Welcome

We have been called to go out into the highways and the hedges!

"And He saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. "

About ChurchDirect.net

Our Beliefs

Our ministry is based on the truth. The truth that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven, “…for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 KJV). That He died on a cross for each and every one of us. That His blood was shed to set us free from sin, “…and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (I John 1:7 KJV). That we are all given the opportunity to respond to His offer of the gift of eternal salvation.

Our Mission

Our Mission is Threefold

Fishers of Men

We have been called to go out into the highways and the hedges and preach God's word. In the world we live in today, the highways and hedges can be found using technology also. Our first and most important mission is to share the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world whether we do it in the field, in the community, or through virtual programs and social media.

Feed the Flock

Our mission is to give easy access to those who might not have the opportunity to hear the truth. We do not want to replace church – we want to serve those who cannot get to church for whatever reason at this time in their lives, or for those who choose not to go to church. We want to provide written and video sermons and messages, written and live Bible studies and devotionals, daily Bible verses, and much more.

“Pray without Ceasing.”

(I Thessalonians 5:17 KJV).

We want to provide an opportunity for anyone to make private prayer requests via our web site or join the ChurchDirect.net FB Prayer Group. Either way our prayer team promises to take your requests to our Lord privately and sincerely. We believe in the power of prayer.

Our Outreach

As believers, we are called to serve others and make a positive impact in the world. At ChurchDirect.net, we are committed to outreach and service projects, both locally and globally. We participate in projects that physically feed the community, offer a variety of needed assistance to Children's Homes, Addiction Centers, give out Bibles, and other Community needs.

A Word

"Let Go"

“Don’t Give the Enemy Any Ground”

Luke 6:46-49 KJV

Let go of your pride. You are not always right. Quit thinking you are in control. To serve the Lord you must do it His way, any other way will not be serving Him, it will be serving you. It will be for nothing.

Luke 6:46-49 "And why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? ...Whosoever cometh to Me, and heareth My sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great."

Will your house stand? Will you be in heaven? Will you hear Jesus say “Well done, good and faithful servant;” Matthew 25:23 or will you hear “I never knew you: depart from Me” Matthew 7:23?

Friends be obedient to God. He has given you instructions in His living Word, the Bible.
Stop trying to put your own twist on what He says. Do it His way. There is only one way to make heaven your home and that is through Jesus Christ and the work He did at Calvary. No other way! His blood! Accept His call! Christians do what He says. All of it! We tend to pick the parts of the Bible that we already agree with and the ones that are harder we tend to put our own spin on it. There is no spin to the Word of God. He means all of it! Not just some of it! Anything less is the enemy offering you an apple….

Finding My Way,

Sheri B.

https://histruthalways.com/

“Don’t Give the Enemy Any Ground”

“Neither give place to the devil.” Ephesians 4: 27

Have you ever found yourself in a place where you were tempted to compromise with the world? Maybe you felt a white lie was in order to protect someone’s feelings or to keep your boss happy? Maybe you felt that you would be more likeable if you were a little more relaxed about the things the world accepts but God still calls sin?

Don’t compromise. We’ve all heard that old saying, give the Devil an inch, and he’ll take a mile. That’s true. And anyone who has ever been entangled in the world again knows it’s true.

In I Kings, Ahab’s foe Benhadad told him he would take his silver and gold and his wives and his children. I want to note that Ahab was not a Godly king, in fact he was very far from it. Still, his interaction with Benhadad supports the point of not giving your enemy any leverage. Ahab was weakened by the years of drought and famine, and instead of resisting his enemy, he agreed to those demands. But Benhadad wasn’t satisfied and demanded more.

Christian friend, your enemy is Satan, and he will never be satisfied until he destroys your testimony, your relationship, your family, your life. If he cannot drag you to hell because you have given your heart to Christ, he will do all he can to make you miserable and ineffective, so you take no one to heaven with you. Don’t give him an inch. Do not compromise!

Angela Cox
Such a Time as This

NOTE: To read more from this blogger go to: www.suchatimeasthis4.com

"His Instruction"

My sister and I met today for a fun Saturday of loafing. We like to go and look at mobile homes and admire the way they are set up and fight over who is going to get what! We love to hit the farms and produce stands and get fresh vegetables for our families and of course boiled peanuts! Today we also got together to pray together over our country, our president and his wife with Covid, and our families especially any who may be lost.

As we sat down to pray we spoke of our concerns within our families and shared some of our own shortcomings and areas where we are harboring judgement or even strong dislike and anger for some we know and some of the chaos that is going on in our country that is getting in the way of our walk with God. One thing I will tell you about my family – we are not perfect or even close. And most of us (some more than others) will not hesitate to share where we fail. As a sidenote I will warn you speaking that openly and showing that vulnerability to a bunch of Christian Folk sometimes leads to great awkwardness. You know what I mean. Lots of us Christian Folk do not even admit to ourselves how short we fall, let alone to others. But anyway, this evening as I thought about how we both cried out to the Lord today for guidance and for Him to help us move those things out of the way and keep our focus on Him, He brought to my mind the very Bible Study we did this week on Psalm 1-3.

Psalm 1 KJV “ Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”

If I want guidance He is my first resource and then those that have a personal relationship with Jesus and believe in the sovereignty of God and His word would be who I may reach out to for help also. I need to be sure I do not look just like that lost person I am praying for or trying to witness to. We cannot do the same ungodly things the lost person is doing and expect that God is okay with that!

If I want to be a child of the King who does not harbor judgement against others or even strong dislike and anger, I need to be delighting in God’s law and meditate in His word day and night. He said day and night folks. He is not playing. What better way to keep our focus on Him than to meditate in His Word day and night!

I want to be that tree planted by the water, bringing forth fruit, not withering and dying, but prospering in my growth in the Lord. Water is needed for things to grow, growth is needed for us to stand strong, and our faith is built by the time we spend with Him. He has told us how to do it in the first two verses. How cool is God! He gave my sister and I the answer to our prayers Thursday before we even asked Him on Saturday! I love it when He shows up like that and you just have to realize how much He loves you!

Friend I pray that you will take His word seriously. Meditate day and night – spend that time in His Word, in conversation with Him, and seek His guidance on everything you do!

Finding My Way,

Sheri B.

"Are You Ready?"

"His Instruction"

Are you ready my friend?

When your life comes to an end

Will you be shouting and

Praising His name?

Or will you hang your head in shame?

There is coming a day

That we ALL must face.

Will you be sharing in

His marvelous grace?

He came to take your place.

Will you be ready to look

Into His blessed face?

Come unto Him

While He bids you come.

Where will you be

When your life is done?

The choice is yours my friend.

Carolyn Tyler

Testimonies

Sallie's Testimony

Carolyn's Testimony

My conversion took place on April 4, 1945, Wednesday morning real early right after the children had got off to school.

I died and came alive, when I came to myself, I was hugging Otto’s neck, telling him I was saved. He said Sallie I know it or we know it. I said I know I am saved. I know my redeemer liveth. I know my name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Yes, I know it is there this morning.

I know I’ve got salvation, the old-time religion, the kind I can die with. It’s been tried in the firey furnace, it’s good enough for me.

My sins were red like scarlet, but now they are white as snow. I said I wish this had happened in my life years ago. It was good enough for Paul and Silas, it is good enough for me.

I said the Angels in heaven are rejoicing because my soul is saved. It will make you laugh, and it will make you cry.

I know my sins have been washed away in the Blood of the Lamb. I said I have past from death unto life. I don’t know when I got Otto around the neck, or why he was the one I was hugging when I came to myself telling him I was saved.

I felt like I had just started out in life and everything was new. My voice was even changed, and I said I can love everybody now.

I am writing this note the 2nd night of April 1978. I know these are the words I repeated after I was saved, but don’t remember if I have them in line just like they came to me when I was saved or not. Because it has been so long before I wrote this after I was saved, when I was young, I could repeat them word after word as they came to me. Didn’t think then I would ever forget each word like they came to me when I got old.

I know these are the words I repeated after I was saved. I just don’t remember if I have them in line just like they came to me when I was saved or not.

Sallie

NOTE: Sallie’s daughter, Carolyn gave us permission to share her mother’s testimony when she found a copy of this handwritten note last week. Write your testimony down, your words can touch the hearts of others for the Lord long after you are gone from this world.

Carolyn's Testimony

I was brought up in church, so I knew going to church was the right thing to do. But that is why I went, because I knew I should and because it bothered me if I didn’t. Before I accepted Christ, going to church was usually an empty experience, as was my life. I didn’t have a purpose, a meaning, a fulfillment that I now have. Now I look forward with great eagerness to attending church.

I knew for years that I needed Christ in my life, that something was missing. I knew that I lacked the most important thing, that the one and only answer for living a happy and fulfilled life was to accept Christ as my personal Saviour and to make Him the center of my life. I realized that was the only way to find peace in this life and the assurance of eternal life in heaven.

I felt like Jesus was reaching out to me, telling me something, calling me to Him. That was the Holy Spirit drawing me. I had put it off so many times before; but this time I asked the Lord to give me one more chance. God in His mercy did give me another chance. The next night, when it was time to go to Revival, I went. I prayed all the way to church, and I prayed during the service. When the altar call was made, I went and asked God to help me understand and I asked Jesus to save me. At the moment that I fully believed, with no doubts, that Jesus is the Son of God, that He died for our sins, and that He is able and willing to save us, at that moment that I fully believed in my heart, He came into my life and I received Him as my personal Saviour.

Since I accepted Christ, He has given me a joy and a peace that I never had before. He gives me strength that I would not have without Him. He gives life meaning and purpose and peace and joy that you can only have through Him.

Carolyn

Andrew's Testimony

Carolyn's Testimony

Andrew's Testimony

I would consider my testimony to be twofold. I want to talk about two separate parts of it.

First is my salvation. I grew up in a family full of saved individuals, who were a part of a family led drama ministry. The Word was with me from the beginning. I always knew the truth, but one day when I was younger. I woke up early one morning, before school, and God was calling me. I had no doubts in my mind, but a desire to seek Him. I asked my mom for help and prayer and she helped lead me to His salvation.

The second part of my testimony is about His grace, His mercy and His forgiveness. In my late teens and even pushing towards my late twenties, I was a huge backsliding Christian. I drank and partied and did everything I could to push myself away from Him. However, He was always there. There were times where my actions were an everyday occurrence, but there is not one time that I wasn’t convicted by Him, or I like to say I felt a Godly sorrow or grief. I knew He was always there even though I wasn’t ready to come back to Him. It took a decade of me refusing to admit I needed Him, before one day I realized I can’t go on without Him. Even during my darkest hour, He has shown me grace. He had mercy on my life for over a decade. He has forgiven me always, when I ask. I am nowhere near perfect, and I fail Him daily, but He has never left me.

Andrew

Daysie's Testimony

Andrew's Testimony

When I was a junior in high school, I got a text from my grandma talking about a revival that was going on where she lived. She wanted to drive 6 hours to come and pick me up for the weekend and take me, but I had plans and told her maybe next weekend. I wasn’t interested and didn’t really care honestly. The next weekend rolled around and the revival was still going on, so I agreed to let her come get me because I knew it was important to her. I grew up in and out of church and just thought that I was fine and going to heaven because I knew about Jesus, even though I had never accepted Him into my life. I never thought of it much and just assumed I wouldn’t end up in hell since I was around church and people who knew God.

The day of the revival I knew something was up. I was overwhelmed with emotion and wasn’t really sure why. I knew something was going to happen that night even if I couldn’t explain why. It didn’t take much time at all for me to become a sobbing mess as I heard God speak to me through this young man up on the stage at a church I had never even been to before. I don’t remember every detail, but what really got me was when the preacher asked if we were 100% we were going to heaven, not 99%, but if we know that we know that we know that if we were to die at that moment, we would be going to heaven. He said that if a man was to walk in and put a gun to his head, that he would be at peace because he knew where he was going, and I realized that I did not know that. That night, God opened up my eyes, and I opened up my heart to Him. I was a complete mess- I basically ran down to the altar. It was such a strong pull, I knew that I needed God, I felt Him convicting me in a way I can’t really describe, but the feeling was unmistakable. I was shaking and still bawling my eyes out when a lady guided me to a seat off to the side. I called out to God and asked him to take my life away from the devil and admitted that I needed Him. A sense of peace and relief washed over me as I finished up my prayer. Everything was all of a sudden okay- better than okay actually. Right in that moment that I prayed out to God begging Him to fix my life, He did exactly that- He completely changed my life in a way nothing or no one else could. I finally had a real feeling of belonging and happiness. As time went on, He took my problems away one by one as I laid them down at the altar and left them there for Him to take care of. He straightened out my life in a way no one else was able to. It’s not easy, and I still have a lot to work on and learn, but He made me new and washed me clean and He will guide me throughout the rest of my life. No matter what, I always know that God will be there for me. He will never betray me or turn His back on me no matter how far I stray, He will always be there to welcome me back with open arms, and if that isn’t reassuring then I don’t know what is.

Daysie

Angela's Testimony

Daysie's Testimony

Angela's Testimony

I’ve been asked to write my testimony and I hesitate. I’m not a Paul whose life was dramatically changed after meeting Christ. We all know at least one Paul, someone whose love and service to Jesus would have at one time been unimaginable. People who are saved at a young age have nothing as dramatic as Paul’s story, but often they have experienced some great miracle since their conversion that has become part of their testimony. I’m not one of those either. Don’t get me wrong, I couldn’t get through a day without Jesus and I’m so thankful He’s there. I’m so thankful for the way He shows up in the lives of my loved ones. I can never thank Him enough for the times my children were saved from scary situations… driving through trees, narrow misses avoiding head on collisions, getting shot, hit by a car, accidental cutting of the wrist deep enough to damage nerves… more things than I can list or am probably even aware of. I’m so thankful for the phone calls from grown children telling me they had been saved and for seeing my dad (one of the “Saul/Paul” situations I know) accept Christ almost 30 years ago and then my granddaddy. I am so thankful and spending every single second I have left on this earth praising God for these things alone would never be enough. But still, these stories are really part of their testimonies instead of mine.

Not only is my own story not dramatic, but it’s messy and ugly. Most of my screw ups and bad decisions came after my salvation. To be honest, my story is shameful. But maybe that’s the point of my story. The contrast of God’s mercy compared to the mess of a human being I am. So, anyway, here it goes:

Although both of my parents are now saved, I wasn’t raised in a Christian home. My grandmother took me and a few friends that lived down the road to church. One Sunday morning when I was a preteen, one of these girls accepted Christ. Me and her sister followed her down to the altar. This is one of the reasons lost church members are a burden to me, I know firsthand that sometimes you get caught up in emotion and not conviction. Fast forward to my senior year. My friend invited me to revival at her church. Keep in mind that I’m thinking I’m saved. I’ve been baptized and joined my grandmother’s church. Before the service started, the choir sang a song. I don’t know the name of it, but it went through the days of the week and you were supposed to stand up the day that you had been saved. I realized I couldn’t honestly stand up, but I also knew that I would have it straight before I left there that night. And I did.

I would like to say that I never wavered in my faith from then on, but that isn’t the case. I saw people who were so close to the Lord and I wondered why I didn’t have that closeness. Remember this is all new to me. I was the first in my family to be saved. I didn’t have a lot of guidance in this area at the time. So, in my ignorance, I thought these people were super close because they were more special to God. I didn’t realize that they were super close because THEY put Him first and worked to have that kind of relationship. Just like relationships here on earth, it will be what you put in it. If you aren’t as close to God as you would like to be, YOU are the one who needs to increase the effort. He is unchanging.

By my early to mid-20’s, both of my parents were saved and active in church and ministry. I had moved out on my own and was no longer active in church or living a lifestyle pleasing to God. But by 25, I was married with a child on the way and I realized NOTHING was more important than this child accepting Christ. I prayed that God would not let this child reach the age of accountability if he would not be saved. That is how important the eternal salvation of a child is to a saved parent, even one that is a backslider. Needless to say, I rededicated my heart, and got back in church and in reading my Bible and living a life of obedience. I realized by now that my relationship with God was what I would make of it and I could be just as close to Him as I wanted. And I wanted to be close. Again, I would like to say that my faith never wavered, but I can’t.

About ten years ago, in what I like to call the “perfect storm” the groundwork the enemy had been laying for years all exploded at one time and I once again made choices not pleasing to God. And those choices led to a sinful lifestyle that alienated me from Him and once again, I quit church.

By this time, you would think He would be done with me. I mean how many times do I have to walk away from Him before He’d give up on me. But don’t mistake His mercy for a free pass. There is a day that will be too late to make things right. And although He can bring forgiveness, peace, and healing into your chaos, your dalliance with sin will cost you things that can’t be restored. I am now divorced from the father of my children. My children are all grown and their dad and I, despite being divorced, are at a peaceful place now where we have friendship. We celebrate holidays and important occasions together with our children and grandchildren. But we are still divorced. The spiritual damage I did is the worst, though. I pray I never get to such a place as I did in my early 20’s or early 40’s. I would rather be taken out of this life early than risk hurting my witness so badly again that I have an adverse spiritual impact on those I love.

I learned the first time I went through an experience of “backsliding” that I needed to put more into my relationship to have the closeness I desired. What did I learn this time? Well, ten years later and God is still showing me things. One thing that has really been impressed on me is to guard your mind. Looking back, I see so many wrong thought patterns that set me up for the fall. All of that is for another time though and isn’t really a part of a “what God has done for me” but a “what God has taught me” story.

Because of His mercy, I was given a chance to really come to know Him when I thought I already had. Because of His mercy, I was forgiven for all that I messed up after knowing Him. I love the story of the Prodigal Son and how the Father RAN to him when he saw him coming. So maybe my testimony is as much for the struggling saved as the lost. No matter where you are in your life right now, He is waiting on you. Come home.

Angela

Dan G.'s Testimony

Daysie's Testimony

Angela's Testimony

Written on January 2, 2014

If my calculations are correct today is my birthday. To be more exact it is my rebirthday. 48 years ago, I sat in the balcony of a church on the corner of 9th Avenue and 21st Street in Huntington, WV. I was a young man desperately in need of direction and meaning for my life. There a man preached a message that was simple and direct. Honestly, I can only remember the last few words of the sermon. He walked out to the very edge of the platform, pointed his finger, (To this day I believe he pointed directly at me), and said, “Jesus Christ loves you, He gave His life for you, He thinks you are worth something." Something akin to an electric shock ran through my body and I knew, I knew. That Sunday morning my life changed. Looking back over 48 years I can say that it has been quite an adventure. It has not always been bright and sunny and things at times have been hard, but I have always been guided and directed by the hands of the One who thought I was worth something.

Dan G.

Jennifer's Testimony

I was asked to share my testimony, which I admit, has been difficult to put into words. Of course, if I allow my mind to wander and give the enemy access to my thoughts, I begin questioning why it’s been so difficult to write – i.e., Where do I start? Will I remember all the details correctly? Is it difficult to write because I’m not truly saved? Well, that’s exactly how the enemy distracts us – he is the father of lies (John 8:44) and is skillful at manipulating situations and our thoughts. The good news is…greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4)! I don’t have to face anything alone. Why? Because I am saved; I have been adopted into the family of God; and I am a daughter of the King! Sometimes though, I need the reminder.

My salvation story is simple. When I was about 6 or 7 years old, I was at Vacation Bible School and the preacher was giving an invitation. Of course, when he made it to the “with every head bowed and all eyes closed” part, that was my cue to peek. When I did, I saw my older brother making his way to the altar and I followed. I never questioned what led me to the altar until several years later. When I was a teenager, my family joined a drama ministry that went around to different churches. We weren’t frequent members, but we attended and helped whenever the ministry was scheduled somewhere nearby. At the close of each service, the same question was always asked – “If you were to die today, where would you spend eternity?” I heard this question asked a dozen or more times and always thought I knew the answer. However, after one service, I could not stop thinking about this question. I couldn’t shake it from my thoughts, and I was not sure I could answer it. So, I went to my mom and told her what I was feeling. She called my aunt and the three of us talked – mom and I at the kitchen table and my aunt on the phone. Although I cannot remember all the details of what transpired after that, I know that when I left the table, I knew the answer to the question – I was going to spend eternity with Jesus! So, whenever I begin questioning my salvation…I remember the conviction I feel when I’m not living according to His Word; I remember how I feel when I read a passage or even just one verse from the Bible that seems to be written just for me; I remember how I feel knowing that when I have a worry, concern or fear, my immediate response is to talk to Him; and most of all, I remember that He loved me so much that He gave His only begotten Son, so that I could live!

Jennifer

Michael's Testimony

Jennifer's Testimony

I was raised in a very strict Catholic Church in the mid-west. I went to a Catholic school where we had a church service every morning, and Sunday service at 9:30am every Sunday without fail. No matter what. By the age of 15 I found ways to have to work on Sundays, so I didn’t have to go to church. By the age of 16 I left home to make my way. I was married and in the military by 18. I knew my home life when I was younger was pretty good in church, so I wanted my kids to experience that same feeling. We started going to a church around the corner from us for awhile but since my wife had never gone to any church, we fought about it a lot and overtime we stopped going altogether.

Fast forward 11 years. I have been around the world twice, been to and seen a lot. I am out of the military and divorced. My girlfriend has been what she called “saved”. I remember thinking from what? She tried her best to explain it to me. But I am Catholic – so I’m good. She invited me to this play she was going to be in, something she called a drama. So, I went because she asked me to. It had skits related to the Bible – salvation and damnation. In it they kept saying “Jesus is the only way.” I remember clearly thinking I am good. I am Catholic also known as a Christian from my catechism days. At the end a young lady came up to me and asked me if I knew Jesus and I answered very quickly I’m a Christian. Over time we got married and moved. That play kept sneaking into my mind as time went by.

We moved into a quiet little town, found a church and started going to it. The kind of church where you feel like family from the first time you walk into the door. One Sunday we were getting ready to go to church and I was very unsettled and anxious for no reason. At church it got worse. During the preaching it really got bad. The pastor was preaching salvation and I was about to explode inside. When the altar call was issued, I knew what I had to do. I realize now that was God calling me. I made my way to the front and prayed and asked God to save me. Funny the feeling in my gut was gone. After announcing my decision to the church, it hit me. Now I am a Christian!

Many years later I was in a bad way. The decisions and choices I made were really bogging me down. I knew I was not where I should be. So, at the altar I begged God to help me. To let me know He was with me. Almost instantly there was a hot hand on my back. I could feel the palm, fingers. But no one was near me. I got my answer. I do not walk alone.

Michael

Debbie's Testimony

Jennifer's Testimony

Debbie's Testimony

My granddaddy was a good and righteous man. I looked up to him and when he passed away and was buried on my 13th birthday, I was troubled and convicted. That’s when I started asking questions to my Grandma Sallie. I asked her about how granddaddy had led people to Jesus and how you would know when it happened and that I wanted to be saved. She was so sweet and understanding. Even with everything she was going through she focused on me and I will forever be grateful to her for leading me to salvation. It was a couple weeks after granddaddy had died that grandma was staying with us and she would help me pray every night, but nothing happened. One night I prayed by myself all alone and asked Jesus to come and live in my heart and forgive me of my sins that I might one day see Him and my granddaddy again and it happened. The cleansing started in my heart and it went from the top of my head to my toes and a peace came over me. I knew that day He saved me, and I went running into the bedroom to tell grandma and we cried together. Every time I closed my eyes that night, I saw great multitudes of people all going in one direction towards a light and that light I knew was Jesus. Even though through the years I’ve had to fight with Satan saying that I was so young that it didn’t happen (my salvation), and because it was just me and Him when I got saved. But I know He saved me and I know my name is written in the Book of Life and I thank Jesus for saving me.

Debbie

Shane's Testimony

Debbie's Testimony

I thought it would be nice to let everyone know that I have not always been a Christian. I have not always been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus. As I type this today, I can confidently say that because Jesus shed His blood on that old rugged cross, because I believe that He died to set me free from all my sins, because I believe that without Him I would be destined for an eternity in hell. I am free!

My story is much like many of you out there today. I was not brought up in church, my parents were not believers and they didn't see the importance of taking us to church. Thankfully when I was 14, a neighborhood friend and his parents attended a local church and they invited me to go with them. I began to attend church faithfully and began to be active in the youth group.

I found myself being drawn by something, or someone to surrender my life to the Lord, at that age I was not very familiar with what was happening. I played it off, I tried to ignore it. I was successful for several months at ignoring what was happening in my spirit.

Then it all came to a head one night while at a youth retreat. The entire youth group, about 35 of us, was sitting around a bonfire and everyone began to share their testimonies. Uh oh, I thought to myself, it is almost my turn and I don't have anything to say, what am I going to do? It was at that moment that I felt such a powerful leading from God telling me that it was my time to surrender, my time to accept Him as my savior. I also felt that He was telling me that this was my last opportunity to be saved.

I forgot about everyone sitting there, I wasn't concerned about what they may think of me and my decision. I had to be saved and it had to be now. I jumped up and grabbed the youth leader by the hand and told him everything that was going on. We knelt down and prayed and when I stood up, I felt like a brand-new person.

I am so thankful that God called me that day, it forever changed my life. Don't be afraid to surrender your life to Christ, it will be the best decision you have ever made.

Shane

Sheri's Testimony

Shane's Testimony

Sheri's Testimony

I was not raised in a Christian home (It's a Christian home now) and only went to church sporadically. I was in a Christian school for half of the 5th grade year and we had Chapel every day. One day I stayed after Chapel along with a friend and prayed the sinner's prayer to be saved. I am afraid I believed that I was now a Christian because I “did" what I was told to do by the teacher.

As a young mother I was in a revival one night and this time I felt the Lord's pull and went forward to the altar where well-meaning people prayed for me and when the altar call ended congratulated me and stood me up. Once again, I believed because I had felt God call this time and I went forward, that I was saved. His Word says in John 6:65 KJV "And He said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto Me, except it were given unto him of My Father." I had truly felt God that night at revival, but I went up and listened to other people tell me what to say and let them do most of the praying and tell me when it was "done". Don't get me wrong if you pray and ask God to forgive you and save you and it is from your heart - it does not matter what words you use! If He convicted you, and your response to Him was yes and your heart was involved, and you connected with Jesus then you are saved! There are no specific words that you have to say. I felt God's conviction but still I had somehow relied on those around me to just "glide me right into salvation". I completed step one, I went to the altar, but I did not follow it through so that it was confirmed in my heart, I listened to the words of others instead of focusing on what God was saying was required from me. I did not do business with God personally. I got up from the altar because it was time to, the invitation was over and everyone was going back to their seats, not because I had connected with Jesus. I was still holding on to the world. I was in church for a few years and even taught Sunday School a while, but just walked away one day without ever looking back or feeling convicted or a loss or anything.

I lived in the world for many years knowing that I was not saved and trying to “get saved.” I would pray all the time in all places because I knew I needed to be saved, but that was me trying to take care of it in my own power. I did not get back in church or get in His Word, or talk to others who were saved, or do any of the things that might expose me to His Word. It was kind of like, okay God I know I need to be saved so save me now - only each prayer was empty. But you see we can't just decide "Oh I am going to get saved today." We must be called by the Holy Spirit. You can call it conviction, being drawn, or being called, it does not matter what you call it, but John 6:44a KJV says "No man can come to Me, except the Father which hath sent Me draw him: ...". Sometimes we get tangled up with words, but He must draw us to Him, He has to show us that we are lost and undone and that He is our only hope. Once He does that, all we have to do is respond to Him with total acknowledgement and acceptance of His gift of salvation. During these years my parents had each accepted Christ and even began to travel a little bit with a drama ministry that they kept trying to get me to go to. I would turn off my alarm, and just plain out lie to them about oversleeping or whatever excuse I could think of to keep from going. Mother's Day 1992 I woke up and felt like God told me this will be your last chance if you do not go. So, I went. Conviction fell upon me the moment I walked in the church door, the tears flowed throughout every scene that was acted out, my heart was broken and by the time the invitation was given I was a mess. Before I could make a move, I looked up and my dad stood with his hand outstretched and I jumped up and we got to that altar. I prayed, people prayed with me and for me, BUT I PRAYED. I was given scripture to read - let me tell you I was not getting up this time until I met with Jesus! If I am not mistaken the church was dismissed and went on over to the fellowship hall to eat lunch before I got up from that altar. I don't know why it was so hard for me to let go and let God have that control, I read scripture and read scripture and prayed and finally I read that same scripture one more time (Romans 10:9-10) and let go. I read, That if Sheri shalt confess with her mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in her heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, she shalt be saved. For with the heart Sheri believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. This time it was different. My voice was even different, and when they asked me, I told them I was saved.

For me letting God be in control sometimes is hard. It is something I am still having to work on. My prayer is that the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in His sight, the Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Sheri

Kaleb's Testimony

Shane's Testimony

Sheri's Testimony

I was always brought up in church. I grew up in a preacher’s home. All I’ve ever known my entire life is a preaching daddy and a praying momma. As I grew up and started thinking for myself, I rebelled against what I was raised to believe. I was getting into trouble, my grades weren’t the best, and all I cared about was looking for a good time. There were many times I felt like I had to do what everyone else was doing so I could fit in and be accepted. I could tell you all about the Bible. Scriptures, the stories, the characters, and everything about it, but I was still lost. I reached a low point in my life when I got tired of letting my family down. I’ve always heard about Jesus, but never took the time to get to know Him. I went through the motions and made a profession of faith at a young age, but I wasn’t saved. One night, one of my friends dragged me to a revival and the Lord touched me and spoke to me like never before. I came home that night, bowed on my knees in my bathroom, and asked the Lord to save me from my sins. The feeling of knowing that all my mistakes, all my shame, all my sin, was cast away to never be remembered anymore is a feeling like no other. Each and every day I feel God’s grace and mercy and see His Hand of blessing on my life. To know that Heaven will be my home one day, makes this life worth living for Christ.

To anyone reading, I will tell you this. It’s never too late to be saved by God’s grace. It doesn’t matter about your past, it’s been covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. If you would have told me at 16, that by the age of 20 I would be preaching His word, I would have called you crazy! And to think that now I pastor a great church that’s full of loving people, humbles me before God. God can use you. Somehow, someway, to change someone’s life for the Glory of God.

Kaleb

Testimonies continued

John's Testimony

Jordan's Testimony

Tonya's Testimony

Let's see ourselves, even in our current struggles, and wrestling of sin, as LOVED, BEAUTIFUL, PURE, ADORED and WORTHY instead of MISERABLE FAILURES, embarrassments, 'can't get rights' and hypocrites like the devil wants us to see when we look into the pool of reflection.

When God says who WE are, who are THEY to say who we AREN'T? I know who I AM. I know who I've BEEN. And I know where I'm GOING, but most importantly . . . I am who I am because the I Am tells me WHO I am! Even though I've failed, I'm NOT a FAILURE! Although I've fallen short, I refuse to stay down! Even though I've been defeated, I won't wear DEFEAT! Even though I've shamed myself, I simply won't wear SHAME! Even though I’ve experienced LACK, I lack NOTHING! See, I won’t wear who I USED to be, because every single day I fight to be the NEW me! I don’t always succeed in that, but I continue to fight.

FAR too OFTEN, we own our shame, our regret, our pain and our failures, but we RARELY own our AWESOME! Each one of us is unique!! ALL people, throughout the history of time, have different fingerprints—is that not amazing?!? Before the foundations of the Earth, before we were in our mothers’ wombs, God knew us! He took His time PERFECTING us and CRAFTING us—We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God had previously ordained that we should walk in them Ephesians 2:10-- and part of our creation was developing a plan for our lives that ONLY you can do! That means EACH ONE of us, every SINGLE ONE of us is IMPORTANT!!

I used to be a sex ADDICT—porn, strip clubs, strippers, webcams, escorts, couples, BDSM, etc.—I did just about everything. I remember, literally, going to a strip club, coming back that night and messing around with a girl, getting drunk then, without any sleep, rolling up into church. Talk about trying to serve two masters!! That’s on a whole ‘nother level. But the last 7-8 years, I’ve worked extremely hard to let the Potter mold me into a new CREATION (2nd Cor. 5:17)! Here’s the thing, we can strive. We can toil. We can work. We can promise to do better, but that’s a LIE—in many ways—because the beautiful reality is . . . though our gardens are MESSY—filled with sticky, ugly briars, weeds threatening to overcome the flowers and green grass and is grown up—Jesus sees BEAUTY!! So, I encourage YOU to just REST in that UNCONDITIONAL LOVE and find rest for your weary soul in that pasture. We don’t come to Jesus ALL cleaned up; we come to Jesus to get clean!! I’m still working on that second part. Church is not a museum for SAINTS, but is a hospital for the SINNERS. I’m a redeemed-sinner, so whether I’m sick or healthy; I will remain at the feet of the Doctor of my soul.

For years, I let God speak to me. I listened. I FOUGHT. I RAN. I worshiped. I cried. I felt His scalpel removing things—destructive habits, sin, negativity and evil—and felt Him replacing them with His Nature. I knocked. I sought Jesus! I asked. I learned. I screwed up and missed the mark more times than I’d like to admit . . . and still do, but I have become a NEW person! I REJOICE over that! Am I perfect? FAR from it, still too many pictures, conversations, texts and actions I take part in, but I am CLIMBING that mountain! I will slip, I will fall, I will grow weary and stop the ascent, but I will not TURN BACK!

See, I’ve endured A LOT in my life . . . my little step-sister passing away in a car accident at 16, an ill-advised marriage, and subsequent divorce just months later, my Papaw, who helped raise me passing away at 90, my little step-brother passing, due to a heart ailment, at 22, me losing my job as a sports editor, and writer, after five years due to the recession, me becoming one of two finalists to be the main writer for the Carolina Panthers’ website, which would’ve been a dream job, before ultimately missing out on it, then had a girl I was dating, who, between my generosity and her being a thief, completely drained me of my savings account . . . throw in a porn addiction, and near-insatiable desire for sex, which involved the aforementioned things, and more, I was at rock bottom.

Since the events I just described took place over the span of five-six years . . . all the gut-wrenching, heart-breaking losses took their toil. I lost my peace. I lost my mind.

At my lowest point, I had a gun in my hand, a .38 special, ready to kill myself. But in that moment, Jesus, the One I had worshiped, learned from, read His words, growing up and prayed to, whispered just enough Truth, Hope, Peace, Joy and Love for me to not go through with it! He consoled me, encouraged me, loved me and gave me just enough Hope, in the midst of hopelessness, to find the strength to go on . . . in short, Mufasa had more work for young Simba to do! He loved me right in the middle of my MESS.

When the Lord RESTORES your life from rock bottom an unspeakable change happens. You smile bigger. You laugh harder. You cry more. You say, “I love you” more. And the little moments you used to take for granted, you no longer do—rather, you appreciate them for what they are-- hidden treasures! You learn a compassion that can only be born through tragedy, tears and trial.

In exchange for ashes, God gave me BEAUTY! He’s shown me the flames aren’t meant to consume us, but rather refine us. Storms will come. That is inevitable, but what we must remember, no matter how great the waves, how loud the thunder or how bright the lightning, is Jesus is in the boat with us. That beautiful, powerful and wonderful truth has come in handy over the past year.

I’ve thrown up over 2,200 times, and even though I’ve never abused alcohol or drugs, had severe ulcers in my stomach and small intestine, a loose lower-esophagus, have esophageal spasms, a hiatal hernia and three cysts in my liver, but my faith has NEVER wavered! Has it been exhausting? Has it, at times, been frustrating? Absolutely to both, but I’ve had Peace, which truly passes all understanding over the 14-month ordeal. At my lowest point, in less than a month and a half, I went from 185 pounds to 142. I had 15-20 tests run, in and out of the hospital, and have had three specialists to put into perspective how dire it’s been.

My recent health battle came on the heels of losing two of the pillars of my family—my Step-Dad Buddy, of 32 years, and my Mamaw, who led me to accept Jesus on the porch in Elk Park at six-years old, both passed away in the past three years. As you can see, since having my life restored (Joel 2:25), it has been no walk in the park, but it’s one we don’t take alone. He walks with us, and when we’re too weak to carry on, He carries us, but what I’ve found is there are times in our lives in our lives where we don’t even want to be carried and it’s in those times we can crawl up into our Heavenly Father’s arms and simply be held—held by the Greatest Love in the Universe. Isn’t that an awesome thought?!?

Although I miss them terribly, and long to hug them, see their warm smiles or hear their voice, I’m thankful they’re no longer in any pain and are with Jesus, worshiping before the Throne. I have the assurance I will see them one Sweet Day in a land where there is no more death, no more mourning, no more suffering and no more pain! (Rev. 21:4)

Like the tree planted by the water—I was not, and shall not, be moved! Although, I’ve gained all my weight back, I’m still throwing up a few days a week. While I long to be healthy again, I’m healthy in spirit as I face this battle. Through faith, I hear the VICTORY trumpet before it’s here. I see the light at the end of the tunnel before it’s there. Over the past year, there have been plenty of times, I haven’t FELT the love of Jesus, so it’s a good thing I knew, and know, how much He loves me! See, feelings are fickle, fluid and like mosquitos, in the summer, all over the place, but the Love of God is unconditional, immovable, all-consuming and immune to our mistakes, feelings and seasons of life—whether on the peak or in the valley.

I worked too incredibly hard to crawl out of the debris, from under the rubble that once felt impossible to climb out from under and ruins of my life to STAY under it! The same way God caused the boulder to be rolled away from the tomb; He rolled those stones off me. I WILL complete my mission!

My hope is to share Jesus, and His Love, with a lost and dark world, to breathe Life into everyone who reads my words and to share the unending Hope, Peace and Joy I’ve found not because I am good, but because He is worthy and beyond AWESOME!!

Every day we can love Him, love, and serve, others, walk in gratitude and find humility in the simple truth we don’t deserve a single flower of blessing in life’s beautiful garden. That alone should make us grateful. Any blessing in our lives is nothing more than a MUD PUDDLE, while He is the endless, beautiful Ocean we have unlimited access to. Whether we find ourselves in the pit, or in the palace, let’s cling tightly to the God, Who clings tightly to us. For the palace, without the King, is nothing more than an EMPTY house!

Over the past decade, I’ve gone from a pauper to a prince. Where I used to be lost, now I am found. Where I used to be overwhelmed by the tests, now I am PROUD of my testimony. Where I used to be an orphan, I now know I’ve been adopted by the King of Kings! Where I used to be a complete mess, God has turned me into a beautiful MESSage!!(Gen. 50:20) I’m dancing on the grave that once held me bound—and what a SWEET dance it is!

I used to view myself as an addict . . . now, I know I’ve been called, set apart, chosen, part of a royal priesthood and child of the King and Creator of the Universe all because of the blood His Son shed for me on the cross and me accepting Him as my Savior.

So, let’s TRY, let’s WORK, let’s STRIVE, let’s want more of Jesus and less of us (John 3:30), but if we screw up . . . let’s extend GRACE to ourselves and begin again. The older I get, and further and longer I walk, I want to fail Yahweh, Yeshua and the Holy Spirit less and love Him more! I want to give the angels in Heaven, and the Great Cloud (Hebrews 12:1-2), something to be proud of and something worthy to cheer for!

What shall we do? We should PRAY as if EVERYTHING depends on God and WORK as if everything depends on US and rest in the BEAUTIFUL TRUTH we are all works in progress (Phil. 1:6) and are LOVED more than we could EVER fathom-- RIGHT WHERE WE ARE!!

John Mark

Tonya's Testimony

Jordan's Testimony

Tonya's Testimony

Hi, my name is Tonya. I am a Christian. Here is my story of how I came to Jesus. I was raised in a Christian home by my parents. My mom is really the one who taught me about God and took us to church. She was the spiritual leader of our home. My dad would go to church some, but my mom is truly the one who made sure we attended church every Sunday, Sunday night and on Wednesday’s. So, there was NO way I was getting out of going to church.

At the age of nine, I had attended a Billy Graham Crusade one evening, and that one night changed the course of my life forever. I gave my heart to Christ that night during an altar call that Graham had given. I went up and received Christ as my personal savior. There, He came in and changed my heart. I believed that He died for my sins and that I was a sinner in need of a savior. I didn’t want to go to Hell for eternity as most kids wouldn’t if they were taught to know there is such a place called HELL. Billy Graham didn’t leave this one out; that’s for sure. I thank God for Billy Graham who spoke into my life early on and was used by God to help lead me to Christ.

As time went on, I got involved in my church youth group, still went to church but as I grew older things began to change, hormones came into play, teen years show up, ( LOL ) middle school showed up, high school and so on. I started hanging around with the wrong friends and peers helped pull me away from the Lord. My teen age years were tough. My parents fought a lot, my dad wasn’t around much and if he was, he was busy and pretty much absent emotionally and mentally. So, my mom had to make up for a lot. She was strict. Fear was more present in our home more than love. I started to rebel early on in my teens. I turned to my peers for love, validation and acceptance. I started experiencing with drugs. I didn’t feel the need for church or my church friends. I told my mom, “ I love Jesus, but I want to have fun and live my life the way I want to for now. I’ll come back around.” I was probably 15 years old when I said this to my mom. She was at that point she knew she had to start letting go and trust God for my life. She wasn’t happy at all. I got to where I didn’t want to go to church anymore. I didn’t enjoy it. It felt like a performance for me. Like I was only going because that’s what we did. I would put on a smile but wasn’t wanting to be there. I battled depression, had panic attacks, didn’t like crowds, had social anxiety, etc... it just wasn’t a good time in my life. Going to church felt like a religious act. I slowly started to drift away and loose interest in anything to do with God and church. This went on most of middle and high school. The funny thing is, I always knew in my heart what was right and wrong. I had those convictions even if I didn’t always listen to them fully, I could feel them. The truth was always knocking on my heart’s door. I would run and push them down and stay busy, use drugs to cover them up. I dated some, got into relationships, and was sexually active. I always had that fear of getting pregnant and not being married. Thank GOD, I didn’t! When I turned 18, I barely graduated from high school. I didn’t take school seriously. Drugs made me not care. Having fun was more important than anything else. I was definitely living my life for ME!

Then, something tragic happened at the age of 18; my dad had a massive heart attack 3 months after I had graduated from high school. Very tragic! I didn’t see it coming. No one did. It was unexpected. He went to work that morning and never came home. I got a call phone that morning around 7:30am from a lady who told me what had happened. He had passed out while delivering newspapers. She found him on the ground and somehow, got our number to call us. I was in shock! I went to tell my mom, but she had already left to go find him. His boss had called her to say he was sick. This day was a very hard day for me. My dad survived the heart attack but was pronounced brain dead from lack of oxygen. It was too late. This sent me into a very low moment in my life. I stayed high for weeks after his death to help numb my pain. Looking back God was with me the whole time keeping me safe.

Moving forward, I reconnected with a guy that was in my life back when I was 15 years old. His brother had died a tragic death in 1993. ( 2 years after my dad’s death ) His brother’s death had made the headline news, my good friend had seen it on tv ( American Journal ) and called me to say, the guy from your past, lost his brother in a bungie accident recently. I had NO idea that this had happened, so I picked up the phone and called him to let him know how sorry I was to hear the news of his brother’s death. We instantly reconnected our lives together again from this tragic story of his brother. I know it was God who brought us together.

We started dating right away, within 6 months, we were engaged and married! Crazy! This person is my husband, Kemp! We got married in 1995. 4 years into marriage, I started looking for God AGAIN! My husband wasn’t saved. I wasn’t living for God at all. I started searching for God again, thinking there has got to be more than this. I’m married now but something was missing in our marriage. My sister had told me about this church that they were attending, and it had a praise band. Music is very important to me and this is what drew me to want to find a church with a praise band. So, we searched for a church and found one we both liked. We both were on the same page and were ready. There was a play at this church called, “ Heaven’s Gates, Hell’s Flames” and we both went. We both gave went up front and gave our lives over to the Lord. I rededicated my life back to Christ and my husband got saved for the very first time!!! Later, we both got baptized together on the same day. What a blessing!! God is good! His plans are good; to not harm but to prosper what He had brought together. He brings good out of what was meant for evil. He is enough! He draws people to Him. He was drawing us to Him, and we listened and surrendered our lives over to Him. To this day, we are STILL married after 24 years, we had 2 beautiful children. I’m still close to God and have never looked back. I meant it when I said, “God I’m coming home, I give my life back to you.” God is enough! He is my everything! It’s only by His grace that I’m alive and here today!

This is my story of hope for others out there; that you may find HIM and know HIM and walk in fellowship HIM, the one who loves YOU more than YOU will EVER know. He is the ONE and only TRUE GOD. We serve a MIGHTY GOD. One who DOESN’T want to see ANYONE perish, but to KNOW HIM and to have an EVERLASTING LIFE with CHRIST JESUS! He is your PERFECT FATHER! Like myself who didn’t have the perfect daddy, I do now. One who cares and loves me unconditionally. Let Him come into your life today. He is knocking on your door if you will just surrender your life over to Him, I promise you; you will NOT be let down. I have so much joy in my life because of Christ Jesus. One more thing, I thought that by living my own life, it was so much better and I didn’t want to give it up because I didn’t think life with Jesus would be fun. Well, the devil had me FOOLED. My life with Jesus is SO much MORE than I could ever had imagined. I didn’t think life would be fun with Jesus. I was WRONG! This life with Jesus is never boring nor will it ever be. He has made my life SO much better and the JOY is unspeakable.

Give Jesus a try. You will not be disappointed. What do you have to lose? Your eternal LIFE! That’s forever and ever. I hope my story speaks to you today in some way. We all have a story to share of how God brought us to this place with knowing Him and knowing His son, Jesus. God bless you today and forever through His goodness, mercy and grace. ❤️🙏🏻

Tonya

Jordan's Testimony

I have been in church since the day I was born almost every time doors were open. My mom and dad have always held jobs and stuff in church. I got saved at about 6 or 7 at my house after church one Sunday. I knew right from wrong and was doing my best to live right as a kid. At about 5th grade I started straying a little bit, and by 6th grade I was definitely doing things that wasn’t pleasing to God. All the while I was still going to church and playing the sweet innocent boy part. I will never forget in August the summer before 7th grade, we went to the mountains for a youth trip and me and all my friends and the youth had a good time. I was living life like I was going to live forever! I was too young to die. After we got home the next day, I went school shopping with my nana and older sister. I went home and told my mama I was going to go ride the four-wheeler for a minute and she said I’m cooking supper so don’t go too far. So, I went to ride around the field in front of my house and went around a curve the four-wheeler went to flip over and I tried to jump, and my shoe got stuck, and I was slammed in the dirt. My cousin was sitting on the porch and seen it happen. He immediately ran over there. He rolled me over and he said I was bleeding from everywhere and he could tell I had a broken jaw because he used to be a volunteer fireman. This man has been raised in church also but at this time he was not living right. He told me later that he just worked on me and watched me lay there knowing that he couldn’t even pray for me because he wasn’t right with God. They called 911 and a major blessing was half of our church prayed a big circle around me until the ambulance got there. They took me to Conway Hospital and seen that I had a head injury and rushed me to MUSC Children’s Hospital. Upon arrival they put me in an induced coma. They told my mama and dad that the first 24 hours was very critical, there was a chance I could die, be paralyzed, or be brain dead for the rest of my life. So here I was not even knowing I was in the world laying at Gods judgement door knowing I was not living right, but I was too young to die I was only 11. Needless to say, I did wake up and immediately thanking God for waking me up and not letting me die and go to hell even though I deserved it. I told my mom and dad I’m glad I didn’t die because I feel like I would have gone to hell. It really broke their hearts. I straightened things out with God in my heart and stayed in the hospital for 2 weeks, ICU one week and a regular room one week. I had so many churches, preachers, families, and friends praying for me. I came out of the hospital and knew I was a walking miracle. When I finally went back to school, I knew deep down that God spared my life, but I fell back into my old ways and peer pressure again. I ran from God until I was about 20 and the Lord spoke to me one day and said you have already seen you are not too young or too good to die and go to hell, the time is now. I went down and rededicated my life and gave my testimony. Few years later I met a wonderful woman named Alex Moore and for me I liked her from the first time I ever seen her. We were friends for years and finally started dating. At the time she was younger than me and not living right. I tried to live my life right in front of her, but no one is perfect. Finally she gave her life back to God and I will never forget the day we were at the altar and I was praying with her and she turned and told me she was ready to start living right and ask God back in to her life. I was so excited. We were not perfect. We made our fair share of mistakes. We ended up getting married and started praying for a baby. Arlee Gray was born healthy and everything was great. We have tried to take her to church and teach her the right way. We started praying for another one, and it took a while. My wife was starting to question me on why God would not give us one and I told her He works everything for our good and He knows and sees what we don’t. We kept praying, she went to the altar one day and came home and told me that God told her she was pregnant and I knew Jesus had raised the dead and made the blind to see but I thought to myself is this true? Are we really going to have another baby? I would have to tell the truth and say doubt did set in a little. So, we went to the doctor and they confirmed and the Lord spoke to me and said why would you doubt Me the one who made you but believe the doctor when he told you Alex was pregnant. Through the years I cannot say I have been perfect. I fail daily but my Bible tells me that we have an advocate with the Father, and He hears and forgives us if we come to Him with a broken and contrite spirit. I would just like to thank God first of all for saving my soul and my family and also giving me a wife that came from a family that loves God and Christian background. Through the years I have learned that nothing is impossible for God! If I had a song to explain my testimony it would be “I have Been Blessed” by the Rochesters.

Jordan

Sam's Testimony

Faith's Testimony

Jordan's Testimony

I grew up in a Christian family. Church Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night. Being in church plays, attending church events, as well as always hearing my parents and grandparents always talking and teaching me biblically. I knew about Jesus I understood about Jesus I even thought I had a relationship with Jesus. I grew up with the impression that I was good to go. As I got older my parents separated and I didn’t have the pressure of doing right or going to church anymore. With no guidance mixed with depression looking for attention I began finding my pleasure in things of this world from smoking and drinking to finding myself in trouble. It seemed like I spent more time being suspending from school than actually going. I got so caught up in being in the world at 15 I found myself in the back of a police car only to be my first of many times having problems with the law. The older I got the more I drank and more drugs I used. For a time, I even dropped out of school. All I wanted was to party even into my early 20s. I spent so many years hell bound blowing money and doing stupid things with the thought I was good. It wasn’t until one night in April of 2018 at a revival I never intended on going to that the Lord revealed to me that I was lost and had no relationship with Him. On that night I gave my life to Christ and haven’t been the same since. No more drugs or alcohol. No more anything that I once was. Over the past year in a half the Lord has blessed me with a great church family, amazing Godly friends, a good career, an amazing woman who loves the Lord, and some many more things that I cannot even begin to count. The best thing that has ever happened to me was realizing I was lost an on the way to a devil’s hell and accepting Christ when He called.

Sam

Faith's Testimony

I grew up in a Christian home. I was surrounded by God and church from the very beginning. For 12 years of my life I went through the motions and did all the things “good Christians” were supposed to do. I didn’t know Him personally, but I knew a lot about Him. For a while I thought that was enough.

When I reached middle school I found new friends and became very fixated on myself and my image. My biggest concern was what my peers thought of me. I was looking for acceptance from the world around me.

But on February 12, 2010 my church was on the last night of a five night revival and I knew without a doubt He was calling me. I went down to the altar, or ran if I must say, and ugly cried for pretty much the rest of the night. I committed to living my life for Him from that point forward and for the first time I felt whole.

The change in my life wasn’t as obvious as it is for some. I didn’t get in much trouble, but God has seen me through some very tough times. A huge part of my testimony comes many years after my salvation. My senior year of high school two of my cousins were involved in a car accident the week before Christmas. During that same week my grandpa died from a long, hard battle with COPD. I lost three very important people in my life within less than seven days. I questioned God numerous times. Why did He allow things to happen this way? Just a few months after, I started struggling with anxiety attacks. Paralyzing attacks. I didn’t know what they were at first and I thought something was seriously wrong with me. I visited a primary care doctor who asked me if I had any major changes in my life since the attacks started. And I just knew why I was there and where all this was coming from. The loss of a loved one is one of the hardest things we face on this earth. BUT with God, with prayer and a peace and comfort that can only come from Him, I can face anything. He has given me joy, purpose, and fulfillment. I’m not perfect and I continue to mess up daily, but God loves me despite my flaws. When this world lets me down, I know I have Him and He will never leave me.

I could say so much about how He has changed my life for the better. I have been very blessed with a wonderful family, great friends and an amazing, God-fearing fiancé, who I prayed I would find since I was in middle school. Thank you Lord, for your blessings on me.

“I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭9:1‬‬‬‬

Faith

Alex's Testimony

Faith's Testimony

When I was younger my family always seemed to stay close to God. Family bible studies with my grandparents, Christian school, very active in our church. My family even ran a church drama that we would help in. There was never a question that between my parents and my grandparents they always made sure we knew what God did for us and how important He is. I was 5 when I had my mama pull over to the side of the road because "it’s happening" as she said I told her.

For years I stayed close in my church wanting to be in every activity but eventually things changed. I drifted away from God, made new friends, got older and just didn’t care as much. I still loved God, but I thought I could get the best of both worlds and it was no big deal. I put myself in such stupid situations that I can’t thank God enough He had enough grace for me to walk away from. (Then I never realized it was because of Him I just thought I was lucky) and I thank God I had family who prayed for protection over me. For years I did what I wanted, and it became that church just wasn’t a "thing" for me anymore, I didn’t feel it was going to affect me or that fact that I was saved at 5.

I became very close with a "guy friend" that people asked often why we just didn’t become a couple. I always laughed it off and told them I didn’t need to date him I would marry him one day. Still living like I wanted a year or two after knowing him and being such good friends, he ended up getting back into church himself, and we started dating. However, I wasn’t having it. I always told him you had your time it’s my time now (him being older). He would beg me to go to church with him and I finally agreed to go and was so uncomfortable. Soon after going to church here and there I realized you can’t have the best of both worlds you are either for God and live for him or you are against him, and even though I loved God I was against him and not living for him at all after everything he has done for me I had put him on the backburner.

His church had a guest preacher who "laid it on thick" and that was much harder for me to the point I told him I wasn’t going back the next night. Not long after that I turned my life back over to God. It’s funny how Gods timing works, years of us being great friends and we finally became more when he put God front and center of his life. I have no doubt that was the plan from the start, and I know that if God wouldn’t have place my now husband in my life when he did I may or may not have gotten back to God when I did.

Since I turned my life back to God, I can’t count just how many times God has kept His hand on me. I was asked to give my testimony and without mentioning two of Gods blessings He lays on my heart often just wouldn’t be fair to how great or how much He has done for me. My husband, daughter and myself were riding in my husband’s truck one night to go stay at his parents after our a/c cut out in the middle of summer. It was also storming as we rounded a sharp curve and we saw a tree laying across the highway right at the height of his truck’s windshield. He tried to stop but with wet roads and at the speed we knew we were going to hit it. I knew at the point that was it. It would hit me and Jordan, kill us and hurt our daughter in the back seat. I reached in the back grabbed my little one’s leg told her it would be okay (although I just knew it wouldn’t be) and closed my eyes. My husband slamming on the breaks closed his eyes also and after the hit we realized we were alive. With minor scratches, glass everywhere. When we looked around, we realized the tree was behind us now. I can’t thank God enough for all three of us walking away that night. I couldn’t rattle my brain on how but there is no need I know my God did it.

The next blessing God poured on my family that I feel I should share, is how we learned about us becoming parents again. It’s not always easy for us to conceive, my daughter was a struggle to become pregnant with. My son, however, took almost two years to conceive which was a very big struggle for me and I couldn’t understand why. I prayed for another baby, I had my other baby in church and was raising her right and couldn’t understand why others around me who didn’t have God in their life were having babies. My husband would tell me to let go and let God and I would tell him I was. His response would be then you shouldn’t be worrying about it. Finally, at church we had an awesome service the altar was flooded, and I realized I wasn’t being fair to God and wasn’t laying my worries down like I should have been. I went to the altar that service and told Him how sorry I was not to trust Him and that I turned it all over to Him and it didn’t matter when or how long it would take that as long as His will be done. Before I could pick myself up to go back to my seat, a feeling of peace came over me and I heard him telling me "you already are". I didn’t mention anything to my husband I felt like God wanted me to prove I trusted Him by keeping it between us and waiting a few days before running to find out. Today I have my second beautiful child!

I’m so blessed for Gods mercy, grace and blessings. I’m blessed for all that he has given me and those things he knew I didn’t need. I’m thankful for a family who prayed and prays for me and my family. I’m thankful for Gods timing and for placing who He did in my life when he did. I’m so thankful I get to teach my children about God and I’m so thankful my children having an eager heart for learning about just what he has done for us. God sent His son to die for me and you it’s the least we can do to live for Him!

Liz's Testimony

Westie's Testimony

Julie's Testimony

I was only 8 years old when I asked the Lord to come into my heart and save me. We were attending a little country church that my family had attended for over 100 years. My great grandfather helped build the church in the middle of the mountain. I was baptized on my brothers 9th birthday in the middle of June in a river below my grandmother's house. I can’t believe that was almost 30 years ago. The church still stands in the very same spot and they still use that river to baptize new believers.

Just because I was saved as a young child does not mean that I have been the most perfect Christian by any means. I have backslidden more times than I can count yet every single day Christ welcomes me back into His fold and He leaves the flock to come find me when I stray. When I was young it was so easy for me to share my faith in God. I would travel with a Christian Drama called The Crossroads and we would go to churches all over and spread the word. But as I grew older, I stopped traveling with the drama. I was more concerned with what my friends and boyfriend at the time would think about that. Those were honestly some of the BEST weekends of my life. That is when I feel like I was the closest to God. In the years since high school I have been through many heartbreaks. I was married and divorced. I was a single mother trying my best to make ends meet to ensure that my children never went hungry and always had a roof over their heads. I made sure that they were brought up in church as well. But even in doing all of that my relationship with God kept growing further and further apart. He was always there but I would turn to everyone else before I would turn to Him.

One of the happiest days of my life was when my 2 oldest children asked Christ to be their Saviour. This was after a week of bible school at the altar of the same country church where I had given my heart and life to the Lord all those years ago. This began to turn my relationship with God back into the right direction. I started seeking His help with many of the broken issues that I had in my life. I met the man who is now my husband and we had a child together as well.

But once again tragedy struck, and I turned away from my relationship with God. Almost 2 years ago (April) my mother passed away from cancer. My mother was one of the most loving, caring, God fearing women that I knew. She was always there to welcome me back home or to give me Godly advice even when I didn’t want to hear it. She would give you the shirt off her back if you needed it. No questions asked. So, I couldn't understand why God took her but left people like child molesters, rapists, and murderers here. I was angry. I was sad. And one day I realized that one of the reasons that He took her was so that I had nowhere else to look for answers than to look at Him. I had to hit rock bottom so that I could only look up and see Christ there waiting for me. Throughout everything I have done in my life He was always there. He never EVER left me. Even when I tried to run from Him.

My relationship with God is still far from perfect. I have to ask Him for forgiveness daily. But at least now I know that no matter where I go, no matter how far I run, no matter how broken I feel...God loves me and is always there for me to turn to.

Liz

Julie's Testimony

Westie's Testimony

Julie's Testimony

One night during revival when I was about 9 years old, several of my friends went down to the altar when the invitation was given. I went along with them but looking back now I believe that I only went because they went, not because the Holy Spirit was moving me. I was baptized soon after, but I know now that I wasn’t really saved.

Fast forward to my early twenties. I was married and life was good. I would occasionally question my salvation, but I was a “good” person. I went to church regularly and tried to always do the right thing. But then I started really questioning whether or not I was saved. I just wasn’t sure. Then our church started showing a series of films about the rapture and the Holy Spirit was really dealing with me. I’d stay awake at night worrying about going to hell when I died or being left behind when the rapture occurred. Finally, after the last film was over, I went down to the altar and accepted God’s gift of eternal salvation. My only regret is that I wasn’t baptized again at that time. Many years later I was attending a revival service and the preacher talked about following through with baptism and I knew I had to do it. I went down to the altar and rededicated my life and was baptized soon after.

God has been so good to me and my family. I’ve been married to a wonderful man for 38 years and I have two beautiful daughters. Both of them are Christians and no matter what they accomplish in life, nothing is more important than their salvation.

I’m far from perfect and I certainly don’t deserve the grace that God shows me each and every day but I’m so very thankful.

Julie

Westie's Testimony

I was a young girl around the age of five. My dad started Bible College and he believed in the gifts of the HOLY SPIRIT, He prayed with me to receive JESUS CHRIST, and the evidence of speaking in tongues. I was very young and did receive JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOR with the evidence of speaking in tongues . HALLELUJAH, PRAISING JESUS CHRIST OUR KING 💜🙏💜

THANK YOU FOR ASKING, BLESSINGS 💜 NUMBERS- 6:24-26 💜🙏💜 HALLELUJAH ACTS 2:4. I received the Baptism of the HOLY SPIRIT. I was baptized by water to confirm my Faith in JESUS CHRIST AND I was born again PRAISING JESUS CHRIST OUR KING 💜🙏💜 You too can receive JESUS CHRIST 💜 HERE IS, A Salvation Poem: JESUS CHRIST YOU DIED UPON A CROSS AND ROSE AGAIN TO SAVE THE LOST, FORGIVE ME NOW OF ALL MY SIN, COME BE MY SAVIOR, LORD AND FRIEND, CHANGE MY LIFE AND MAKE IT NEW AND HELP ME LORD TO LIVE FOR YOU. ROMANS 5:8- JOHN 3:16- 1JOHN 1:9- ROMANS10:9- 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17- Colossians 2:6. HALLELUJAH 🙏♥️🙏 PRAISING JESUS CHRIST OUR KING ♥️💜♥️ AMEN

THANK YOU FOR ASKING 💜🙏💜 Praying for the lost to receive JESUS CHRIST In JESUS ' NAME, AMEN 🙏 Praying for more labourers to bring in the harvest. Praying for a GREAT AWAKENING, PRAISING JESUS CHRIST, AMEN 🙏 MATTHEW 9:35- 38. Then saith He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. IN JESUS ' NAME, AMEN

Westie

Jim's Testimony

Katherine's Testimony

Westie's Testimony

Hi everyone, my name is Jim O'Riley and I love to share what an AWESOME God that we serve! I firmly believe that God sometimes breaks our heart to save our souls!

I spent many years in youth ministry, however I allowed people and circumstances to rob me of my joy! Before long I was back in the world doing what pleased me! I took my eyes off of God!!! It didn't take long before Satan had his hold on me. I was making more money than I had ever made! I had the world at my fingertips, so I thought!!

On June 13, 2013 I had not been feeling well. I went to visit my doctor and after tests he informed me that I needed gallbladder surgery. After surgery I received the most devastating news. My wife informed me that during surgery, they discovered I had stage 4 liver disease and only a year to live. Wow!! What a shock! Satan wanted me completely, but God my loving Father had a different plan! As the days followed my condition worsened. I began to grab at straws, begging for all the answers. God knew He had to get my attention! I struggled for 2 1/2 years. I was under Hospice care. I could not feed, dress or bathe myself. I was like an infant. Totally helpless, but in God's hands. You see God loved me so much that He allowed this struggle in my life to get my attention!

How Awesome is our God! Finally, on August 23, 2015, we received a call from MUSC stating they had found me a liver donor! I received a new liver and now I'm healthy and have had no problems. I spend my days serving Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour!

If you are struggling today, give your heart and struggle to Jesus! He loves you! Please don't want until He has to get your attention! Pray,pray,pray. The power of prayer amazes me! Prayer is why I am here today! May God bless each of you!

Jim

PJ's Testimony

Katherine's Testimony

My testimony is a pretty straight forward one. Growing up, I rarely went to church. It wasn’t a requirement. God was just considered to me some “big man in the sky”. There was no personal relationship, conviction, or anything like that. I figured by doing well in life, I’d be alright in the end. As I grew up, I realized that I was a people-pleaser more than anything. Whatever the crowd was doing became the trend in my life. That led to drinking, smoking, and a life I wasn’t really proud of. But it was nobody’s fault but my own. I wanted to be someone everybody liked. But through that process, I never really learned to love myself. After spending 17 years in Pennsylvania, we decided to move down to South Carolina after dads retirement. The way I saw it, I had a fresh start to life. A new journey you might say. After spending a month in a public school down there, my dad then decided to enroll me into a private Christian school. Though the seed was planted, I still wanted to live my way. I was taught who Jesus was, even began consistently going to church and Youth group, but the relational aspect still wasn’t there. After I graduated high school, I decided to join the college group from church at a conference in Atlanta. It was here that I realized that I was a sinner and needed a savior. Note, I never stopped sinning. I never became perfect. I even still face struggles as we always will in life. But the conclusion was that I knew if I relied on my own power, I’d never be who God created me to be. I began to understand what Ephesians tells us in which that “I am who God says I am.” Through a constantly changing world, He still remains the same. I was born again...A year later, I surrendered to the calling into ministry. I now serve as the college leader at my church in Knoxville, TN. It is more than safe to say that Jesus has changed my life. And it is absolutely all of Him and none of me.

Katherine's Testimony

My testimony of how I came to faith in Jesus Christ:

My story shows the value of parents bringing their babies to church and teaching God’s Word to children.

As a baby, my parents took me to Trinity Methodist in Darlington, SC. When I was 5, my mom taught my Vacation Bible School class. She also co-taught the children’s choir. While she sang in the adult choir, my dad sat with my brother and me in the church pew, passing out the good kind of cherry cough drops or a small piece of gum.

In third grade, I received my own blush pink Bible with my name engraved and spelled correctly on it. I was blessed to believe that church was a safe and loving place. I knew God loved me and understood my heart whether I was the prettiest or not. I was a little made fun of for being chubby, so God and my Bible is where I found shelter.

In sixth and seventh grade, I knew it was really time for me to decide if I was going to keep this Jesus in my life or follow the ways of the world. My family moved churches, so it kind of made it easier for me to continue to believe. The youth group attended the Jesus Jam in Florence along with my former church and others in the area. There I made a commitment to follow Jesus and believe in what he did for me on the cross.

I wasn’t a perfect teenager, but God blessed me with safety then and in my college years.

Recently, a friend invited me to BSF, Bible Study Fellowship. God still gives his grace to me. If you believe in his son, Jesus, that he died and was raised to life, you will be saved, and you will not be snatched from his hands! God’s word is true and can help anyone who seeks to know it!

Katharine

Testimonies continued

Kathy's Testimony Part I

Kathy's Testimony Part II

Hi everyone. My name is Kathy Penney and here is a little of what Jesus Christ has done in my life. I was brought up in what I thought was a Christian home because my Dad, Mom, brother and I attended church every Sunday. I really loved that day but didn't understand why my Dad would be yelling and screaming at us during the rest of the week. I remember when he lost his temper, we would all scatter to other rooms and just wait a few days until he returned to his nice self. He had a very loving side then could turn on us at the drop of a hat because his steak wasn't cooked right or whatever reason he chose. As the years went by, I found myself going to food for comfort. I became very overweight and didn't like myself very much. It was years later when I realized my Dad was molesting me. I kept the secret very deep. When you are a child and that is happening to you, you know there is something very wrong going on but when it is a parent who is the perpetrator you are so confused as to what to do. I wonder where my Mom was all that time? I never asked her. I remember when I was about 12 or 13, I finally said NO to my Dad, and I believe the abuse stopped then.

I met my future husband at age 15. He was my first boyfriend and tried to hide how ugly and fat I felt, worthless, stupid and unlovable. I always knew that God wanted making love to happen for the first time on your honeymoon. So, for over three years we had fights all the time. He loved that I was a virgin but wanted the sex part as well. I finally found out he was cheating on me with a girl who gave him what he wanted so I gave in to him. I don't even remember when or where because I was so ashamed and I realized that the one special thing I had going for me, being a virgin, I now had lost and never to be that person again. Well I found out I was pregnant. Abortion was illegal back in the 70's. I knew I could never tell my parents and they would be embarrassed when all the neighbors, relatives and church family found out about me. I found someone who knew someone that did abortions for $500 so I went into a strange town, into a stranger’s house and had something so painful done to me. A few days later I started having the abortion upstairs in my bedroom. My Mom heard my footsteps going from my room to the upstairs bathroom for over an hour, so she came upstairs and saw how ill I was. She rushed me to the hospital where the doctors finished the job. We never spoke about it. Another secret to keep down.

My boyfriend was an alcoholic. I thought it was just teenage drinking. He was Catholic and I was protestant so we both stopped going to church. I really loved him, but he was a womanizer. Always looking and flirting with other women right in front of me. I had no self-esteem because of him. We dated for over 6 years and finally got married. But two weeks before the wedding I was violently raped by a stranger. I wanted to tell him and have him hug me and say he was so sorry, and we would get through this together. I was scared he wouldn't marry me, so I hid the rape from him. He left me during the marriage 3 times. The first time we were separated I started dating again and the worst thing happened, I got pregnant again but this time I didn't know who the father was my husband or boyfriend. Planned Parenthood was operating then so that is where I went and aborted my second child. Another secret to add to my pain and shame.

My husband and I got back together, and we had our two children, Kerri and Joey. What a blessing they were. It was the first time in my life I felt like I accomplished something wonderful. I never expected my husband would ever leave me again because he always said he wanted lots of children. The final time he left us I fell out of love with him. They never think that will happen, but it does. Kerri and Joey were 2 and 4 years old and their father stopped seeing them after he left. It was so painful watching my children year after year look out the window every weekend hoping their Dad would take them like their other friends Dads did. I found myself a single parent with no hope of a bright future for us three.

After the divorce I met a drummer in a band at a nightclub. I wasn't a Christian, so I thought I had to go out and find another man in my life. I didn't know that the Lord prepares our husband or wives for us. I wish I knew that. I got into a very abusive 8-year relationship with this man I picked. He seemed so nice at first, but abusive men or women put on an act until you fall in love with them and then you see the real person. I allowed my children to grow up with this abusive man in our home. It was like living in hell. I had so much guilt from being a terrible Mom, but I was so scared of him that I didn't know how to get out of the situation.

One night I was out and was at the wrong place at the wrong time. I was in a parking lot getting into my car when a stranger approached me and ended up putting me in a car and taking me to another town. I was so scared I didn't know what to do. He ended up taking me to an apartment building and as he was taking me up the stairs, I heard people talking on the other side of the wall. I knew if I yelled loud enough, they would call the police and I would be saved. They didn't. The next forty minutes I fought for my life. This stranger started punching me with his fists till my face swelled up and I couldn't see anymore. He took my thumb and bent it back until it broke and said he was really enjoying himself. I tried to reason with him. I said I was just a Mom and my children were waiting at home for me. I asked him if he had children. I told him he didn't know me, and he said he was going to dump me on the side of the road somewhere. I then knew this night was going to be my last and I may never be found. I begged him to let me call my children to say goodbye, but he said I would never see my children again. Kerri was 10 and Joey was 8 at that time. Because I didn't know the Lord at that time, I tried to save myself. I never even called out to God because I was so far from Him. I kept screaming and then he started to drag me into his bathroom by my hair and said he was going to put my head down toilet and drown me. I kept screaming and I think he got scared so he pushed me on the floor again, got on top of me and started to strangle me. I couldn't use my voice anymore, so I started kicking my feet on his wood floor still hoping those people I heard called the police. They didn't. His hands went from my throat to my feet over and over and over. All my bodily functions came out of me because of the strangulation. I kept fighting. I wish someone would have told me about Jesus being a living Savior and He would be there to help me. No one told me that even in my church all those years. I was in about a half hour of the attack when he took a pillow off his bad and started to smother me. I pushed my head to the side and found a small pocket of air. I was still letting out low moans for those people who still hadn't called the police. He lifted to pillow to see why I wasn't dying and then stuffed a bedspread down my throat, put the pillow back over my head, my lungs collapsed, I took my last breath and then thought of God. I asked Him to please not let me die this way.

I found out later that right about that time a women downstairs in another apartment called the police. The police were two minutes away and floored it to my attacker’s apartment. They banged on the door and my attacker got off me and let them in. He said to them, "She is in there, I beat her." I heard a voice tell me I was going to be okay. I thought I must be in Heaven. I was taken to the hospital where I spent almost a week. I couldn't see for days. The police officers came every day to see me. I told my friends and family I was in a car accident and not to come and see me because I didn't want to upset them. I was wrong to do that, but I was always a pleaser. My brother came anyways, and he was brought to a room with two women in it. He left the room and said I was not one of the women in that room. I was so unrecognizable that the nurse had to point me out to him. I asked the officers what was the call they got that night over their phone. They said the call said a woman was being beaten but they get hundreds of those calls. This night the hair stood up on the back of his neck and he rushed to the address. I knew that was God. continued

Kathy's Testimony Part II

I had PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder for the next six months until the trial. I was crawling around on my hands and knees fearing my attacker found out where I lived and was outside my house or hired someone to kill me so I couldn't testify. The trial date came, and I was a mess! I had to be carried by two men past my attacker. This stranger had no police record but because of the pictures the police took in the hospital and my testimony of how he enjoyed breaking my thumb, he received 12-15 years for attempted murder. Kerri, Joey and I were having terrible nightmares all the time. How I wish at that time I knew about Jesus, but no one told me. continued

1996 was my worst year. January was the trial, October my son Joey, then 11, was going to hang himself in our back porch. Joey had learning disabilities growing up and all his friends made fun of him. He had to go to a different school, his father was no-where to be found, he had almost lost me and couldn't stand to live any longer. His therapist told me to ask him if he had thought of a way. That is when he told me. If you every find yourself knowing a depressed person. Don't be afraid to ask them how depressed they are and had they thought of a way to end their life. Better now than later when it is too late. The next month on Thanksgiving Day my Dad died and even though he was the first one to abuse me, he was still my Dad and I loved him. The following month in December I finally got a restraining order for that boyfriend. The following month in January, he came in my home two weeks after he was told to leave by police and violently raped me. Joey was in the next room so I could not yell. The following month there was a civil trial because I sued my attacker to help me where I couldn't work. I went to the courthouse and was sitting beside a woman and found out she was one of the people who didn’t call the police. I asked her why. She told me that her close friend was separated from my attacker and her two adult sons told her not to get involved. Now I tell everyone who hears my testimony to call the police when you believe violence may be taking place. You don't have to tell them who you are or where you live. MAKE THE CALL! I was having bad panic attacks because I knew the police had taken my attacker out of prison and he would be at the trial! I kept looking from left to right, right to left, scared, terrified to see him again so I cancelled the trial. The next month, February, I was laying on my couch for a week without speaking to my children or anyone. I was still in my pajamas, couldn't stop crying, didn't eat, didn't drink knowing I was going to take my life. The enemy kept whispering in my ear, "You are finally going to be at peace, you will feel better soon, end your life, it will be okay." So, I started thinking of ways I could end my life. I finally figured the best way to do it so there wouldn't be any blood around would be to starve myself where I had stopped eating days ago. All of a sudden, the phone rang, and it was my friend Michelle wanting me to go out that night for Valentine's Day was the next day. She heard my depressed voice and talked me into calling my therapist. The next morning, she drove me into a hospital in Boston where I was from. I was put away in a locked-up ward. I had no hope. I stayed in there for a month and when I got out, I said to God "If you are there you have to help me!"

The next day was Sunday and I went to church for the first time in 23 years. On the way out a man knew I was visiting and asked me if I would like to talk. I said yes and told him all about my life. I was 39 years old then and he was the first one to tell me that Jesus loves me and has a wonderful plan for me life. That day I left the church and went to my father's grave for the first time. Every time I would try to go, I would get hysterical and wanted to get in my father’s casket with him because the little girls in me still loved him. This day I found myself driving to the cemetery, got out of the car without a tear in my eye, sat on my father's grave with a peace and I said to myself, "Boy, this prayer stuff really works!" I went home and told Joey we were going to start going to church, I just went to Grandpa's grave!!! Kerri and Joey were 12 and 14 at that time and I had never taken them to church before. They fought me every Sunday, but they started to see a difference in me. I was happier, wasn't going out of the house with a drink in my hand, didn't have men over the house anymore, started to dress more conservatively, and they liked this new Mom better.

God started to heal all my pain and shame. He is very gentle and doesn't do it all at once. After he healed my shame of the 8-year abusive relationship, I started speaking at colleges to women in dorms about violence and abusive relationships. I started a program called Rap Not Rape. God used my experiences to help others see that they are worth so much and He has a wonderful plan for their lives.

God then healed my shame and pain of the abortions I had. I didn't mention earlier that during that 8-year relationship I got pregnant two more times and had two more abortions so four in all. You keep this shame deep inside you and never think whether you had a boy or girl, name them and think about them much. Too painful. I even told the Lord after I became a Christian, I was never going to tell anyone that I had an abortion. All Christians were pro-life, and they would hate me. Well, you know God! He started bringing that pain and shame up and I went into a post abortion Bible study. During one of the weeks it said to ask God who my children were because He knows they by name. I asked Him but He didn't answer me, so I never asked Him again. A year later I went to a seminar to learn how to teach that Bible study because all my shame was gone! There were about 20 women there. The pastor who was leading the group asked everyone if they wanted to dedicate their children to the Lord. All of them started to name their children. I put my head down, closed my eyes and ask the Lord who my children were. He said as clear as day "Christian, Joshua, Melanie and April"! I couldn't stop crying. Now my four children are being brought up by Jesus and they are in ministry with me. I am a Christian speaker and author and every time I share my testimony some woman comes up to me and whispers in my ear about her abortions. I tell her Jesus died on the Cross for the sin of abortion and He loves her and wants her to be free of her pain and shame. There may be someone reading my testimony and you have had one or more abortions. God wants you to know how special you are to Him and He is watching your child or children until you are all together one day. Remember, there is no pain, shame, or tears in Heaven. Only love. I wrote poetry and there is a wonderful poem in the book I published "Divine Appointments - Are YOU Ready for Them?" about my four babies Jesus is taking care of. Two years ago, I had spoken at a conference and a woman came over to me to pray with her. While I was doing that, the Lord spoke to me and told me Christian, Joshua, Melanie and April will be the ones to meet me when I go to Heaven and cross over!!! I can't wait to see them, but I know the Lord has some more ministry for me to do till then. Please contact me if you have had an abortion, I would love to talk to you.

I started a support group in Boston for victims of violence. I wrote all the national television shows about this. They actually started calling me and asking me to be on a show they were doing on violence! I have been on 23 television shows including Sally Jesse Raphael, Montel Williams, Good Morning America but the one that changed my life was the Geraldo Show in New York. Soon I found out he wanted to shock me and the other victim on the stage. He had a very violent rapist on as a guest with us. I started to panic and wanted to run off stage. Half-way through the show God took my fear away and when the show was over, I went over to the rapist and led him to the Lord!!! Six months later I was watching TV and switching channels when I saw Angel (that was his name) on Geraldo's show. He introduced him as a very violent rapist. Angel then said "No I use to be a rapist. I haven't raped a woman for six months!!! That was my first Divine Appointment in 1991. continued

Kathy'sTestimony Part III

Kathy's Testimony Part II

Kathy'sTestimony Part III

Twenty years later I wrote my book so Christians would see that you do not have to have the gift of evangelism. God brings the people right to you and has prepared their hearts and mind to hear what you have to say to them. It is the Great Commission and where a joy unlike any you have experienced comes over you. You just need a willing heart of mercy for the lost that does not know Jesus just like I was. If you would like one of my books just contact me through Sheri and I would be happy to sign it and write a scripture God will give me for you. Besides my testimony and children's, I write about 12 strangers God brought into my life who were hopeless. He has appointments for YOU!

To finish my testimony, I must tell you how Kerri and Joey's life ended up. Kerri became an alcoholic, drug addict, tried to commit suicide twice, ended up in abusive relationship for three years, always wanted a relationship with her Dad and had no hope. Joey became a heroin addict, stole all my money, I had him in detox centers, churches, hospitals and even detoxing at home. His drug dealers were always after him to hurt him because he owed them so much money. I knew I was either going to lose them to prison or death.

But boy does God listen to mother's prayers!!! Kerri was 23 when she broke up with her boyfriend on 8/31/98. On 9/1/98 Kerri went to church, went up to the altar and told God she would follow Him but didn't want to go to any meetings anymore. Kerri stood up and God healed her of alcohol, suicide, drugs and cigarettes in that instant and now 21 years later has never had another desire to drink or drug, is married to a pastor, has three children, Samantha Joy 14, Joshua 11 and Travis 7. She spends her extra time telling every who will read her posts on Facebook about the Jesus who came into her life and showed her unconditional love for the first time. Kerri asked God if He would please let her see her father again before he dies. (he never even came to her wedding.) She contacted her Dad, forgave him and they have a relationship now, for the last few years.

I could never do tough love with Joey. He had been through so much in his life and I just couldn't kick him out of my house. Everyone thought I should do tough love, but I couldn't. Kerri moved to Myrtle Beach SC with her family. I went to visit and loved it, so I moved there also fourteen years ago. Joey called me up the week I moved and said, "Hi Mom, I'm coming down!" I said, "No Joey, I can't do this anymore!" Hung up the phone and said, "God he is Yours!" Never thought about it again. I didn't realize that Joey got in his car to drive the seventeen hours from MA to SC. Half-way here while crossing the Delaware Bridge, Joey said to God "Please don't let me detox in front of my Mother and sister" All of a sudden a warmth went through his body and the Lord healed him of heroin in that instant!!! It has been 14 years this past New Year’s Day! Joey and Kerri made their choice to never leave Jesus' side and to stay on the Narrow Road. Joey met his wife here, has Eli 4 and Ivy 2 and witnesses to the homeless, alcoholics and anyone who will let him share his testimony. Joey remembers where he came from until he met Jesus.

Well I know this was a long testimony. It is hard for me to leave things out because someone may need to hear one or more of the things God healed me of. I am no longer a compulsive overeater. Oh, one last thing! I found out 27 years ago that I had breast cancer and I had no health insurance. When I was told this news, I became hysterical! I didn't know how I was going to tell my children. They thought they had lost me after the murder attempt, they thought they lost me when I was going to take my life and now, I had cancer! I was in my car on the way home and I couldn't stop crying. All of a sudden, I heard God's voice in my ear saying "Just praise Me and thank Me" I know God doesn't lie so I started saying those words over and over with no feeling. By the time I got home I had His peace and woke up the next morning with His joy! Through that whole year of a mastectomy and two more operations, no insurance, couldn't clean houses for the year, no money coming in I had that peace and joy! Everyone saw Jesus through me! I never shed a tear, had no fear and it was one of my happiest years! Why am I telling you this? Because God doesn't lie so if He says something in the Bible then it is the Truth and He will do what it says. So, what are you struggling with now? Health? Finances? Mourning loss of loved one? Sin? Whatever it is just make a list and put the words "Thank You and Praise You" before each one and pray that way. It means that you are trusting those things with Him and they are not too hard for Him to carry. Jesus already died on the Cross and took them all for YOU. Be free!!! My life scripture now is:

Philippians 4:4-9 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with THANKSGIVING, present your requests to God and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from Me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you." BELIEVE

Kathy

Dion's Testimony

Kathy'sTestimony Part III

I have so, so many testimonies but one I would like to share today is…

In business some say you not a true businessman unless you lose it all and get it back. I used to hear that over and over again, but it didn't really hit me or come in to play until I lost it all in business.

But how did I get it all back and more... well I didn't immediately ask for it all back. I asked God to show me, lead me direct me, cause ifs it's wrong, then I don't need it back. But guide me Lord in the right way. I not only want to be successful, but successful in Your eyes for Your name, for glory. That was my prayer and everyday He just kept showing me, leading me, and I was back a beast in business. But I moved different. See I had always moved with God, after that loss, I moved with God in His direction, leadership, and guidance. And in which it turned around my business and ability to reach people on different levels. Losing everything in business and bouncing back 100% with God was one of the best things that happened to me in my career as a businessman.

Dion

Kay's Testimony

Dion's Testimony

Mia's Testimony

Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is "born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3 When I look back at my childhood and think about when I realized I was alive, I remember standing in my backyard on top of a woodpile looking up in the sky thinking why can't I fly? I would watch the birds fly up and around and seem to have so much fun and I felt a longing to be there also. I'm not sure if it was because I came from heaven and longed to be there again, but I do know that the bible tells me that God knew me before I was born. He formed me in my mother's womb. He knew everything about me. He chose my parents and siblings, where I would live, etc. there are so many places in the bible God talks about us. He even said He wrote your name on the palm of His hand. Isaiah 49:16 He gives us so many promises. He says He will never leave us or forsake us we just need to trust Him and make Him Lord of our life. He tells us He first loved us!

I was so fortunate to be born into a Christian family who taught me about God. When I was young, I thought everyone was as fortunate as me. How wrong I was! I'm convinced that God made us all different so we can help one another in this world called life. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior at a very young age and was baptized into the family of God. I'm so glad I did because there have been so many times, I would not have made it through this thing called life without God holding my hand. God said" I know the plans I have for you, to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11, If you are having problems believing God loves you, open your bible and your heart to Him. He is waiting for you!

Kay

Mia's Testimony

Dion's Testimony

Mia's Testimony

I grew up going to church every Sunday. I loved it. For a long time, I thought I got saved when I was seven but realistically, I didn’t know what I was agreeing to at the time. What I did know was that it made all the adults in my life super happy, so a couple weeks I was baptized and that was that.

Everything was fine until my second year of middle school. I entered into a very toxic and manipulative friendship and by the end of middle school I was depressed, anxious, shutting out my Christian friends, and hated going to church. Entering high school, I completely avoided my old friends and fell into a crowd of people who smoked and drank and were just general bad influences. I was still struggling with my depression and while I thankfully never fell into the things they were doing; I did eventually resort to self-harm because I just felt so empty inside.

Little did I know, God was still working in my life, my childhood best friend Bethany never gave up on me even though I was constantly pushing her away. In March of my freshman year she invited me to join her for a weekend long youth event happening at her church and I said yes because of the fun and the food. I can’t remember what the message was or even what the theme of the weekend was but on the second night, when they offered the alter call, I came forward just overwhelmed with emotions. The youth pastor’s wife helped me to work through the things that I was feeling, and I realized that this was Jesus was calling me home. I came to be saved (for real) that night and a huge weight was lifted off of my shoulders. I had an overwhelming peace that I had never felt before. Since that night, He has been my comforter and my protector, and my friend and I’ll never be able to worship Him as much as he deserves.

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