Testimony Time

[lildudette4Christ]

WOW THOSE R AWESOME TESTIMONIES .......................WELL MINE, I AM STILL ALITTLE SHOOKEN UP about it.OK READY???.....OK HOLD UP IM GOING TO TELL U THIS FIRST WHEN I WAS ABOUT 11 MY MOM REALLY PUSHED ME INTO GOING TO CHURCH AND I ENDED UP REBELING AN I DID SOMETHING I REALLY WASNT SPOSE TO DO,IT WAS VERY BAD BUT I HAD LOTZ OF PROBLEMS,AND AFTER THAT I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A GUY IN MY YOUTH GROUP(13 OR 14 AT THIS POINT)WE KINDA HAD A THING BETWEEN US,WE WOULD DO THINGS WE WERENT SPOSE TO DO. I REALLY FELT LIKE I HAD STRONG FEELINGS FOR HIM(I STILL DO) WELL I STARTED TO GO DOWN THE BAD ROAD,UMM,I WAS HEADING DOWN FOR DRUGS,SEX,BAD THINGS(I NEVER DONE ANY OF THEM THO)BUT THAN THIS GUY LEFT ME FOR ANOTHER GIRL(SHE WAS A FRIEND OF MINE)..IT HURT ME SO BAD I GOT SO DEPRESSED THAT I ENDED UP WITH HEALTH PROBLEMS.THEN THAT FRIEND MOVED AND SO THE GUY STARTED TO WANT ME BACK... I FELT SO USED..LIKE ALL HE WANTED ME FOR WAS FOR ME TO GET INTO BED WITH HIM..BUT I DIDNT SAY NO TO HIM, I MEAN I LOVED HIM,I CARED FOR HIM,SO I JUST DRIFTED AROUND WITH HIM.......I LOVED HIM SO MUCH I REALLY DID...I KEPT GOING DOWN,SO HE STARTED HAGING OUT WITH PPL I WASNT GOING TO HANG OUT WITH,WHEN I TOLD HIM THAT I DIDNT LIKE THESE PPL.... HE TOLD ME "GOODBYE THAN"..THAT MADE ME DEPRESSED AGAIN I STARTED TO HANG OUT WITH A BAD,BAD CROWD THEY OFFERED ME DRUGS,SEX,DRINKING,ANYTHING I WANTED,(REMEBER IM 14)IN JUNE I WAS SPOSE TO GO WITH A "FRIEND"TO GO GET POT AND I WAS GOING TO STAY DOWN THERE AND GET HIGH WITH THEM....WE HAD THIS ALL PLANDED OUT.....GO PARTYING DRINK AL THAT STUFF...BUT THAN A CERTIAN TRIP CAME AROUND THE CORNER AND I WAS WORKING SO HARD FOR THE MONEY(14 AT THIS TIME)....SOMETHING WAS TELLING ME THAT I WAS SPOSE TO GO ON THAT TRIP SO I WORKED AND WORKED AND FINALLY GOT THE MONEY....WHEN IT ROLLED AROUND(IT WAS A MISSIONS TRIP TO MEXICO)I WAS GETTING NERVOUS.BUT WHEN WE ARRIVED IN THE FIRST HOTEL OUR YOUTH PASTOR CALLED A MEETING IN HIS ROOM...SO WE WENT TO THE MEETING (OF COURSE)...................BUT WHEN IT CAME AROUND THAT MY SIS WAS GOING TO PRAY I FELL ASLEEP AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I WAS IN A WHITE ROOM AND ALL THESE THINGS KEPT COMING AT ME TELLING ME I WASNT GOOD ENOUGH,THAT I COULDNT BRING PPL TO CHRIST,THAT I WAS TO YOUNG(I WAS THE YOUNGEST ON THE TRIP)AND THAT MY YOUTH GROUP DIDNT LOVE ME OR CARE ABOUT ME.............WELL I WOKE UP WHEN MY YOUTH PASTOR STARTED TO PRAY FOR MY SIS'S EYES AND FEET(SHES FLAT FOOT)WELL MISS NICI(YOUTH PASTORS WIFE)AND ASHLEY K.(A GIRL THAT WENT WITH US)AND ASHLEY S.(MY SISTER)AND ME ALL WENT BACK TO OUR ASSIGHNED ROOMS AND MISS NICI,ASHLEY K,AND ASHLEY S WANTED TO PLAY ALIL JOKE ON OUR OTHER YOUTH LEADER MISS JOY.......SO THEY GOT THAT AL DONE........AND EVERYONE WAS LAYING DOWN,AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I STARTED BREATHING REALLY HEAVY(I HAVE ASTHMA)BUT IT WASNT MY ASTHMA.THOSE THINGS CAME AGAIN BUT THIS TIME THEY HAD FORMED A LINE BETWEEN ME AND MY YOUTH GROUP(WHICH SCARED ME TO DEATH)AND THEY KEPT TELLING ME THINGS THAT KEPT MAKING ME DOUBT.......BUT MY SIS KEPT TELLING ME ITS JUST THE DEVIL.........AND MISS NICI TOLD ME THAT SHE THINKS OF A SCRIPTURE WHEN THINGS GET ROUGH AND SHE JUST SAYS THE SAME SCRIPTURE OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND EDVENTUALLY THE DEVIL LEAVES(THE DEVIL HATES THE LIGHT)SO I DECIDED TO DO THAT SO I PICKED JAMES 4:7 SUMMIT TO GOD RESIST THE DEVIL AND HE WILL FLEE FROM U ...................WELL I KEPT SAYING THAT AND EDVENTUALLY THE DOUBT DISSAPERED......BUT WHEN I CAME HOME THINGS KEPT HAPPING TO ME PPL KEPT TRYING TO PULL ME BACK DOWN,I WOULDNT LET THEM,.......AND THEN I FINALLY GOT THE NERVE TO CALL THAT ONE GUY UP,THE ONE GUY THAT MADE ME DEPRESSED ALL THE TIME.....I CALLED HIM TODAY AND I TOLD HIM I MISSED HIM AND THAT I WANTED HIM BACK IN CHURCH,SO HE IS COMING BACK TO CHURCH(YES)..................OH YA DOWN IN MEXICO OUR CHURCH GROUP(GROUP OF 14)(AND THERE WERE INTERNS HELPING US OUT THEY WERE FROM THE PROGRAM THAT WE WERE WITH)WE HAD TALKED TO 2,500 PPL AND LED 513 PPL TO CHRIST AND WE ALSO PLANTED SEEDS LOTS OF SEEDS............................I HAVE TONS OF TESTOMONIES BUT I PICKED THIS ONE.................................... SO I GUESS THIS IS GOODBYE FOR NOW TTYL LUV YA ALL brandy PRAISE GOD!

 

[Refuge]

Transformed LivesEscape From Satan's Web
Ex-Satanist Jeff Harshbarger now ministers to others caught in the occult's spreading net.By Nancy JusticeWith just a gun, a pint of Jack Daniels whiskey and a bag of marijuana, 21-year-old Jeff Harshbarger checked into a motel room not far from where he attended college at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. It was 1981, and he had spent the previous four years involved in Satanism, rising quickly to "priest in training" and co-leading his own coven, or grotto.

Now, however, Harshbarger was so miserable he wanted to commit suicide. The whiskey and pot, he supposed, would give him the nerve to shoot himself with the gun he had just bought.

His plan didn't work. "I tried to pull the trigger and couldn't," he says.

He returned home, determined to try again the next night. This time he threw a rope over a rafter in his garage and put his head through the noose. He kicked the chair out from under himself but fell to the floor with the noose still around his neck.

What a failure! he thought. I can't even kill myself. He retreated to his room, collapsed on his bed and "bawled like a baby."

"But it felt good, like there had been a release," he told Charisma.

When he heard a voice say, "Get out!" he thought it was a demon coming to rip him apart for not being a good Satanist. He heard the command again, and this time he went into his backyard where he encountered the presence of God.

"I got down on my face," he says. "All I knew to pray was just: 'Jesus, I can't take it anymore. Make my life OK.'"

That night, Harshbarger came back to Christ. "Boy, do I know the grace of God," he says today.

Harshbarger, 43, and his wife, Liz, 41, now devote their lives to working in youth ministry. They recently took their ministry a step further by moving to Georgia where they've turned a fish camp into the home of their Refuge Ministries. Making use of the slow, country pace of life, they minister to people who are in the same kind of spiritual bondage Harshbarger endured.

Recent studies that reveal Satanism and the occult are growing rapidly in popularity are an indication there is a desperate need for such a ministry. Harshbarger firmly believes teens and young people who lack a strong family connection are most at-risk for being swept into the occult. He knows this from firsthand experience.

Satan's Recruit

Growing up in Marion, Indiana, Harshbarger says he longed to be just a normal kid who played baseball and went to Cub Scouts. Instead, he was lonely and from a dysfunctional family. He says his dad, a Marine, had returned from the Vietnam War "pretty messed up."

Harshbarger did what he could to escape a turbulent home life, and in third grade he attended a vacation Bible school. There, over stale cookies and warm lemonade, he heard about Jesus and accepted Him into his life. On Sunday mornings he would hop on his bike and head off to church by himself.

"I just wanted to know more about Jesus," he says.

Although as a youngster he had no idea of the spiritual battle being waged for his soul, Harshbarger was aware of a strange presence in his home.

"I would get up at night to get a drink of water, and something else was there," he says.

He discovered he had paranormal abilities--he could read minds, he had premonitions that came true, and he even had a few out-of-body experiences. He told his mom about it all, but she didn't believe him. As much as he longed for a normal childhood, Harshbarger was also intrigued with his special abilities.

"I didn't know if I was The Amazing Kreskin, but I was sure going to find out, " he says, referring to the mentalist and entertainer.

By 1976 Harshbarger was in high school and no longer attended church. His mother did, however. She had given her life to Christ, had been baptized in the Holy Spirit, and was holding morning prayer meetings in her kitchen.

"It drove me bananas to wake up and hear them praying in tongues," Harshbarger says. Furious, he decided to sever all ties with God, throw away his Bible and delve deeper into the paranormal.

Two months after turning his back on God, Harshbarger was befriended by his manager at his after-school job. "He was the coolest person I had ever met and had everything I wanted--prestige, power and control of his life," Harshbarger says.

Satanism, he found out, was the source of his new friend's success. Convinced it was what he had been searching for, the 17-year-old gave his life to Satan, and his manager became his teacher. He learned how to communicate with demons.

"I became totally possessed," Harshbarger says. "I would look in a mirror and not see me--only the spirits."

He and his teacher would visit churches to disrupt services--until one congregation caught the pair off-guard by praying for them right on the spot. After that it seemed Harshbarger couldn't get away from them.

"I'd be at a drive-in restaurant," he says, "and one of them would pop their head in and say: 'Well praise God! How ya doing, Jeff?'"

Harshbarger and his mentor moved to Muncie to attend Ball State and start their own satanic coven. They recruited six young men as disciples and lived in a house off campus where they held satanic rituals, cast spells, and desecrated Bibles and other Christian material.

But Harshbarger found himself often counseling the 17- and 18-year-old disciples through their many problems while worrying about them--an unheard of sentiment in Satanism.

"This is not a warm and fuzzy religion," he says. "You're supposed to become like Satan, but I was turning into a softie. My heart wasn't dying like it should've been."

Harshbarger went to his teacher for advice and was told he had become "angelically oppressed"--that there was an angel around him who was not allowing anything to happen.

The explanation contradicted everything Harshbarger had been taught--that Satan is god, Jesus is dead and Christians are weak--and caused him to question his beliefs.

"If I'm serving Satan, why aren't Christians and angels afraid of me?" he asked.

Harshbarger reached his breaking point, he says, when the demons turned against him and wreaked internal havoc upon him. "It was like I was locked up in a room in hell," he says. When he couldn't take it anymore, he decided that as a "respectable Satanist" his only option was suicide.

Harshbarger credits God's intervention and the prayers of his mother and numerous other Christians for his two failures at suicide. He was promptly kicked out of his coven, but all he cared about was finding a church. He was cognizant enough to know that only prayer would deliver him from the torment.

Rising From a Fallen Life

Harshbarger ended up at Faith Fellowship, a small charismatic church in Muncie, where he met Harry and Jo Richardson, a senior couple who took him under their wings. "God used them to save my life," Harshbarger says. The first thing he did after he had prayed with the Richardsons and been delivered of the demons was look at himself in a mirror.

"For the first time in four years I saw me and not demons," Harshbarger says. "I bet I smiled nonstop for weeks."

For three years the Richardsons prayed with, counseled, and fed meals and the Word of God to Harshbarger.

A year later Harshbarger met golf pro Liz Galvano at Indiana Christian University in South Bend, Indiana, a school affiliated with the Lester Sumrall Evangelistic Association. The couple married in 1986 and have worked in youth ministry the last 16 years.

Delron Shirley, dean of the university, has known Harshbarger since the mid-1980s and keeps in touch with him. He's seen Harshbarger transform over the years from someone just set free from Satanism to a man with a heart and calling for the ministry.

Harshbarger understands why today's kids--including many church kids--are attracted to Satanism.

"It's very hip, very cool to say you're a Satanist," he explains. "There's a pseudo-intellectualism in the Church of Satan. They believe they're higher-level creatures and that Christians are ignorant and weak-willed."

Satanism is all about having power and control, he explains, and it promotes indulgence rather than abstinence.

"The satanic Bible has a ceremony for everything," he continues. "If a guy is looking for a girlfriend, he can say a certain incantation. He can talk to a demon and say, 'I bid you to do this because I belong to you and you belong to me.'"

Another attraction, he notes, is that Satanism is very secretive. "I know from 16 years in youth ministry that many teens lead a dual life," he says. "There's what they show and tell Mom and Dad, and then there's their hidden life. In Satanism they don't have to hide anything. It's OK to indulge in greed or lust and be the most obnoxious sinner."

What really disheartens the Harshbargers, though, are the young people they see in the occult who are from Christian families.

"They've grown up in the church, went to Sunday school," Liz says. "But they never really grasped who God is and how much He loves them. They're not fully educated, so they don't know that the devil's been defeated. Otherwise they'd be able to say no to Satanists and Satanism."

Jeff agrees. "Satan has a designated place that God gave him," he says. "He's been judged a fallen angel--that's all he is. He takes what God has done and perverts it."

The Harshbargers are also concerned about a preoccupation with Satan's influence that they see in some churches today. It amounts to a misconception, they believe.

"There are very sensational teachings going around right now about Satan's power and abilities--about curses and powers of the devil coming on Christians," Harshbarger says. "They're giving Satan a whole lot more credit than he deserves.

"I met the devil," he adds. "Satan is on God's leash and judged condemned. I see God as in complete control."

It is Harshbarger's firm belief that Satan actually was used by God in his own life. Satanism drove him to the brink of death, but God wouldn't let it happen, and Harshbarger now realizes just how gracious God has been to him.

"I definitely have not received what I should of," he says. "I've been obstinate and stubborn enough to say no to God to His face, but then later that same strength was used for good when I said no to Satan."

The Harshbargers know there are others out there who need to be set free from the same bondage that trapped Jeff. "Harry and Jo [Richardson] were used by God in a very present time of trouble for me," he says. "Now Liz and I offer ourselves to be God's agents to whoever else is in trouble."

Fighting the Darkness

Jeff and Liz Harshbarger use their Web site to pull young people out of the occult.

After four years in Satanism, Jeff Harshbarger was a mess. He was severely underweight, had to wear dark sunglasses because of an intolerance to light and couldn't even speak in complete sentences. Enter Harry and Jo Richardson, a senior couple who taught at a local college. They befriended Harshbarger when he showed up at their church, Faith Fellowship in Muncie, Indiana.

Harshbarger had just rededicated his life to Christ and was desperate to get plugged in to a church. "Some churches I visited didn't know if I was a druggie, psycho or both," he says.

He ended up at Faith Fellowship where he sat on the back row. He had no clue what was going on in the service. "I wanted prayer so badly that I forced myself to sit there," he says.

The Richardsons prayed with Harshbarger, took him to a meeting where he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and for the next three years "laid down their lives" for him, he says.

That's the basis, he says, for starting Refuge Ministries in Thomson, Georgia, where Jeff and his wife, Liz, minister to those trying to escape occult bondage. "We want to be available to whoever has the sunglasses on," Jeff says.

Refuge Ministries' location makes it a great spot for someone trying to escape the bondage of Satanism. It's peaceful, quiet and has no distractions. "There's a lot of wide open space to get alone with God," Jeff says.

Jeff and Liz hold other jobs, but they eventually would like to give Refuge Ministries their full-time attention. Lately their Web site, has been receiving a steady stream of inquiries from people looking for help to leave the occult.

Kate (not her real name), a young woman in St. Cloud, Minnesota, can't afford to travel to Refuge Ministries. Jeff and Liz minister to her via phone and e-mail. She read Jeff's testimony on the Internet and wants out of the occult, but she doesn't know how to leave it.

At this point, Jeff says, he's just a voice on the phone on the other side of the country telling her about God. He needs someone to reach out to Kate in person.

"I'm looking for someone from a good solid church in St. Cloud, Minnesota, to knock on Kate's door and tell her about Jesus," Jeff says.

Eventually he would like to establish a network of local churches to reach those trapped in the occult.

"There are people in your town you may not be able to reach, but they'll find me on the Internet, and I can hook them up with your church," he says.

There are other Kates out there, Harshbarger says, and Refuge Ministries is all about helping them. "We want to be there for whoever needs help," he notes. "That's what we're called to do, and that's our heart and passion. We'll just open the door and come on in." For more information, write to Refuge Ministries, P.O. Box 1273, Thomson, GA 30824; or visit our website; look for Refuge Ministries via search engine.

Nancy Justice is a freelance writer and a former associate editor for Charisma.

 

[sweetmiriam]

we have testimonys at my church and i love listening to them.

 

[sweetmiriam]

Greetings!!

You can go and listen to my testimony if you want. God saved me from drug abuse, drug dealing, and restored my life.

Jesus spoke to me while I was dying in hospital, after a drug overdose..

God Bless You all while you listen.

Morne

wonderful testimony! it's amazing. thanks for bringing this to me. may God bless you!

 

[Hagios]

wonderful testimony! it's amazing. thanks for bringing this to me. may God bless you!

Thanks!

To Jesus all the glory...

God Bless You all.

Morne

 

[faure]

Hi all, tonight I had the best time of my life. I went to my best friend's 18th and I started to talk to some friends I met, about Christ. Now just to put this into perspective - I have always considered myself a Christian but to be honest I was one of those seeds planted in the weeds. Other things have always distracted me from the true meaning of life (drinking being one of the many other things) - Christ. Anyway, I went out tonight but this girl I had met previously started to talk to me about how I was really getting through to her friend, (a guy I had met the previous day who was in rehab for drug abuse), anyway, I offered to phone this guy and give him some support and then it stuck me - THIS REALLY FEELS LIKE GOD IS DOING SOMETHING THROUGH ME!!!!! I have been praying for him to make use of me to do His will but so far nothing has happened - untill now!!! These two people can be led to Christ and I can get them to HIM!!! I am so excited. It feels like He is really using me to do His will. This really feels great!!! WOW!!! Anyway, this just go's to show that Jesus can use YOU throught the HOLY SPIRIT even if you aren't being truly faithfull to him. If you can't tell, I'm really, really surprised that he chose me. I just ask that you'll pray for me and help me to turn into one of the seeds that produce 100 times as much.

Regards
Faure

 

[Standyman51]

I had had a burning hot pain deep in my left shoulder for a few days last week. It flares up every so often and it limits the mobility in that arm. While in prayer last Thursday morning, the presence of God stole over me quite strongly. While in His presence, I asked Him to alleviate this pain. The rest of the day, I had no pain or discomfort at all and it has not bothered me since -- now almost a week later.
So, I just want to give Him the credit for His faithfulness.
Stan

 

[sweetmiriam]

Hi all, tonight I had the best time of my life. I went to my best friend's 18th and I started to talk to some friends I met, about Christ. Now just to put this into perspective - I have always considered myself a Christian but to be honest I was one of those seeds planted in the weeds. Other things have always distracted me from the true meaning of life (drinking being one of the many other things) - Christ. Anyway, I went out tonight but this girl I had met previously started to talk to me about how I was really getting through to her friend, (a guy I had met the previous day who was in rehab for drug abuse), anyway, I offered to phone this guy and give him some support and then it stuck me - THIS REALLY FEELS LIKE GOD IS DOING SOMETHING THROUGH ME!!!!! I have been praying for him to make use of me to do His will but so far nothing has happened - untill now!!! These two people can be led to Christ and I can get them to HIM!!! I am so excited. It feels like He is really using me to do His will. This really feels great!!! WOW!!! Anyway, this just go's to show that Jesus can use YOU throught the HOLY SPIRIT even if you aren't being truly faithfull to him. If you can't tell, I'm really, really surprised that he chose me. I just ask that you'll pray for me and help me to turn into one of the seeds that produce 100 times as much.

Regards
Faure

this has happened to me too. God will use you no matter what if he wants to even if your faithful or not. i being the one who is not always faitful. i will share my testimony later about what happened.

 

[Truth of God]

God has so blessed me financially!

At my work, I recieve a lots of money that I have to look after(my employers money.)
Sometimes it's only about R450 but other times it goes to almost R2000.

If something happens to this money, it'smy responsibility.
now, last month, I had a personal account of only R119 that had to be payed, but I was upset about the payment that I had to make.
I made the payment though, and the next day when I had to cash up my petty cash, there was exactly R119 too much money in my bag!!!

No one could have put that money there, because I always have the bag on me...
So, this month I had to pay my rent of R500, which I wasn't too happy about either,because I'd really wanted to buy myself new curtains for my living room.
Three days later, there was exactly R500 extra in my bag AGAIN!!
I absolutely could not believe it!
I counted and recounted over and over again...but it was there... R500
Guess what I did with that money...Yup! I bought new curtains for my living room!
God just proved to me ONCE AGAIN how awesome and amazing He is!!
I can only praise Him and lift His awesome name ABOVE ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[cynjo59]

I really needed something from Camp Meeting this year and I was bound and determined I was going to get it. On the day it started I planned to stay after work and attend the evening service. That afternoon I had the worst attack of kidney stones I had ever had. I had been having problems with them for a few weeks, but that day was worse. I thought that maybe I had just better go home. But, I didn't want to do that. I wanted to be there for the evening service and I didn't want to miss a chance to recieve what I needed. I walked into the church and as the song service began I had an even worse kidney stone attack. The pain was incredible and the sweat just poured off me. I again thought that maybe I should go home but I just did NOT want to do that. I stood there, hanging onto the pew in front of me because I thought I might collapse from the pain. And then, I heard God tell me, "If you will just raise your hands, I am going to take care of this right now." I didn't even get my hands all the way up and I felt a strange sensation in my kidney area and I KNEW GOD HAD HEALED ME! I have not had one single attack since. And by the way, I also got what I came to camp meeting to get! What an awesome God!

 

[Hagios]

God has so blessed me financially!

At my work, I recieve a lots of money that I have to look after(my employers money.)
Sometimes it's only about R450 but other times it goes to almost R2000.

If something happens to this money, it'smy responsibility.
now, last month, I had a personal account of only R119 that had to be payed, but I was upset about the payment that I had to make.
I made the payment though, and the next day when I had to cash up my petty cash, there was exactly R119 too much money in my bag!!!

No one could have put that money there, because I always have the bag on me...
So, this month I had to pay my rent of R500, which I wasn't too happy about either,because I'd really wanted to buy myself new curtains for my living room.
Three days later, there was exactly R500 extra in my bag AGAIN!!
I absolutely could not believe it!
I counted and recounted over and over again...but it was there... R500
Guess what I did with that money...Yup! I bought new curtains for my living room!
God just proved to me ONCE AGAIN how awesome and amazing He is!!
I can only praise Him and lift His awesome name ABOVE ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gr8 testimony...God is so good! Stick with Him, and He will look after you....

Blessings,

Morne (Also South African)

 

[Dulice_Shira]

Oh, wow. I just found this thread and have spent the last few moments reading these amazing testimonies. They are awesome.

As for my testimony, at the age of 12 I was diagnosed with an overactive thyroid. I was given three options then, medicine, radiation treament, or surgery. My doctor at the time felt that medicine would be the best choice as the thyroid could grow back if they did surgery and radiation could cause me to be unable to have kids. So I went on the medicine for four years and I'll be honest, I didn't take them as I should. At 16 I got saved watching Jesse Duplantis on TV one night after coming home from my church's Campmeeting. That was in January of my 16th year. Aug. 3rd of that same year we had a guest speaker at my church. For the past few months I had been getting what looked like bruises on my legs. I did not wear shorts cause they were very noticeable. Well that Sunday night, the 3rd, I was at the altar praying for my sister. My grandmother told our, then, children pastor's wife that I was going to the doctor the next day to find out why I was getting those spots. She came over and the only indication I had that she was there was when she grabbed two of my fingers and dragged me to the guest speaker. She informed him of what my grandmother had told her. He laid hands on me as did alot of the members of my church. I was slain in the Spirit that night and as I was going down I knew I was healed.

Well for a week, well, no more like a month, I had people telling that I wasn't, or wasn't going to. I told them I was healed. I told my grandmother that I was healed and if God didn't heal me and I died then I'd be with Him, that I was in a win, win situation.

Sept. 11 of that year I went back to my doctor. He was not a Christian and got very angry with me cause I told him I was healed and that was all there was to it. I got a letter from his office the next day. The blood test they had performed on me came back negative. I was told that I had normal levels and I did not have to take that medicine again.

But that's not all. During the month I went to another doctor, this was for the spots on my leg. I told her that I was healed. She was not Christian and seemed surprised at my statements, in fact that entire office was surprised. Well all total they drew 21 viles of blood from me during that month, trying to find out why I had spots on my legs or to look at my thyroid levels. The test for the spots, at least I think it was for them, came back positive for elupus. I told them I was healed and that was all there was to it, that God said and I believed it. They took another test, that one came back negative.

I have not had to take that medicine for my thyroid since Sept of 97 nor I have had any symtoms of elupus and those spots faded and never returned. My thyroid which was the size of a grapefruit went back to the normal size and has been every since.

 

[Miah]

God is a Great God

I TURNED AWAY FROM GOD FOR A WHILE AND TURNED TO MY FRIENDS.
BUT WHEN I GOT SICK OF SIN JESUS TOOK ME BACK IN.
WHEN I TOLD THE LORD I WAS HERE TO STAY.
HE BLESSED ME ABUNDANTLY AS I LET BAD THINGS GO AWAY
HE GAVE ME A HUSBAND,HOUSE AND CAR BUT MOST OF ALL OUR RELATIONSHIP
IS NEVER GOING TO FALL. I LOVE GOD'S MERCY IT DOES ENDURE FOREVER
I ASK YOUR PRAYERS FOR ME TO STAY ON COURSE TILL WE ALL MEET IN HEAVEN.

 

[Fools Hope]

My Testimony....Where Do I Begin?

I was raised a Christian in a HUGE church in Naperville, IL called Calvary Church. Even today, I still haven't found a more on fire church. I accepted Jesus sometime between the ages of 3 and 5. But I never really understood it because I was so young.

When I was 10, I think, I went to camp. There, I was filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. It was an amazing expierience. One I will never forget.

But I was still searching for something...

When I was 12, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. That hit me hard. Why did God do that to her? When I was lost and crying and scared, God gave me an angel. My best friend Peter. I had remembered praying for an angel when I was younger. One I could see and talk to and be with. It took me a while to realize it, but God have given me Peter to be my guide. He would comfort me and help me when I was unsure of God.

My mom lived, thanks to everyone's prayer and support and God's undying grace. But God wasn't done with me yet. When I was 13, I went to a winter retreat with my church called Breakaway. There, I met the most on fire, hyper preacher ever. His name was Wayne Northrup. Every single one of his sermons left me in tears. One night, we had a long worship service. All these painful memories (Mom's cancer battle, losing my other best friend because of a stupid arguement, being taunted and persecuted for my faith etc.) came flooding back. I fell to my knees crying hystarically. I cried out, "God! Please show me what you want to do with my life. Show Yourself! I can't find You." And I felt him say, "I'm already there, Tracy. I'm already there."

Peter came to me then, laying his hands on me and praying loud enough so I could here. I felt God say, "This is your best friend. Don't let him go." I was so grateful to God for blessing me with such a good friend. Peter stayed with me after service, as well as my good friend Rodney, talking with me and giving me support and advice. That day, I realized who my true friend was.

But some time after Breakaway, I lost God again. I don't know what happened. I felt lonely all the time and angry and depressed. I think it was because I had fallen in love with Peter, but he didn't seem to return the feeling. But recently, Peter told me that he couldn't help me with my struggles. He stepped back to let me figure things out on my own. His heart was in the right place. I understood why he had seemed to have been avoiding me. Then God said to me, "Things aren't going to get better unless you give everything to me."

I gave up all I had to God. I gave up my relationship with Peter, my relationship with my family and other friends, my academics, my everything. And I felt a huge weight come off my shoulders. God had made me SO joyful. And everything has been so much better since then. Peter and I are closer than ever, and I know I'm not gonna lose him. Our relationship is in God's hands. And as for all my other friends, those that really are true will stay with me. Those that aren't, I shouldn't trouble myself with.

I love God. I love my family. I love my friends. God has blessed me. I will follow Him forever.


Scattered words and empty thoughts
Seem to pour from my heart
I've never felt so torn before
Seems I don't know where to start
But its now I feel Your grace fall like rain
From every fingertip washing away my pain

I still believe in Your faithfulness
I still believe in Your truth
I still believe in Your holy word
Even when I don't see I still believe
~Jeremy Camp "I Still Believe"

 

[e8514]

I would like to say my wife and i are back in Church and serving the Lord.


praise God!!

 

[New to the Spirit]

My testimony.
In '02 I was dying with a sudden cerebral aneurysm, called a brain bleed. It came from an inherited condition that I had no idea I had. When I collapsed down to the floor my last thought was that I was dying and I was very nearly right.
My skin became gray the color of death and plans were made for my wake. I had once been close to the Lord but in the months before my attack I had grown far from Him and I tried to follow the trail of evil. I think I was healed so that I wouldn't die that way. My family laid hands on me and asked for my healing. Many prayed for me and I was told that I would be healed. I knew He could do it if He wanted to. Not only did I live, but the terrible side-effects of what I had never hit me. I thank the Lord Jesus Christ for my healing and especially so that I had another chance to be on His side before it was too late.
Now I feel that I need to justify somewhat my being here, so I try to minister to some who are very very ill and in need of the Lord's healing. I pray for them and lay hands on them if I can and the Lord has healed and helped many of them. I can't accept thanks from any of them. I don't do anything but ask, it comes from the Lord. Members of my family have also come to be closer to Him, and now some speak in tongues, and some receive a word from the Lord at times. I asked in prayer who helped me and I was told that Wonderful healed me. I thank you, awesome Lord, and our King , Jesus Christ.

May the Lord also show all of you mercy as He has shown me.

 

[SpiritPsalmist]

awesome testimony's

 

[LilRitt04]

I guess around my 7th grade year in school that it really hit me that I was in the "in" crowd. I look at 7th graders now and think hmmmmm was I really like that? I was. I partied (i mean drank, smoked, everything) and I was only 12 . I had grown up in the church and went to church every sunday enless my butt was sick or I was dying of something. I never missed a sunday church service. My step-dad was the youth leader so it was hard for me to get away from it but so far. But that didnt stop me, when Friday night rolled around to lie to my mom and tell her one thing and really go get drunk with my 12 year old friends . It was stupid. I did that all the way through my senior year. My mom eventually figured that out. She got mad but I was out of control. I lost my virginity at the age of 16. I will never ever ever forget that point. I knew at that time I was in my lowest point. I would cry and cry out for God to help me but all I got was nothing. I got to the point where I just wanted to give up. I finally, did. Right before my 17th birthday I started dating this guy named Kevin. Me and Kevin grew up together and we did a bunch of things together and we considered ourselves friends. So we decided to give dating a shot. Ok that was a dumb idea. We had been dating for maybe 3 months and we decided lets have sex. So i took ecstasy and we had sex. That was my life style. I got to a point in my life were I was so desperate to have a "high" that I would role Bible pages and smoke them. In the middle of July this year (2004) me and Kevin broke up, and I was at my bottom point. I had hit rock bottom...I had no place to go.

One night I decided that I was going to talk on the internet (which I do alot), and I had this instant message come up from a guy named Drew. We talked that night for about 3 hours. We talked for about 3 weeks and then we met. I felt as if when we met that he took my hand and guided me to the top. He guided me basically to God. Ever since then God has been opening doors, and allowing me to see things that I have never seen, things that I have never done. I mean me and Drew are going to be married in 2008. Its all because God allowed Drew to come into my life! It seemed like I just opened up into a new person I mean my whole outlook on life was different. I treat my Mom with more respect, I take each day as living proof of what I have been through. Sometimes I do still struggle, but ever since I just gave it up to God I cant get enough of him It is a amazing feeling!

Advice: Everyone has a purpose, everyone has a calling, everyone is promised Christ. Its whether we make a commitment with Christ. He is always there for you, even when you feel as though he isnt! He is!

 

[Shalia]

I was active duty in the Navy, and my husband and I had separated for a while. I was stationed at NAS Jax, and Randy and my son Tyler were here in Utah. I was planning on taking some leave time to come back here and see Tyler, and I was looking online for airline tickets.

Just then, AT&T knocked on my door, demanding payment for their services. I really did owe them the money, but it was all the money I had to go visit Tyler. I hadn't seen him in over 6 months and he was only 4, so it had been a long time. I burst into tears, crying to the poor AT&T collector guy, who felt really bad taking my money when I told him what I planned to do with it, but he had to collect, it was his job.

I just sobbed and sobbed, but eventually I had to get ready for work. I was working swing shift at the air traffic control facility there. Typical boring day at work, and when I got home, something told me to go check the mail. Now, I check the mail maybe once a week <most of my bills end up late cause of it!> but I went and checked anyways. In the mailbox there was a check from the IRS saying I'd overpaid on my taxes and they were returning the portion I'd overpaid. The check was for about $10 more than the ticket I'd been looking at and I know God had sent me the money so I could go home and see my baby.

God is SO good to us, and I still feel very blessed for that day. And that trip home was a big start in the reconciliation between me and my husband as well.

Thank you Lord!!

Shalia

 

[Living4JC]

My testimony is still developing! And it will continue to until i leave this earth and go to be with my heavenly father! But heres the story so far..

I've always been a very spiritual person. I was christianed in a Coe church, but neither my mum or dad went to church, so i grew up not being a christian either. By the age of 10 i was already asking questions like 'how was the earth created' and 'is there a God?'...and instead of seeing the light of Jesus...i followed the devils path and got involved in witchcraft.
All the way through my childhood i had passed from friend to friend, all of which had taken advantage of me...the worst friends of which were the ones when i was 10 and became a witch...they were the popular group, and they were friends with me one moment, and when we argued i was sent out of the group, and they insulted me, and forbid anyone in the group from talking to me. From this is have become extremely shy when making friends, and terrified of losing friends. Thats why i turned to witchcraft...i felt it made me special...and above everyone! I felt it made me unique...and it made me feel like i didn't need anyone...i was powerful, and i could anything i wanted. Of course that was not the case, and through the early years of high school, i again moved from friend to friend, and was picked on by the popular group. I lost hope, and became very depressed. Through this though, a christian girl stayed by me, and repeatedly invited me to her christian youth group, i accepted to go...with my friend. The first time i went i could see there was something different about it, but my friend held me back. For a year and a half i went back and sat at the back as everyone worshipped, longing to join in...but not because i did not want to lose another friendship with this person.
However, my relationship with this person quickly started to fail again, as we began to argue, and i became more and more depressed. Everyone around me was arguing...and i could see no way out.
Then one friday, my friend asked me to come to youth on my own...i did...and i got someone to pray for me, not to become a christian, but for my friends to stop fighting....i figured that if they did then Jesus was real. Whilst she was praying with me, i felt something stir up inside me, a passion i had never felt before.
I started going to youth more regularly, joining in with worship, and gave my life to Jesus.
However, my friend who used to hold me back did not like this fact, and try to put me down and pull me away from God as much as she could. So we grew apart. Yet this time, instead of being blocked out by everyone, i turned to the people at youth...and they accepted me...and slowly i turned to Jesus. And i realised Jesus is the only person that i can truly rely on to be my friend. Jesus will never leave me...Jesus will never insult me...he loves me 100%! Amen! Praise God!!
I've been a christian for a year now, and during that time i've been baptised in the holy spirit, as well as been baptised. I can speak in tongues...and God has given me the gift of evangelism. God's set me up for a challenging life, because i'm still incredibly shy when it comes to talking to people...which is necessary for evangelism...but hey...i can do the impossible when God works through me! Now instead of living for the next acceptance from people...i'm thankful for the eternal acceptance of God...even my failed, sinful self! And i'm living to see other people that live a life like i lead back then to come to Jesus....I love for the cause...i live for the mission God has sent me on...!
Jesus says: I am the light, those who follow me shall never be in the darkness, but shall always be in the light that gives life! John 8:12! AMEN! Praise God for the light, for the hope, the salvation and the dream!
Keep the Faith, Live the Dream And Spread the Light!