a week later, his roommate’s father was visiting from out of town and invited him to go with them to First, Tuscaloosa. Although Friedman admits that he doesn’t really remember much about the service, what really impressed him was how welcoming the people were. He was interested enough to return alone the following Sunday. He told himself that if the people weren’t friendly, then that would be his last church visit. Again he experienced a welcome he had not expected.
Heath Wilson and several other college students spotted Friedman that second Sunday and invited him to lunch. Wilson encouraged him to join a freshman Bible study at the Tuscaloosa Baptist Association church focusing on “The 10 Basic Truths of Christianity.” Even though he frequently had to use the table of contents to locate books of the Bible, he began devouring Scripture.
Friedman also was invited to attend a meeting of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), during which he met FCA Director Gary Cramer, whom he now considers his mentor. They began meeting twice a week to discuss the Bible, especially concentrating on apologetics, a defense of the gospel. He also began meeting with Wilson for weekly Bible study and attending the church’s college worship service on Tuesday evenings.
“I now recognize this as God giving me the nutrients and resources I needed to grow after first planting the seed,” Friedman said.
Even then, he did not make a quick decision. Although Cramer had carefully taught him the basics of the faith, Friedman said he was still hesitant.
“Once I learned what salvation was, I probably counted the cost more than anyone else I know,” Friedman said. “I kept telling [Cramer] that I’m almost there, but I couldn’t seem to make that last step. But finally I decided that following Christ was the life I wanted for myself.”
Now he is taking a year out of school to participate in the World Race, an 11-month, 11-country missions project. Friedman was required to raise $15,500 for the trip. By the first of March, he had less than $3,000 in donations. He had composed numerous handwritten letters and prayed consistently, but he was ready to give up.
“I told God that if He intended for me to go, something had to happen, but I had done all I knew to do, so now I gave it up to Him,” Friedman said.
Donations began pouring in and in no time, the trip was fully funded.
Tim Simpson, minister to college students at First, Tuscaloosa, has observed Friedman’s life change during the past year.
“It’s encouraging to see what God can do with doubt,” Simpson said. “He can take a person from doubt to faith, and I’ve seen the hand of God moving in Ben’s life when nothing else would have brought him to Christ. None of these things that came into his life were accidents.”
Friedman intends to return to UA to complete his education after the year away but said he wants to do whatever God leads him to do.
“Two years ago, I had visions of working my way up to president of the Atheists and Agnostics Club at Alabama, but God, the Hound of heaven, chased me down and tackled me in His arms,” Friedman said. “Now I want nothing more than to live a red-hot life for Christ and to ignite a fire within those around me that sends up an aroma pleasing to God.”
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