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I'll bet you all saw this one coming didn't you? wink


Well, seeing as it's a Christian Guild, it seemed appropriate to have a testimonies thread(*cough* sticky *cough*). Anyway, it would be wonderfull if everyone posted their testimony here, but if you feel like now isn't the time for you, don't feel obligated. But I think it is important that we share how we came to know Christ, as listening to other people's experiences can strengthen others relationship with him. I know it's certainly worked that way for me.

Oh, if you feel like your testimony is starting to sound like a life story, don't worry about it. Christ is involved in every aspect of life and their isn't anything He doesn't know about, so it only makes sense. On the other hand, try to put some sense of order to it and not ramble about your favorite crayon in the first grade(unless that has something to do with your testimony wink ).

I'll be posting mine on a seperate post so LOOK OUT! xd Lots of love people and may the Spirit move you to post! We want to hear from everyone and all of the awsome experiences God has blessed you with. Praise be to God and blessed is he on whom His favor rests. heart

I myself don't have a Testimony, but I will share my fathers if you all don't mind.

My father was an Alcoholic. My parents were on the Verge of Divorce, as my fathers constant Drinking and working from early morning to late in the evening just to leave my mother at home with two Daughters(this was before me) was putting considerable strain on their Marriage, which is to be understood.
My father worked at an Oil Pump station, in the Four-Corners area of Shiprock, New Mexico. Working this job was not the safest thing to do, which my father understood, he also understood being paid very well, so he stuck with it. One of these days, it didn't pay well enough. My father was checking teh pressure on an Oil line, when he had heard someone shout "Headache!", which is the signal to drop flat, as one of the pipes had burst and shrapnel had gone flying. My father didn't drop fast enough. His hard Hat had turned into multiple different pieces of additional shrapnel, as it was sheared off the back of his head, along with part of his skull. He was rushed to the nearest Hospital, a half hour away, where my Mother was waiting with the news, and Doctors standing by waiting to inform her of his death, which was not needed, my father Arrived at the Hospital, dead.
They were able to rescuscitate him, but there was still severe brain damage. My mother was informed that teh chances of Survival were not worth mentioning, and requested that she sign a form to let my father pass away. My mother, being only 19 at the time, refused, with the sole explanation of "He's not leaving me with two children". God bless her.
With my mothers refusal to let go, they pressed on to surgery, which, against all odds, was a success. My father survived. But they still doubted improvement, telling my mother that he lives, but he would be a Vegetable for the rest of his life, and that she would need to find a nursing home for him. My father later stated that if he had to be a Vegetable, he would be a 'Carrot'.
After teh whole Lazerus thing, and even him coming coherent, my mother was then informed that he had lost all memory, and would never remember anything of their former lives together. To prove this, they took my mother in to see him, and he looked straight at her and started making kissy faces.
And of course, my mother was then informed that he would never have muscular control. He repairs cars. He would never walk again, though. He likes to Jog. They told my mother every bad thing that could happen, would happen. Talking to my father, you could never tell that 30% of his skull was turned into Shrapnel, and replaced with plaster.
He found Grace with God, hasn't had a drop of Alcohol since(21 years later), and became the most loving Father and Husband, ever. He also found Religion, and is an Elder at the Red Cliffs Seventh Day Adventist Church, of St. George Utah, and proud Grandfather of two young Boys, Ayden and Xavier.

Before I begin I just wanna say how Awesome God is for the way He can turn evil into good. Sometimes, horrible experiences that people go through can be turned into a powerful weapon and turned right back at the same Enemy that inflicted them.

Well, I'll compress it as much as possible! lol

I was born in 1986, in Kingston, Jamaica. We were never really avid church-goers, more on like the wedding and funeral basis. I went to an all girls Roman Catholic school for ten years there called Immaculate Prep. and High. (They had the mean little nuns with umbrellas and everything! lol) I was always taught however to akcnowledge the existence of God. I always had it as head knowledge that He was out there somewhere watching but I didn't know you could talk to Him and fellowship with Him intimately.

My home had some serious domestic violence issues. Fights, physically and verbally would break out right in front of me. That stuff happened for as far back as I can remember. I don't really remember much of how I felt when I was young, I guess I got a little numbed to it and I became sort of withdrawn. I had a terrible temper too, like my dad's.

I had an unlce, my mother's brother come stay with us for about three years. He got deported in the US for shady dealings so he was back in Ja. for years. He was sort of getting back on his feet and during his stay I noticed that he picked up the Bible and started reading it like everyday, he'd just sit in the back door with a cigarette in his mouth and just read and read. He started telling me about stuff he read and things referring to the prophecies in Revelations and about Jesus. He kinda started drawing even more interest to the Bible for me. I wasn't saved then but that was the 'first tug on the fishing line' from God.

Then one night, came the last straw in the domestic violence issue. My dad severly struck my mother in the forehead with a acrylic brush and it produced a deep gash in her forehead. It was rather traumatizing seeing my mother just bleed, period. And when my father had fits of rage it's like he becomes a totally different person. Crap hit the proverbial fan from there and we planned to migrate to the US earlier than we had planned. I was supposed to come to college here after I finished highschool. My uncle was totally enraged because well, that was his sister. We went to go stay with family friends.

School was out, summer time came that year and we were packing and making plans to move to the US. Fastforward. I came to the US in 1999 and suffered from culture shock, students cursing out teachers, I didn't even know homosexuality was for real, I didn't even know atheism existed coming from my background, etc...

My older sister, that had moved there earlier for school welcomed us and was just glad we were out of the situation. She took us to her church and it was a totally different experience. It was non-denominational church and I CLEARLY learned about Jesus and the debt He paid on the Cross for us all. I started taking it a bit more seriously but I constantly slipped around here and there. Things still took top priority over the interests of God like my art.


But just earlier this year, in April, I saw the Passion and when you see it with your own eyes... and that was just a KINDERGARTEN version of what Christ went through... I cried and cried and I know that that was God's Spirit of conviction falling on my heart and those tears was my sould getting cleansed. I truly repented and turned from my old ways and I've been growning ever since. He lifted off all of my insecurities, my rage, my self-worth issues and gave me back my innocence and turned my timidity into the boldness of a lion. It just felt like a weight lifted off of my shoulders, He paid my debt and the burden of sin was off of my shoulders. All the guilt, fear, shame, all gone, replaced by love, hope, and the truest form of freedom in existence.

God's just been pouring it all on since then and leaving me in awe...

When I look back on my short life so far I can recognize where and where He was working. When I was five I was attacked by a pack of stray dogs. They bit me everywhere, my arms, my lower back, they sank their teeth in my left shoulder and literally dragged me on the sidewalk like a peice of meat. But the amazing thing is, not one of them touched my throat, which is the first place a hungry, savage dog heads for. Not long after, our neighbor saw me and rescued me, and took me to the hospital. It just wasn't my time. God had plans for me.

If that incident with my parents didn't happen I wouldn't have come to the US, saw the Passion, and given my life to Jesus. Looking back, I wouldn't change a thing. The experiences made me stronger.

I also totally forgave my father and now I tell him I love him and I pray for him all the time. I'm telling you, I couldn't have done that on my own power, it was by the Grace of Jesus Christ that I was able to...

Now I just grow and grow and God has been blessing me so much and demonstration His awesome power. He's answered so many prayers and it's simply awesome learning how to ask according to His will. My mother nearly died from kidney failure early this year and I just remember a spirit of comfort surrounding me during that time. I prayed an prayed. Now my mom's back on her feet like it never happened! Praise God! Praise His name! The mighty King of kings! There is a plan for my mom too. Now lately I've been trying to get her to read her bible. I don't want her to leave this earth without knowing about the wonderful promises and plans God has in store for His people.

Just...just.... Thankyou Lord. It's a privilege to share my testimony. You made me brand spanking new. I've never felt so free and to be honest, I'd rather die than go back to the way I was before!

What great testamonies!

Well, my mom and dad were both saved in thier teens and met, dated, and got married while staying in church. I was thier firstborn, so I knew "the ropes" of Christianity since the beginning.

My dad was a young pastor of a small church, and was part of the P.A.W, meaning Pentacostal Assemblies of the World - a predominately black church orginazation with strict standards. When I and my younger brother were toddlers, my dad got a new job at a hospital in Tennessee (he was and still is a cardiovascular tech, who works with the heart, arteries and veins). We all lived down there for 8 years, and dad became a minister of a church that was under the P.A.W. orginization.

Being bothered and uncomfortable in my church progressed slowly but surely as the years went by. The elderly had most of the say in the church, and most of the youth were rebellious and disrepectful. My mom didn't want me involved with them, so I would end up sitting with her or with the more well-behaved youth, who were mostly younger than me.

While I understand that my mom was trying to protect me, this would make me very lonely in my church, and it put a real dent in my self-esteem. I had very few deep friendships there, if any. I sought them out in the secular public elementary and middle schools I went to.

(To be continued and added to! Sorry! sweatdrop )

Amen! I almost envy you! My life is far from boring (there are times when I wish it was otherwise). But then, when I post my testimony you'll figure that out...

Wow, a lot of stuff has happened to quite a few people. You're all in my prayers! 3nodding

My Testimony isn't earth-shattering, shocking or anything of the sort. But I would love to share it.

My Grandpa had never been of good health. Everyday, when I was very young, he would scream something that ran througout his whole house. "Why, God, Why?!"

I thought God was some sort of person who hated all of us, especially my grandpa, and I immediately grew to resent all thoughts of Him. Throughout my life my mom and dad tried to convince me that God loved us all very much and that my grandpa had been very happy and healthy once, but it never worked. I had come to the point where I resented God and never wanted to go to church or associate with Him. I was always thinking the same thing my Grandpa always shrieked. "Why?!"

Well, towards my later years, the years when all you want to do is scream and shout and yell at everyone [especially your parents] I was over at my grandfather's house and we were all eating dinner together. Of course, the thing we always did was Pray. I liked Prayer. It was sort of talking to someone that could make it all better, but I still slightly resented God for what he did to my grandpa. I once peeked during prayer [yes, it was still one of those things where you were to close your eyes at prayer] and saw my grandpa quietly sobbing, mumbling things like "I love you, God" and "Show me what I'm to do with my life."

Ever since, I picked up my grandfather's bible and slowly made the Korean words out. Everyday I would try and read a chapter. And everyday, my grandfather became happier and healthier. Was it fate? No. I think it was God's Works.

I also heard that he's trying to share the gospel with 50 Cent, which is awesome! I think 50 has talent, although I'd like his music more if it weren't so... full of sex. stare

I have one.

Last year when I got home from bible quizzing my sister told me my parents were in a bad accident. My parents had been walking to their car in a parking garage and someone hit the gas in stead of the break and hit my dad in the shoulder and my mom feel down and got ran over by front and back wheels. She was in the hospital for 4 months. All the doctors called her the miracle girl, because she survived.

When she got home she decided that her and my dad needed to come to church with me, and they have ever since. I am just so thankful to still have my mom and that my parents are now in church.