Xpress Faith Columbia presents the stories of those expressing their personal faith. We hope these stories become inspiration for your personal faith journey.
Kristi Bothur
I grew up in a Christian family, so the message of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection was always familiar to me. When I was eight, I asked Jesus to forgive my sins and be my Savior – a step that was a natural extension of the faith I had learned from my parents. That faith went through changes as I got older. Often, it took a back seat to other adolescent interests, until one day I sensed an urgency to make a decision one way or the other – to be serious about Jesus or not. I chose Jesus – and the years of growth and ministry opportunities that followed were mind-boggling. Through college and my chosen career of teaching, He transformed me from a shy, insecure girl afraid to speak in public into a spokesperson for His kingdom. He also led me to seminary, where I met my husband Eric, and He eventually blessed us with our remarkable daughter. Life was not without its struggles, but God's hand was always evident and we felt incredibly blessed.
All of that, though, was put to the most severe test I've ever known in March of 2009 when I was pregnant with our second child. In my second trimester, I developed an abdominal infection that threatened my life – and ended hers. I miscarried at eighteen weeks, giving birth to a beautiful, perfect, much-too-small baby girl who we named Naomi.
Our loss plunged me into the deepest and darkest spiritual place I have ever been. Where was the God of love I had devoted myself to since childhood? Why had he lifted his hand of protection? How could his love let this happen to me? I never questioned His power – but for the first time in my life, I began to doubt His love. The Bible says that perfect love casts out fear, and as I questioned His love, fear quickly took over. I was scared to trust a God who had allowed my baby to die. But the Holy Spirit who had held me since the age of eight would not let me go. I knew I needed answers from the God of my childhood, and to see what the truth was – could He really be loving and sovereign and still allow tragedies like mine?
My search drove me back to the Scriptures, especially Psalm 139. Reading again and again about how God knits us together in the secret place, with gentle attention to details, made the truth clear in my heart again. God's love is true, and while I would never understand why His sovereign plan would include a world without Naomi, I began to trust again that it did not change His love or His goodness. I learned that in all of life's tragedies and sorrows, I can know that God is good, and that He loves us, and that His sovereign plan really is bringing all things together for good, and for His glory – even when my idea of "good" is different from His. Knowing that was the lifeline that drew me again into a close relationship with Jesus – my Savior who had remained faithful even when I pushed Him away. It held me close to Him when we experienced two first trimester losses in the next year, our babies Kyria and Jordan.
That faith also sustains me now, in my fifth pregnancy. Not faith that this time we will have a "take-home" baby to raise – we certainly pray for that, but God has not promised it. What He has promised is that Jesus will be with us in every situation and that whatever His plan is for our baby, and for us, He is good and He will give us the strength to run "the race marked out for us" with perseverance and yes, even joy. And that is the faith I want to share with others.
Eric Bothur
When I think about all that God has done in my life it is hard to imagine living life without Him. He definitely had His hand on me from a young age, when I could hardly explain who He was, what He wanted from me, and how He felt about me.
Growing up in a loving home, I still experienced a lot of trauma and pain. It wasn't that my parents were unkind or unloving, but it was because of tensions between them. They grew apart and saw the world differently and this created problems which ultimately led to separation and divorce. This left a feeling of emptiness in my life and the life of my brother. When your parents' marriage falls apart you wonder, "What did I do to cause this?" or "How could this happen if they truly loved me?"
About a year before my parents' separation I went to a church camp where I learned a lot about Jesus. However, the approach was one of fear, and I asked Jesus into my life, because I feared life without Him, because I knew that life would be one of pain and torment. I understood God to be a god of righteousness and judgment. The problem was I never grasped the other side of God, that He was a god of compassion and love.
I went on with life pretty much the same, because I never grasped God's other qualities and because I was not afforded many opportunities to grow. When I went to college, some friends invited me to Bible studies and then I began to understand that God was also a very loving God. It was during many talks and discussions that I came to understand that God loved me. He always has and always will. I also came to understand what Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast." Knowing that God wants to be merciful and save us from bad things we deserve, and graciously gives us good things we don't deserve propelled my faith forward and caused me to want to serve Him.
After college I attended some seminary classes because I didn't learn enough to quench my appetite on Sunday morning. I had no thoughts of finishing and going into ministry, but God had different plans. He kept moving me forward one step at a time as I sought to grow in His love and draw closer to Him. Eventually, I found myself moving to Columbia, South Carolina, to finish my seminary degree and hopefully go overseas to become a missionary. God still had different plans and opened up many opportunities to serve in pastoral ministry right here in Columbia.
One thing I have learned is that God is never through with us and we will always be a learner of the Bible and God. Our lifetime will be just one continuous lesson in learning about our great and loving God. And as we grow in His love, we grow in our desire to serve Him each and every day. That is the joy in the journey!
Amber Toto
When I was young every Sunday my grandma would get me up at the crack of dawn, and we would drink our cup of coffee then go to church. Sundays were my favorite day, I’m not sure if it was the coffee or the world of God. Nevertheless, God was my hero and “Jesus Loves Me” was the only song I sang until I was about eight. Then, coffee and church turned into cereal and chores. When I asked my grandma why we stopped going to church she replied, “Churches are full of hypocrites, now go clean the bathrooms.” It seemed like from that moment on everything just went downhill.
In the blink of an eye I went from being a child of God to an obligation, an unwanted nuisance. Buy the time I was 13, I had truly believed that God hated me and was punishing me. I was lost and I had given up. I had forgotten love; all I knew was pain and fear. I was stuck in a downward spiral.
It wasn’t until June of this year when my grandma was in the hospital with colon cancer that I started to realize life was too short. When I started this school year, I was totally clueless to what was in store for me, but God knew. He placed an angel in my life. With my grandma in the hospital and school piling up, I had actually started to talk to my zoology teacher. This woman was different than anyone I ever met. She had a light that shined through her and she actually cared and still cares. Little did I know but God placed her in my life as my guardian angel. I owe a lot to her for leading me back to church and teaching me that love still exists.
With her guidance and support I am growing in my faith. I accepted Jesus as my Savior on December 18, 2011. Even though I have accepted Jesus I still have a lot to learn and a ton of room to grow.
Carrie Tucker
I was raised in a Christian home, went to church, and participated in Youth Group and choir. However, it wasn’t until my late 20’s that I realized there was more to God and Jesus than these things. I was getting divorced had two little girls and financial stress. I didn’t know how to handle all of these things with patience and calm. I joined a women’s Bible study and it started with Beth Moore’s “Believing God.” I didn’t know true faith before this. I always believed God wouldn’t give you more than you could handle, but there was just enough doubt to make me worry. I never gave it all to Him. I met my current husband during this study and he held an amazing faith in Jesus that I had never seen before. He spoke freely about his beliefs and how through Jesus all things are possible. I began to understand true faith! It was literally giving it all to Him to handle; to know no matter what the trial or challenge, He would steer you down the road He has planned for you! “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb, 11:1 NKJV). I still struggle with letting go in some areas of my life and to give Him total control! But when I do give it to Him, the outcome is amazing; I can still clearly describe every one of these moments where He has spoken to me through someone, or some small miracle. I now believe God is with us every day, we just have to have our eyes and ears open to hear Him speak! I also live by the quote, “Faith is taking the first step, when you can’t see the rest of the staircase” (Martin Luther King Jr.)! This is an unbelievable statement in so many ways. We must all take that first step down the road unknown for OUR ALMIGHTY to reveal his beautiful plan for each of us! And though my path has not always been straight, He has given me more blessings than I can count that let me know He is there and he has got it covered.
Jerry Starling
It seems I can never remember not being in church, born in Columbia and living here all my life. Raised in an Independent Baptist Church, we attended at least three times per week. Mary Clune
For as long as I can remember I have been going to church. Church was the place where people seemed to be a little nicer and there was an atmosphere of acceptance and affection. I wanted to be a part of that. I wanted to "join the church" and be a part of that experience, which I did when I was nine years old.
I continued to be very involved in the church as I was before, and was much more dedicated to church work as a teenager. I had a desire to become involved in church music as a career. As time went on I started not wanting to be in church all the time; other theories about Christ's ministry confused me. Doctrines comparing God and the church to a man and wife caused consternation. I felt like I was not worthy for someone to die for me.
In the last few years I've been studying Bible more and coming to grips with the fact that Christ died for me and that it's all right that I am quite imperfect, though I do try to be the kind to person He wants me to be. Allowing Him to work through me takes much attention to Bible study and prayer. I've prayed a lot in the last few years. Life is not easy and I need a lot of help!
For three months last fall I was out of town and felt that I was in a very vulnerable position. As time went on and dozens of people were praying for me I came to feel like I was surrounded by a bubble of protection. I felt the warmth and acceptance that I remembered from my childhood days in church. I am at last sure of myself and the fact that my God will take care of me.
Terna Rushing
I was born into a Christian home. My granddad taught Sunday School at a Presbyterian church and took my brother and me. My parents met us for worship. I completed Catechism when I was 12 years old and felt I was on the right track in my life with Christ.
My teen-age years were difficult. I turned away from Christ. My dad lost his job and our house. We had to move to a house that was old and cold. It had no central heat and I had to learn how to use kerosene heaters and electric blankets! My dad had a hard time finding steady employment. We did not have much money. I will never forget having to eat potato soup for several days because that’s all we had. We got government cheese and powdered milk and were grateful when our neighbor brought us a ham during the holidays. I didn’t have many clothes and wore the same jeans and shirts over and over. Many times I was teased about it, but I blew it off by saying I really liked wearing them. I struggled with my relationship with Jesus and I stopped going to church. I didn’t like being poor and I thought that He should do something to help us out. I was friends with some girls that attended a Methodist church. I went with them and enjoyed it. The preacher was nice and he had daughters around our age. I wanted to join this church and my parents accepted my decision, allowing me to become the first Methodist in the family. I attended through high school and beyond.
My freshman year in college, things changed. I became pregnant. I struggled with what I should do. Ultimately, I decided that the baby was mine and I would keep her and raise her on my own. Her father decided he did not want to be a part of our lives. I quit college and worked full-time at a daycare center where she could attend for free. Making minimum wage, I struggled to pay bills. I lived in a garage apartment, had no car and could barely afford to put food on the table. I did have a bicycle and lived near my work and my parents. I got a lot of exercise! I did not take food stamps, although I qualified for them, but I did have my daughter on Medicaid, so she could get her immunizations and health care. I quit attending church and struggled with my relationship with Christ. I thought I had made the right decision by taking responsibility for my actions, but felt like Jesus was letting me down by not getting me out of my financial situation. Still, He was trying to teach me something.
That’s when I met my first husband. He was a football-playing college student with seemingly endless possibilities. He told me that he was going to go pro and he was going to take me with him. Unfortunately, the professional teams were not knocking down the door to sign him. He tried out for a few teams, but nothing ever came of it. He decided to become a police officer and play football on the side. I decided to become a police officer, too. My daughter was older now and could handle me being away from home some. Things seemed to be getting a little better. I started attending church again, this time, to another Presbyterian church with my mom. She sang in the choir and my daughter and I started singing in the choir, too. My husband would never go with us though. He did not want to get up early every Sunday morning and travel to church. Things started going downhill for my husband and me. He was struggling with depression. He was not making the kind of money he wanted to, but he was spending it like he was. He wanted a child of his own but I was reluctant. We disagreed on a lot of things and he started spending more time away from home. I decided that I would try to be a better wife by having the child that he so desperately wanted. I thought this would make him happy and things would work out for us.
Two weeks after I found out I was pregnant with our son, I discovered that he was cheating on me. I felt my world collapse under my feet. This time, though, I didn’t turn away from Jesus. I turned toward Him. I asked Him to help me. I decided to stay with my husband and try to work things out. After my son was born, I found out that my husband had continued with his other relationship. I decided our marriage was over and I told him that he needed to leave. I prayed a lot. I had no idea how I was going to make it on my own. I was afraid of being poor, but I now knew that I could handle anything with Jesus. I knew that my children and I would be ok. I was thankful that I had people that I could lean on and a God that I could trust. My daughter was old enough now to help household chores. I trusted Jesus to get me through.
Months later, I met my husband, Mike. He is a strong Christian man with three children of his own and had been through a similar experience. We became friends. He started attending Spring Valley Baptist and invited me to come along. I loved it from the moment I walked through the doors. The music was modern and the people were friendly. I joined the choir and felt I had found a church family I had never before experienced. My daughter and son started attending and were equally happy. Mike and I, along with all five of our children, joined the church in February 2010. We were married that May. Although I know my journey with Christ is far from over, I am on the right track. I have faith that He is there with me and will guide me as long as I am willing to listen. I know that I need to seek guidance from prayer and scripture before making life-changing decisions. And, I know that with His help, anything is possible!
Sharon Holladay
I'm a country girl raised in a Christian home. Back in the day, being raised in the “country” in South Carolina meant that your social world pretty much revolved around church. And being the only girl in a family with four brothers, I couldn’t wait to get to church on Sunday, especially in the summertime! As Glenn Campbell said one time, going to church for me was as natural as the sun coming up. If it was Sunday, you were there. I really don’t ever remember not wanting to be. And going to church also meant fellowshipping with the church family.
As long as I can remember, my mother read Bible Stories to us, helped us recite scripture verses, and heard our prayers. So on that bright beautiful Sunday in April, when my pastor preached on the crucifixion, my heart was stirred like it had never been before. I was only eight, but I fully understood the sacrifice that Jesus had made for me. As the pastor painted the picture of how my Jesus was beaten, placed on a cross, and nailed there, my heart was broken, that He would do that for me!
Like most teens, my faith was tested many times. I remember a time when I was asked by another teen why I believed as I did. As I thought about it I could only reply that I had seen how God had taken care of my family in many difficult times. Even now I could testify to you about the times that I have endured heartache, trouble and pain. Sometimes the pain was so heart wrenching that you felt you could not endure it. And each time as I allowed Him to, My Lord has gotten me through.
But I would also have to tell you about the joys and blessing He has given me: blessings beyond measure, not because I was faithful, but because He is! As I write this, I can hear my grandmother softly singing her favorite hymn: “and the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.” That’s my Savior, always there, in the bad times and the good! I know no better friend!
Linda Collison
Five days after I was born, my father was killed while serving our country in France during World War II. My mother was left with a 3 year old son and a newborn daughter. Mother was a strong Christian and provided a loving home for us. We moved to Columbia when I was 16 months old to be near my grandparents. Mother prayed for God’s guidance, especially in finding a Baptist church. We became members of Rosewood Baptist Church. Our lives revolved around church activities. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior as a 9 year old and made a public profession of my faith on Easter Sunday morning, 1953.
Mother encouraged me to take piano lessons at the age of 8 which led to years of joy in serving the Lord on the keyboard for choir and worship. Another opportunity came when the church organist requested medical leave and asked me to substitute. I had never played the organ. The organist was unable to return, leaving the responsibility to me. With the Lord’s help and lots of practice, I learned how to play the organ, with foot pedals, and remained as church organist for 4 years. “God doesn’t call the qualified – He qualifies the called.”
On July 1, 1967, I married my high school and college sweetheart, Bob Steele. He also grew up at Rosewood Baptist Church and became a Christian as a teenager. Bob joined the Air Force after graduating from USC and was stationed at Tinker Air Force Base in Del City, Oklahoma. I taught school the 4 years we lived there. We joined First Southern Baptist of Del City, Oklahoma. Bob taught a Sunday School class and became a deacon. I was involved in the music program. Our pastor preached a sermon about the second coming of Christ. The thought of those in Christ ascending to Heaven and all others left behind caused a tugging in my heart. I began to question my profession of faith in Jesus Christ that I made as a 9 year old. My love for the Lord was much deeper now and I wanted to settle any doubts about my salvation and where I would spend eternity. I was convicted to profess my faith as an adult, commit my life to Christ and be baptized again. After that, I never doubted my salvation again.
We were transferred to Honolulu, Hawaii in January, 1971. We joined a Baptist mission which had a small number of members and there wasn’t a choir. However, the mission grew into a church with a choir, organ and piano. We were active in our church where Bob taught Sunday School and served as deacon and I served as organist and sang in ensembles and trios. The Lord blessed us with two wonderful children, Christopher and Jennifer. We loved living in Hawaii. Bob resigned from his 9 year military career, completed his Master’s degree and became an electrical engineer with Hewlett Packard. I continued to teach school.
On November 12, 1982, my whole world fell apart. My 40 year old husband suffered a cerebral hemorrhage which left him speechless, paralyzed and semi-comatose. He remained in ICU, enduring several surgeries to install a shunt and feeding tube. The doctors were pessimistic about his recovery and questioned how aggressive they should treat infections and prolong a non-productive life. I was offended by this because they didn’t realize the miraculous healing power of the Lord. After six weeks and no evidence of recovery, they dismissed him and suggested a nursing home. Bob’s mother came to stay indefinitely and we decided to take him home. Nurses taught us how to care for Bob, including catheterizing, food tube feeding, hygiene and exercising arms and legs.
Our church rallied with loving people who provided meals, hospital bed, aspirator and wheelchair. Nurses in our church sat with Bob when Mom Steele and I went grocery shopping. Friends included Christopher and Jennifer in their family outings. Others sat with Bob on Sunday so we could go to church and I could continue as organist. The RA’s assisted with yard work. Prayers were lifted on our behalf from others who heard about Bob. I felt God’s presence in the lives of the people he sent our way. After one year without any signs of improvement, Mom Steele and I knew the only option was to place Bob in a nursing home.
Bob maintained his military affiliation through the Air Force Reserves and was accepted in the Veterans Hospital Nursing Home in Columbia. In 1983, he was transported by Air Force Medivac Flight from Honolulu to Shaw Air Force Base and on to Columbia. I remained in Hawaii for 2 months to sell all our “worldly goods.” We lived with my mother for 10 months. I prayed for God’s guidance in finding the right home and Baptist church, just like my mother did. The Lord led us to our home and to Spring Valley Baptist Church. We joined in January, 1985 and once again became involved in Sunday School and the church music program. On January 16, 1987, Bob passed away after 4 long years of silence and being bedridden. It was difficult for me to accept that his recovery wasn’t a part of God’s plan. However, I was assured my future was in His hands - God is faithful and we are to walk by faith, not by sight.
God is so good - He allowed me to love again. The Lord brought Ray Collison into my life on September 13, 1991. Ray was a widower with 2 children, Kenny and Karen, who also experienced the loss of their mother through 6 years of cancer. I knew this was the Christian man God was preparing to be my husband and father to Christopher and Jennifer. The Lord united our two families in marriage on Valentines Day, 1992.
I experienced another loss in my life. My precious mother recently passed away – a loss that can never be replaced. When things seemed the darkest in her life, she turned tragedy into a triumph of faith by remembering God’s faithfulness. She was a Godly woman of faith who taught me to love the Lord my God with all of my heart, soul, mind and body and that He would meet all of my needs. God is faithful!
David Bell
From the time I can remember, my father and mother had my brother and me in church. They had both of us involved in Sunday School, Training Union, Vacation Bible School, Wednesday night prayer meeting and all youth activities in the church. When I was ten I accepted the Lord, Jesus Christ, as my Savior during a summer revival at our church. I remember having this overwhelming feeling of happiness as I made my decision.
As I entered young adulthood, I began to drift from the Lord’s teachings. I began to try to be one of the crowd and the crowd was not very Godly. During this wayward time I could still feel the Lord was with me although I was being resistant to his calling.
In my thirties I met my precious wife who got me back into a church family. As we began our marriage the Lord continued to be a focus in our lives. We learned to lean on him to guide us as we moved around the southeast every eighteen months or so during the next five years for my career. During this time I learned it was easy to be faithful to the Lord when you were experiencing peaks in your life and that your faith was tested when you were in the valleys of your life. As I look back, I can now see the Lord was teaching me to be faithful all the time.
Today I know that without my faith in the Lord my life would have no direction. My faith in the Lord has given me an inner peace that allows me to face the peaks and valleys of life. I know today the Lord is truly great and awesome and through his grace I have salvation.
Joe Anderson
I was born and grew up in Camden S.C. My Grandmother and I were in church almost every time the doors were opened. So I knew a lot about Jesus but I did not know Him.
Ann Blackwell
I was raised in a loving Christian family with parents that love the Lord and made sure my brother and I were always involved in church. I became a Christian at an early age. I was sitting at the breakfast table one Sunday morning and told my parents that I wanted to be a Christian and let Jesus in my heart.
I can remember from the time I was in preschool I was involved in missions and choirs. I was always present in Sunday and Wednesday activities. When I was a teen, our church had programs that kept us in-tune with God. We were never alone because we could always go to God in prayer and Bible studies. We even had many teen activities at our house that would usually involve swimming and softball.
As I have grown in Christ, I have learned to lean on God for many things. I have learned to trust God and depend on him to lead me in decisions that I could not do alone.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Madge Strickland
The first time I saw a Bible, I was an “inmate” in the Charleston Orphanage near King Street in Charleston, South Carolina. My brother and I had been placed there by Family Court during the divorce of my Mother and Father. I was seven years old. I attended church every Sunday I was there and learned there was someone named “Jesus” who loved me unconditionally and all I had to do was trust in Him. It was hard for me to trust anybody or believe that I was lovable for after all both my parents were gone and except for my brother, I felt very much alone.
After I spent four years in the orphanage, my mother remarried and we moved to a farm in Kershaw County. Conditions on the farm were primitive with no electricity or running water and we had to walk across swampy land and climb a barbed wire fence to ride the school bus to school. I liked going to school and excelled in all my subjects especially voice and piano lessons given by the school music teacher who recognized and encouraged my natural musical talents.
We also rode the same school bus to a small country church on Sundays. I was drawn to the church to hear more about Jesus and the church gave me a New Testament so I could read the scriptures for myself. I read in Romans that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” and that “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.” During a church revival the summer I was fourteen, I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. My salvation experience came at a pivotal time in my life and gave me new courage and self-confidence. I realized for the first time that I was a child of God who had given me unique talents and abilities and I knew that with God’s help I could make something good come out of my life.
In the next 20 years I completed my education, married Ray Strickland, had five sons and embarked on a U.S. government civil service career. We were active church members involved in Sunday School, Training Union, Royal Ambassadors and choir.
Sacred music really “rang my bell,” and I slowly realized I had a natural gift and an irresistible, undeniable calling from God to serve Him through solo and church choral music. For the next 40 years, God opened doors for me to serve many churches in the midlands as church music director and all along the way I studied and updated my musical abilities to fit the needs of the congregations I served.
As I look back on the painful experiences of my childhood, I am overwhelmed with gratitude to God for answering my early pleas for help. I had nothing to offer Him and yet the Creator of the universe entered my life and guided me to discover my life’s worth and calling and set the stage for an amazing journey. The indescribable joy I have experienced in the Lord’s work by far transcends any trials of the flesh I have endured. My recent breast cancer challenge has given me a new depth of spiritual understanding and vision – all because so long ago I learned to trust Him in everything. Jesus tells us that He came to earth that we might have life and have it more abundantly. My life is proof that this is true.
Kathy Williams
As far back as I can remember from my childhood, I was always involved in church. I thought everyone went to church on Sunday and also on Wednesday night. It was just our way of life. I was baptized at age nine because I knew I had Jesus in my heart and I wanted everyone in my church to know that. My grandparents, parents, cousins, aunts and uncles all attended my church so it was a wonderful childhood being raised in a Godly home and around family.
Later as I moved into adulthood, I was forced to make many decisions myself. Sometimes I made the right ones and sometimes I didn’t, but throughout that entire time I never wavered in my faith or experienced a time when God was not close to me. Once I had children of my own, I felt that renewed need to once again commit my life more fully and raise my children in a Christian home. Now as I look at my grandchildren I see the fruits of that faith as they are being raised in the same kind of Christian home. God is so good!
Pam Jennings
I did not grow up in a Christian home. My early years were filled with much strife, confusion and anger. A distant and unloving father and family turmoil cloud my childhood memories. But through the confusion and strife and many moves from Florida to California, back to Florida then Louisiana and finally to South Carolina, I always managed to find a church nearby. (No way would I have been taken to church by my parents). Going to church and school activities such as band and choir were a way to escape from home for a time. When I look back I realize that God was with me and trying to direct me to the right path and to the right people. I am not sure why I had to endure growing up in the type of family I had, but I do know now that God had a plan all along and that He is – and always has been – in control.
When we moved to South Carolina, I was in the eleventh grade. Starting a new school in a new state was a nightmare for a teen! But the first day of band class, I met my future husband! We married a year after high school graduation and have been married for almost thirty-five years. We have two children and two grandchildren.
During my first pregnancy, I began to seek and study the Bible as never before. I did not want to bring into this world a child and not have the right kind of relationship with God that I needed. I knew I needed Him and felt it deep in my heart. So after much study, prayer and fellowship with other Christians at the church we attended, I asked God into my heart and followed that with baptism. I knew that without Him in my life, I would truly be lost.
Life has not been easy – many trials and troubles have come. I have made many mistakes and gotten off of the path that God wanted me on. But God has been faithful and He never fails me! When I fail Him He is right there ready to lead me again and forgive me. Even during the most difficult times of raising my kids I have come to realize that His plan is still at work and continues to be at work in my life. I would not have imagined that an unplanned pregnancy from our daughter would have led to the blessings of a beautiful and loving granddaughter. As hard as that was – and all of the questions of “why” to God about this and other things we had to deal with as our children grew, I have continued to grow and learn from Him that He is indeed in control and His plan is carried out in my life daily.
My husband Paul and I both love the Spring Valley Baptist church family very much. Choir has been such a blessing for both of us. We feel this is truly our church home.
Diane Yarborough
I grew up in a Christian family and was involved in church from the time I can remember. My parents, especially my mother, took every opportunity to teach me about Jesus. I also had wonderful Sunday School teachers who had a major impact on my life.
At the age of twelve, I accepted Christ as my Savior and tried every day to do those things that were pleasing to God. I have not always been successful doing that, but 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” There was a time in my early years when I couldn’t forgive myself for something I had done, even through many years of praying about it.
One day this verse came to mind and I knew that God was talking to me. I prayed again, telling God that I knew He was going to forgive me because that iswhat this verse said. Before I had finished praying, I felt this burden lifted. If I ever questioned God before then, I didn’t question Him now. What a comfort to know that even when we fail God, He never fails us. Life for my family has not always been easy with a special needs child, but God has been faithful in every situation. When I felt sorry for myself and wallowed in pity, God placed someone or something in my life to give me hope and get me through. I am so thankful for a God who knows everything about us but still loves us and cares for us and was even willing to die for our sins.
Morgan Grooms
Ever since I could remember I have been surrounded by Bible stories, biblical crafts, and the talk of how “Jesus loves me so.” But, I didn’t start to appreciate and understand it all until late middle school, early high school.
I’ve always loved coming to church and I never tried to act like one of those kids that begged their parents to let them sleep in on Sunday mornings. But it just never connected for me as a kid. At that time, it all seemed like it was too much for me to really grasp and that I had all the time in the world to “accept the greatest gift ever,” as my mother once put it. I remember distinctly, sitting every year during Vacation Bible School as our pastor would get real serious and tell us that we have the opportunity to ask Jesus to come into our hearts. I felt guilty because something was telling me that I needed to wait, yet something was telling me that I should accept this Christ. I was actually terrified – committing my life to something that big absolutely struck me with fear every time it was brought up.
Fear has always been with me. Whether it’s being afraid of the dark, or being afraid to ask someone a simple question; either way, I’ve been scared of almost everything. That includes completely letting go and giving my life away to a God and Savior that I can’t even see. Fortunately, I met someone in my life that I believe God sent to teach me that I should just “Go for It” in all aspects of life. I realized that sometimes I just need to go with what I’m given and trust in myself and the things around me. The amusing thing for me is that this person does not follow Christ, yet they taught me a valuable lesson.
Through this lesson, on June 4, 2008 6:23pm, at Summersalt camp, I fell on my face and screamed in my head “God, I’m tired of being frightened. Take me.” Ever since then God has worked through me and showed Himself in ways that I couldn’t have ever imagined beforehand. I strive every day to learn what His plan is for me and to develop a passion for sharing His word and His love because IT IS the greatest thing that has ever been given to us. I worship Him through song and praise because it truly is what makes me the happiest. In Hebrews 13:5, our Savior and Friend tells us: "I will never leave you nor forsake you." It is because I have no fear in my life that I can completely, full heartedly believe this.
David Johnson
When I was nine years old, my mother began taking me to church. When I was twelve, I felt God calling me. I bowed my head and asked Jesus to come into my life. I also committed my life to Him. This was in a Baptist church. When I turned 13, I felt called to preach. This experience with the Holy Spirit of God frightened me so much that I began to run from God until I became an adult. That was when I fully surrendered to God. Since then I have had many callings.
Later in life, I was led to be an assistant prison chaplain. This was during the time while I was a police officer. Next I was led to get involved in a Lutheran church in Hartford, Connecticut. I served there for about 25 years as a mentor. When I moved to Columbia, I was called to another Lutheran church in Columbia, SC to serve the Lord. Most recently, I have been called to serve at Spring Valley Baptist.
I have learned never to run away from God. I encourage you to do the same. Listen to Him when He speaks. If by chance there is something you don’t understand, seek help from a strong Christian.
Gilda Bocock
I came from an Army family, the 6th of eight children – all girls. I was blessed with parents that took us to church at every opportunity. I don’t recall a time when I di
dn’t believe Jesus was my Savior and that God was my heavenly Father, who loved me even more than my daddy did. What I do remember is my dad as Sunday School superintendent, my mom as Vacation Bible School secretary, my oldest sister teaching my 4th grade Sunday School class, and singing in the choir with my sisters.
Throughout my life, faithful teachers and pastors and choir directors have influenced my life and fed my spiritual growth. When I was in the 6th grade, I rededicated myself to Christ at a backyard 5 Day Club. I remember knowing that I already had Jesus in my heart, but felt like I understood so much more at 12 than when I was a little girl. I experienced that same sense of understanding more, or being more in awe of God’s mercy, several times in my life. As a mom, I understand more each day the gift of God’s giving His Son to die for us. As time goes on, I recognize even more the gulf between my understanding and God’s majesty and holiness.
I love to praise God with music and I’m always drawn to songs that ponder why God chose me, that ask “Who Am I?” I am far from perfect and have my share of insecurities. I always come back to the basics my father demonstrated and reinforced: that I was loved simply because I was his child, that there was nothing I could ever do that would reduce the level of his love for me, and that my heavenly Father loved me even more. The wisdom and truth of that kind of legacy makes a difference in a child’s life; it made a difference in mine that endures.
Carroll Burley
Growing up, church was always an active part of my life. Every morning we had a short daily devotion at breakfast. Our family attended church every Sunday. I was very fortunate to be raised by godly parents. My parents were heavily involved at many different programs at my church. I sang in the children and youth choirs, was a member of our church Boy Scout program, attended confirmation classes at twelve and I was the president of the youth group for several years.
God worked in my life many times without my asking or praying about it. In the summer of my freshman year of high school, a five-day youth conference was held at Columbia College. 50 high school boys and 100 high school girls were to attend. Even with that wonderful ratio, I wanted no part in it. My mother and the director of youth, the preacher’s wife, conspired to make me attend. I fought them all the way until they put me out at the college to register. Although I wanted to, I did not go AWOL. I immediately made some friends. Before the week was over, I had been elected to represent the Columbia area as one of thirteen youth from around the state. I served on that youth council planning the conference and other activities for three years. God surely worked in my life for that experience.
I don’t know exactly when Jesus took residence in my heart but I know He was in my heart then and I know that He is there now. I have done nothing good enough. I cannot do anything to deserve His forgiveness. We are not perfect; in fact, we are a mess. However, we have the help and hope from Jesus because He died for our sins. Our forgiveness and salvation are a gift from God. He sent His Son to die for our sins. We are not good enough; we don’t deserve it; and we can’t earn it. But we can share the good news with others and let God do the rest.
Scott Stepp
I was born April 18, 1962 in Columbus, Ohio. My family moved to Columbia in 1968. I don't think we attended church regularly in Ohio, however once we moved here we immediately started attending Enon Southern Methodist, a very small church on Percival Road.
One of my earliest memories of church frightened me as a child. During a revival the guest “fire & brimstone” preacher showed a white cloth to represent our body, a black ink stain on it to represent our sin. The preacher tried many ways to wash it out, but could not. He did something to the water to represent Christ then plunged the cloth into the water and it became white again. I recall the passion in his voice and it impressed in me that church was a special place.
I attended church regularly, learning about Jesus and the Bible with the technology of the time – crayons to color the pages produced by the mimeograph machine and the animation of the paper cut outs on the felt board. I attended Vacation Bible School with the competitions of Bible drills and playing sports like softball. The outfield was in the graveyard, and you had to watch the granite grave stones. Arts & crafts included tie dyed t-shirts, hand painted plaster of Paris wall hangings, and various pop sickle stick sculptures. Our Christmas Pageant was directed by my mother and I was always a shepherd, wise man, or maybe once Herod or Joseph.
I was saved as a young teen. I realized that Jesus was more than a figure to help me decide about right and wrong. I wanted him to be in every part of my life. I asked Him to be my Lord and Savior. I wanted to dedicate more of my life to Him. I was baptized in Martin's Pond on Percival Road. It was a beautiful spring day with most of the congregation in attendance.
My church life progressed for I wanted to learn more about the Lord. Attending church became more of a joy instead of something you had to take a bath for on Saturday night. I was finally able to defeat my older sister in Bible drills and graduated to being the narrator for our Christmas Pageant and having the younger kids look up to me. That was a scary thought.
I've never done anything awful, but I'm not proud of some of my behavior. The neighborhood I grew up in was considered to be a little rough. Our nickname was the Woodfield Woofies. I was not what I thought to be a bad person. I didn't drink, do drugs, hurt or intimidate others. I was not, and I am still not a saint. I was just devilish enough for others not to mess with me.
I finally decided before my life could get out of hand, I would ask the beautiful young woman, who patiently waited for me to come to my senses, to marry me. The love I feel for her grows every day. We attended Enon irregularly, but it was expected of us by our family. We knew that God should play a greater role in our lives, but we could not agree which denomination of church to attend. One day our son, Andrew told us that he felt that we should try another church, one that had youth his age. Andrew was friends with one of his teacher's daughters and she invited him to SVBC. We have always done things as a family so we decided to try Spring Valley Baptist Church. Once we started attending SVBC we knew that it was where we should be. I was invited to join the choir, we found a great Sunday School and we have not slowed down.
The pond I was baptized in is dried up, but my love of Christ is as a wellspring inside of me overflowing with his mercy. I continue to grow in my relationship with God and I am certain He is not done with me yet.
Tony McDuffie
I was raised in a Baptist home and we were at the church every time the doors were open. At age nine, I asked the Lord to come into my heart during a revival meeting. I was baptized and continued going to church with a 'new' feeling that I had done something special. Two years later my Mother died instantly from a massive heart attack. At age eleven, I wasn't prepared for this type of hurt and loneliness. A dear family friend took my brother and me aside and talked to us about the death experience we were going through. He explained that Mom was in heaven and since I was a Christian that I would see her again. I took that knowledge with me for years thinking that Mom could see me from heaven. My Mother was a wonderful person and great Mom.
In my twenties, a friend mentored me in how I should study the Bible. His challenges helped me mature in my understanding and knowledge. In 1980 I was ordained as a Deacon and my spiritual life took on a new role. I was a new Dad as well and I found at times I was overwhelmed with life and doing the right thing. I was missing something in my life. There was a void in my relationships. I began to learn about humility and love for others. Over the next several years I realized that showing love and concern for others would help me in my relationship with Christ. I was a good Dad and I was a faithful husband as well, but I was still not where I felt I should be. Situations in our church made it hard to really feel the Spirit in my life and while my children were young teenagers, my wife Celeste and I decided to move our membership to SVBC ‘for the children.’
In this new environment I was challenged again. Being in the company of other Christians who were battling the same fears and frustrations as I was helped me to realize I wasn't by myself. God had been right there with me during all of my trials and all I had to do was to trust Him with my heart and not just my head. I prayed and ask Him to help me in my daily walk. Then it happened. We found out Celeste had cancer. I was there to encourage and take care of her. I thought I knew how to do this already but it was still a head thing and half-hearted thing. I soon found out what it meant to 'walk with the Lord' in my daily life. My focus was on my family and wife and I gave whatever it took to take care of them. I questioned God in our quiet time together but always felt assured He was in control. As I watched Celeste die daily I thought about how hard it must have been for God to look down from heaven and watch Jesus suffer and die on the cross knowing He could do something about it, but yet He didn't. He knew this had to happen so that I could have a home in heaven some day. I know how hard it was for me. I would have gladly taken Celeste's place to end her pain. Instead during all of this I got a sampling of the love God.
After Celeste's death I was able to get back to church and get involved once again. This is when I saw the need in the Singles Ministry. Through all I had been through, God had helped to prepare me for the work he had for me. He also gave me a new wife to love and cherish. As I look back over my life I can see the areas God was in control and where He shaped me to do His work. He isn't finished yet. To God be the glory.
Heasoon Lee
I was born in South Korea after the Korean War. My father was not present for my birth. Nobody knew if he was alive or dead. My mother said I did not cry when I was born. My grandmother thought I was mute. She brought a wooden spatula and slapped my cheek. I cried but I did not cry much. My mother was concerned. She thought if I cried for hunger, she would have an easier time to figure out when to feed me. I did not cry after she fed me in the morning before she left to work in the fields. I waited until the afternoon when she came back from the fields. The neighbors did not know there was a baby in our home. I was a good girl and obedient to my parents. I was quiet as I did not say much more than two sentences for the entire day. I was more comfortable being alone than staying with people.
When I was in high school, I met a girl who came from an orphanage. God showed His peace through her. Despite living in a bad environment, she had peace inside of her. I went to church with her because I wanted to have peace like her. I had a Gideon’s English-Korean Bible. My family would not allow me to go church since they were Buddhist. They went to Buddha’s temple and worshiped ancestors. I hid and lied about church all the time. Matt 10:34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Our family war started when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior.
My father wanted a second wife to have more sons for support. I told my father, “I will fulfill the son’s responsibilities to support you!” Shortly after, my father had a car accident and my mother’s health declined. I went to nursing school to support and take care of them. After graduation of nursing school, I moved to West Germany before the fall of the Berlin Wall. I worked and I sent all of the money to my father to keep my promise. I did not have much money but it was the happiest time in my life. After three years in West Germany, I still could not return to Korea. My family was not Christian. I prayed about going back to Korea, moving to America, or remaining in Germany. God decided I was to move to U.S.A. I cried much at the airport. Why do I need to go to a new country? I followed His will and arrived in Chicago in 1976. My friend, who I loaned money to while in West Germany, helped me find a place and job in Chicago. I studied hard to pass the nursing board exam.
My father did not want me unmarried. He arranged a marriage. In Korea, the firstborn needs to get married to allow the younger children to get married. I claimed to God the promise of Exodus 20:12. I asked my future husband two things: “Do you believe God? And are you smoking?” He was Catholic. He promised to stop smoking. Our marriage was like a bride from the sky and groom from the earth. Despite differences, our marriage survived with the Holy Spirit. In1966, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior at Gwangju, South Korea. In 1975, I was baptized with water in Hamburg, West Germany. In 1983, I experienced the Holy Spirit’s baptism with the understanding of His Word in Chicago. My life since becoming a Christian was neither easy nor comfortable. I am suffering from Fibromyalgia. In 2006, I came back to the choir. My voice was gone but I asked Jesus Christ to sing through me.
Despite these challenges, I am not neglected. God showed many miracles in my life. I am claiming the word John 9:7 “go and wash in the Pool of Siloam.” I thank Him, praise Him and worship Him with His power and His love. Amen.
Lauren Pruitt
I grew up in a Christian home with very loving, involved parents. My dad is a Baptist minister and my mom demonstrates her love for Christ daily. Growing up, we prayed, went to church, and read the Bible as a family on a regular basis. One night when I was seven years old, my mom and I were reading our devotion before bed. I asked my mom when I could become a Christian. She explained that when I had an understanding that Christ died to save me and was ready to apologize to God for my sins and begin living my life for God, then I would be ready. I told her that I wanted to take that step. As I talked to my dad about this, he explained to me the importance of my decision. He explained that becoming a Christian was the beginning of my life with God and that everyday I would have to make the choice to follow him. That night, I prayed that God would forgive me and cleanse me and make me the person He wants me to be.
Because I was young and from a Christian home, my life didn't immediately change. I understood that as a Christian I was set apart and called to live my life differently than what the world views as "normal". I had a basic understanding of what the Bible says is right and wrong but I mostly looked to my parents to tell me what I could and couldn't do. I like to follow the rules and I didn't want to disappoint my parents so I resisted many of the temptations I was faced with growing up. However, when I got to college I didn't have to answer to my parents anymore. I was exposed to people who claimed to be Christians but participated in things my parents had always said a Christian shouldn't do. I had to study the Bible a lot to figure out for myself why I should be different and how God wants have me to live.
My dad was right when he said that every day I would have to decide to live my life for God. The world offers so many distractions and it's easy to forget why I was placed on this earth - to be a vessel used to by God to lead others to Him. I constantly have to remind myself and seek God's guidance to be set apart as He was.
John Nick
I trusted Christ as my Lord and Savior at age seven during Vacation Bible School. I can still recall the convicting power of the Holy Spirit and the great sense of joy and new life that filled my soul. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
With the freedoms and many temptations that come as a teen, I strayed from my walk with God and became enamored with this world. Playing sports and "hanging out with the guys" became my full time passion. I began making poor choices and compromising my Christian beliefs and values. Going to church was an exercise in pacifying my parents.
As I went off to college, the signs of being a Christian were non-existent in my life. I became very prideful, self-absorbed, and lived the party life. James 1:14-15 says, "But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death." At some point, I truly felt I was headed for self-destruction. My life became filled with hopelessness, guilt, and shame. I flunked out of college and moved in with some guys I knew. That was another poor choice.
Finally, emptied, broken, and living a lie, I cried out to God for forgiveness and restoration and He heard my cry. 1 John 1:9 says "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Also Psalm 51:17 comes to mind. "The sacrifices of God are broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart. These, O God, you will not despise."
I moved back in with my parents and got back into God's Word and spending time with Him. God revealed Himself to me in marvelous ways even though the healing process was very slow.
Years later, I met my God-sent wife. God blessed us soon after with two wonderful girls who are now strong witnesses for Christ. Words are so inadequate to express the amazing God we serve. I thank God everyday for His amazing love and grace. As well as, the godly parents He blessed me with whom never stopped loving and praying for me. To God be the glory forever and ever!
Vandy Hobbs
I was what you call “raised in the church.” My mom has taught Sunday school for 45 years and she was a huge part of my becoming a Christian. Both of my sisters and most of my friends in church were early to make that decision. I was a late bloomer. I can remember Momma crying tears of joy every time someone “walked the aisle.”
I knew she had certainly been praying for that new Christian by name and I knew she was praying for me too. That worked on me for a while and on Easter Sunday at the age of 13, without any prior plans, I knew that the time and the decision were right. I was on the back row of the church and it was a long walk. I was in tears by the time I got to the front and didn’t have to say a word. I just knew that Christ had been knocking on my heart for a long time and I had finally opened the door and felt His Amazing Grace.
I grew in my relationship with Him and five years later went off to college. Now all decisions were mine to make and they weren’t all good ones. I had stopped growing and my beliefs were being challenged. I knew I had another big decision to make. Who was I going to let influence me? I began to read my Bible and hang around like-minded people, began going to church again and His Word came alive. My faith had become “My Faith.”
Evidences of miracles in my life are endless. God stepped in and got me my first and current job, He saved me from a terrible car wreck, He hand-delivered me and my wife to each other, He lifted me up from my lowest of lows, He reveals Himself to me in some way every day, and just like with momma He touches me every time I witness a decision made for Him.
Rhonda Richardson
I feel so blessed to have grown up in a family where I felt loved and was taught about God’s love. Growing up in a Christian home, my parents showed me, through their examples, how important it was to have Christ in my life. At the age of 12, I made the decision to follow Christ completely by making my profession of faith public and being baptized. I have been walking with Him ever since, even through the difficult days. God never promised that life would be “a bed of roses” if we followed Him. In fact, He brings trials and tribulations into each of our lives to test our faith and bring us closer to Him. During the difficult times, I think it is ok to ask “why?” as long as we believe that God has a purpose for everything He has planned for each of our lives. I have asked that question many times.
Why did God allow my husband to lose his job just one year after we were married, especially since he was in the ministry? After all, he had a seminary degree and was serving the Lord!
Why was my mother, who was such a woman of faith, diagnosed with breast cancer twelve years ago? And, why, less than one week after her diagnosis, did my father die very unexpectedly? How could a God who loves me so much cause such terrible things to happen in my life?
Why would our newborn baby be rushed away before I could even see him after complications during delivery? We were told that he was fighting for his life and may not survive. To make things even more complicated, we were informed that the doctors had observed some major “abnormalities” to his ears. After many days of being hospitalized, when we were finally able to take our little boy home, we knew there was a long road ahead of us. We have seen more doctors than I can even count and we have watched our precious son endure seven surgeries already in his short life. The hardest “why” question has come from that little boy himself when he has asked “Why did God make my ears this way?” and then he states, “I wish my ears could look like yours.” I just assure him that God loves him very much and made him very special.
God has brought me through so many trials, and even in the very darkest and lowest parts of my life, I have cried out to Him. I realize now that the only way I could ever have survived these very difficult situations is through the personal relationship that I have had with Him. I hold close to verses in Isaiah, Chapter 40, which state, “He gives strength to the weary….those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” My hope IS in Him, and I am assured that He gives me the strength to face any situation!
Dan Phipps
Up to the age of 10, I was in a family that went to church on a regular basis, participated in children activities at the church, but I don’t recall much emphasis in the home of Godliness or being Christ centered. Sure, we said the standard blessing at the evening meal, and our standard prayers at night, but that was about it. At age 10, it all changed because my parents separated and were divorced.
The divorce caused my mom to review her relationship with Christ and we switched to a Baptist church. With all of the emotional and mental turmoil from my parents over the years, it caused in me a search for something that was genuine, not fake or changing from moment to moment. The words of that Baptist pastor struck deep with me and made me realize there was a source of unconditional love that never changed, never condemning, and freely available. This was what I felt I was missing.
One day in February 1975, as we were riding home from church, I asked my mom about being saved. She asked me if I believed in the facts of Jesus’ death and why he did it; I told her yes I did. So as we continued to drive home, I asked Jesus into my heart and my life. I was baptized on March 16, 1975.
Since becoming a Christian I have seen the trials of when I exercised my will over my life and the pure joy and amazement when I yielded to God’s will for my life. There were years where my will got me in a lot of trouble and God caused some tremendous changes which drew me back to Him. I have seen the difference between sparseness of life clinging to God through His Word and prayer, and the richness of life gathered in His flock and praising Him as part of His body, the church. God showed me that a lot of things could be attained and mastered, but I responded that I just wanted to bring Him Glory! To GOD be the GLORY!
Audrey Welch
I grew up in a Christian home where the Bible was taught and we gathered each night for a Family Altar. At the age of eight I accepted Christ as my Savior, under the guidance of my father.
Most of my teen years were spent in church and music activities. While attending a conference at Ridgecrest, I committed my life to fulltime Christian service. A beloved pastor challenged me to prepare for my life work by going to college and seminary. Many mentors encouraged me to keep focused on my goal. My mother was my chief supporter.
With my first job at a local department store, I began to save money to attend college. After high school I enrolled at Mars Hill College. A defining moment came at the end of my second year at Mars Hill when I realized that I could not see any way to continue college. At a very low moment in my life, God spoke to me through Matthew 6:28-30. “Consider the lilies…how they grow. They toil not, neither do they spin. Yet I say to you that Solomon in all of his glory was not arrayed like one of these…Will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” I realized then that God was going to open the way for me.
I stayed out of college a year and worked at a local rayon plant-- saving most of my salary in order to return to college. I graduated from college and seminary, married a minister and raised three sons. During those years I assisted my husband in several mission works and pastorates, and taught public school music as well. At age 60, I made my first foreign mission trip to Costa Rica and later to Mexico, Germany and Taiwan. Through all the years I am still “considering the lilies.”
Valerie Reed
By the grace of God I was born into a Christian home and at the age of 12 I professed by faith publically and was baptized. My parents and the Christian teachers at church throughout my childhood, teen and young adult years were instrumental in the growth of my faith. I have tried to raise my own children with that same experience that I believe is so important. I wake each day reminded of the blessings I have been given and I am reminded of God's presence throughout the day. John 16:33 says "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." I do have peace, hope & joy because I know Jesus and I know that He has a plan for my life.
Anais Cebey
From a very young age I had an ardent desire to go to church. I was about six or seven years old when I began to wonder why my family and I didn’t attend a church. Every Sunday morning I woke up and asked my mother and father if we were going to church, and every time I asked I would get a “no,” yet it never stopped me from asking. It came to a point in our lives where mom and dad said “yes” and I was so happy.
Growing up in Miami, Florida, money was always tight. My family moved six times to six different homes within Miami. It was always an inconvenience to load up the oversized UHAUL truck. During these times, our family was strong in prayer, but my freshman year in high school changed all that for me.
We had stopped attending church and I had joined marching band. Music had always been my escape. I used marching band as a good excuse to not go home but instead sleep over my aunt’s or cousin’s house. I hated going home those days because my relationships with my mom and dad were not good. It was a very difficult time for me. I ended up failing three classes in high school career for which I am now reaping the consequences. Then, in my tenth grade year, our family got involved at church. The funny thing was that it was right beside the school I was attending! Miami Coral Park Baptist Church was where I was baptized and accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior. I couldn’t have done this if it wasn’t for my best friend Veronica planting that seed once again in my heart and mind. Almost everything we talked about seemed to revolve around Jesus and his unfailing love. Since attending the church in Miami and accepting Jesus as Savior, my life and my family’s lives have changed drastically. When we moved to Columbia, my family joined Spring Valley Baptist Church where I sing and play my band instrument. Thank you, God, for Your grace and mercy!
Tonya Crouterfield
Growing up in a Christian home and being in church every time the doors were open, I had numerous opportunities to get ‘saved’ while growing up. I lost count as to how many times I walked an aisle, usually hand in hand with a bunch of friends, because it seemed the right thing to do at the moment. Those times were more about pleasing a friend than they were about pleasing Christ or surrendering to His Lordship in my life. I had a lot of head knowledge about God, but it was not born out of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
While I was on a mission trip to Canada at age fourteen, our Youth Pastor looked us each in the eye and asked if we were sure we would go to Heaven when we died. I believe the Holy Spirit was working in my heart. It was such a simple question, heard many times before, but my mind wandered far beyond his inquiry. That evening was the first time I had considered salvation was more than a mere acknowledgement of the existence of Christ. It was about entering a relationship with Christ in which I surrendered to Him being my Master. I had never given much thought to what God’s being in control of my life would look like. It was in the wee hours of the morning that I prayed and accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior, entering an eternal relationship with Him.
The key word is ‘relationship’ when it comes to expressing my life since becoming a Christian. As I’ve grown older, there are many experiences I can point to now that illustrate how God has worked powerfully in my life. Out of those experiences has grown a true peace that comes from being in relationship with the one true God who loves me, who cannot make a mistake when it comes to my life’s story, who lovingly leads me down the path of life He has planned out for me.
Monette Jones
My heart cries out for love
My life is filled with emptiness
Yesterday is a blur of loneliness
Tomorrow is a search without hope
Why must I go through all of this?
Why can’t I find love?
I was in my late twenties and single when I wrote the words above. I had been trying to do it my way all my life. In the eyes of the world, I was cool; I was free and healthy with several girlfriends, a good paying job, a motorcycle, a sports car, and a fishing boat. I should have been happy, but I felt empty and unfulfilled.
I had rejected religion early in life as just a bunch of stupid rules for ignorant people but my Mother encouraged me to take another look. I bought a Bible and started reading it from the beginning. I got halfway through Leviticus before slamming it shut and throwing it against the wall. It was not a well-written novel and did not have easily recognizable characters or a discernable plot. It seemed to be laborious and irrelevant reading.
Then with the help of friends, I began reading about Jesus; I was amazed. This was not the vindictive God of many local preachers. I soon realized that whether or not Jesus was God, He was a wonderfully intelligent man who had taught some important lessons of life. Just before my thirtieth birthday, I had a life-changing encounter with Jesus. He showed me that only by accepting Him as Lord would I have the true freedom I had pursued all my life.
Through the church, Jesus helped me find the right job and four years later, the right woman. While it has not been “happily ever after,” He has been there every step of the way. Coming to know Jesus was the most important thing I did in all my life. I could write many pages about how He has made my life better, but I’ll simply say that if you identify with the poem above, Jesus is the answer.
Amanda Boyd
I accepted Christ as my Savior when I was 7 years old. However, I spent a lot of time trying to make a good impression on people. I went to church camp every summer and for a while I would be the Christian I always wanted to be. Soon I would return to my old self, not obeying my parents and always wanting to be the center of attention.
At the age of 13, I was diagnosed with Supraventricular Tachycardia, a heart rhythm disorder. I did not know what God was trying to tell me with this. My doctor said I would need a Heart Ablation. I cried and I was scared. I prayed hard, asking God to give my family and me comfort through all of this. Then, my church began praying. It was amazing. My youth group even took time to gather around me and pray one Wednesday night. It just showed me all the love and compassion people have and what a great church I attend. The day came for the procedure and when we got to the hospital, we said a prayer. I gave my parents a hug and that’s the last thing I remember. I woke up to great news. The doctor said they fixed the problem. I praised God and thanked Him earnestly. The power of prayer does great things.
This summer at youth camp, something special happened. For once, since I was 7, I felt alive. I loved going to worship and praising God. I used to care what others thought of me and was too conscientious to truly worship God. That all changed. I started reading my Bible. Now, I want to come every week to Sunday School and church. I joined the choir and I just love it. It's amazing how if you listen to what God has to say, it can truly turn your own life around.
Joe Buzhardt
I was blessed to be raised in a Christian home. I made a sincere profession of faith and was baptized at the age of nine. In my teen years, I began to wander away from the Lord and by the time I graduated from college, I allowed the Lord no place in my life. In fact, I gave little thought to spiritual matters until I was in my mid thirties. At that time in my life, I had by all appearances what most people would say was a successful life - a beautiful wife, two children, a good job, etc. The fact is, though, my life was literally filled with sin and the Holy Spirit began to convict me of this. At that time, I was spending two and a half hours a day in my car commuting to and from work. I had a habit of listening to some vile talk shows during my commute, but as the Holy Spirit worked, I began to listen to Christian programming and eventually realized that I was hopelessly lost in sin. One day, there in my car, I confessed my sin and made Jesus my Lord and Savior. In the 25 or so years since I began my new relationship with the Lord, I have truly become a new creature in Him. Although I have a long way to go to become the person God would have me to be, I scarcely resemble the person I was before. Every day I am thankful to the Lord for salvation and the promise of eternal life with Him. This promise of eternal life and the Lord’s daily presence in my life are the sources of great peace in my life.