My Testimony

It is a blessing to have been raised by Christian parents that strived to follow the Lord. I can never remember not going to church. Of course, going to church doesn’t make you a Christian, but because of my upbringing I became aware of my need for salvation at a very early age.

I was six years old when I realized that I needed to make a commitment to Christ. I remember asking my mom exactly what I needed to do to be saved. She told me to pray and ask Jesus into my heart. I guess that’s the simplest way to explain it to a six-year-old child.

I was never a child that got into too much trouble. I can remember at four years old thinking about the consequences for my actions and my future and what I would tell my children someday. It’s kind of funny to think about that now.

Over the years I have recommitted my life to Christ many times. Now that I look back upon my younger years, I realize that many of my recommitments were out of fear, guilt, or a feeling of God not being close. I was raised in a legalistic church and it seemed as though many times the pastors and/or evangelists would use manipulation and guilt to have large altar calls.

At the young age of 12, I started to become involved in music ministries of the church. It started with playing the piano for the children’s choir, then the adult choir, and finally as assistant pianist.

I married at the young age of 19. We were so young and immature. Within 2 years of being married, my husband accepted the call into the ministry. It was almost mind boggling to think that God could choose us for His good. I tried to wrap my mind around the idea that God chose us out of all the millions of people in the world. Now I realize that we’re all called and that we’re all equally important; we’re just given different jobs for His plan.

Moving away from my hometown and my parents was really hard for me, but it was also good. It helped me to become more independent and to formulate my own belief of who God is. I was finally able to take God out of the box, so to speak, and realize that I did not have to live in constant condemnation. All of my trials and journeys have taken me into a deeper relationship with God. I’m not chasing a feeling; I’m chasing a relationship with my Father. I don’t serve Him out of fear or guilt, but because I love Him and all that He has done for me.

Shortly after my husband accepted his call from God, we began serving in youth ministry. Just three years later, God called us to sell half our possessions and move to Bible college. We became more involved in ministries there and branched out into serving in children’s church and an inner-city ministry for teens. Over the last six years, my husband and I have been involved continuously in youth ministry. We want to do what we can to reach teenagers. We want to show them that God loves them and that there are people in this world that love them. We want to show them how much better our lives are for choosing to serve Him.

I’m not a person that has a dynamic story of how God brought them out of the pits of hell and from a life of drugs and alcohol to save them. Nevertheless, I was just as lost as all those people until I found my Savior. Living for God was the best decision I ever made. I have such peace and joy in serving Him. I know that no matter what happens in my life that God will be there for me. My husband and I have been married for over 13 years and I have seen God’s hand upon our lives. It is amazing to look back now and see all the ways that He has directed us.

What is your testimony? If you'd like, leave a link to it below in the comments.