Testimony Time!

Ok, I'll go first... although my testimony is not a real spectacular one! (Yeah, I know- they are ALL spectacular, but you know what I mean.) My parents believed in God but they were not church-goers, but I always had an interest in God and church and went with my friends and often just by myself.

When I was about 8, my parents began taking me to a little Baptist church near our house on Wednesday nights. I remember one Wednesday night, we were all sitting those itty bitty chairs they have for children in front of a flip chart which the teacher was using for the lesson. The setting sunlight was filtering in through the windows still. Must have been summertime. She explained just very simply how Jesus had died to pay for the sins of the whole world. Suddenly, I understood the good news of the gospel. (A couple of years prior to this I learned from a friend what hell was about and that supposedly "if you were bad" you went there and if you were "good" you went to heaven.) Since that point I had been trying to be "good enough" to make heaven and knew I just couldn't do it. And I was only 8 years old, mind you!

So when she explained the gospel, that Jesus had paid for our sins, it was "good news" indeed...again even for an 8 year old! I'm not sure if that was when I truly accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior or not, but it was at that point I first heard about the atonement of Christ and understood what His death meant. I went forward and formally declared Christ as my savior and was baptized about 3 years after that understanding.

As a teen-ager, I got away from going to church and though I still believed in Jesus, I was not living for Him as I should have been. In college, though, my boyfriend took me to a campus group which was very on fire for the Lord, and I re-dedicated my life to Him. It was also there I learned that people still did indeed experience the gifts of the Holy Spirit such as speaking in tongues ...and this was quite a revelation to the little Baptist girl.

Since that time, I have continued to walk with the Lord...through the many ups and downs that come with life.

well I was a believer and went to church when i was younger and as a child sunday school so I knew who Jesus was
I started watching Oprah as a stay at home mom and she sure had alot of new age stuff I did not know was new age. Shirley McClain(sp.) alot of people talking about angels , and how you can talk to your angels well I got alot of books on angels ( was fascinated with it )
I went to work got out of the house in 1992 and I met someone there who I went to school with.
she is born again , I knew nothing about what she was talking about
one day when I was talking about angels , she set me down and gave me some verses to read and straightened me out quickly and also she got me watching christian tv programs about prophecies which I was so intriged about. well to make a long story short she told me I had to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior and put Him first im my life. I did just that
and now I am ministering to her alot ( she has been through some hard times ) and I remind her that everything I am telling her she told me . which is God's love and promises

Nothing fancy with me. I've believed as long as I can remember, I was brought up in church since I was a baby

We need to hear some more testimonies!

God has brought me through so many struggles and turmoil in my life. I don't know where I would be without Him. I came to Christ when I was 17 years old.

I went to Sunday school as a kid growing up in the bush with th neighbours. My parents only ever went to church for weddings and funerals so I cant say I was indoctrinated into christianity but I had some idea about jesus and the crucifixion.

When I was 10 I was into music and went along to Thw Salvation Army to play in the band and learn brass instruments as I already played the saxophone. But I still really didnt comprehend the church thing it was just something that I did cause in the Bush here in Australia there arent many bands so if you want to practice you gotta go to the salvos.

Fast forward 10 years and I was sowing my wild oats. I became addicted to drugs and partied hard then I moved to Brisbane to go to University. I found myself sliding down the slippery slope of addiction and eventually ended up on the streets, sleeping rough.

Life on the streets just became second nature being asked to leave from hostels and continually harrassed by the police. (not that i wasnt looking for trouble)

I was sleeping rough when a young girl came and offered me a blanket and a cup of coffee. She was in a Salvation Army uniform which I found really attractive on a young lady. OK just stay with me. This young lady was sent by god as I was not far away from another overdose and I really wasnt living for anything but my habit.

The Young lady called Katherine continued to visit me on the streets and asked me wanted form life and brought a message of hope and love but I wasnt interested in that . I told Katherine what I wanted to do to her which cant be repeated here. Her response was well if that is what you want to do then you will have to marry me first. ( I think you get the drift)

So I went to church chasing skirt so to speak. I went to church for all the wrong reasons but all the right things happened. I kept attending at the salvos I even went to church Under the influence of drugs and alcohol on numerous occasions. The people at the salvos prayed for me and really reached out to me. The captain at the time (pastor that is) eventually said to me "Do ya wanna come and stay with my family we can feed ya and cloth ya and help you sort things out".

It wasnt long after being welcomed with loving arms that I began to feel part of a family at the salvos. I tried rehab at the salvos detox here in Brisbane but I kept going back to the needle. I cant really explain what happened bu after disappointing everyone who tried to help me I decided that I couldnt go on I wanted to try this jesus stuff cause i didnt see any oter way to be freed from my addiction.

I turned up at The Salvation Army after a drug fuelled Psycotic episode and responded to a challenge for prayer. I went forward kneeled down and repented. I prayed for mercy and a bloke came and kneeled beside me said his name was dave and asked if he could pray with me. Dave prayed with me for close to an hour as well as counsel me Dave told me It was OK to to ask god for mercy in Jesus name but now I had to pray with all my heart that i was gonna take this gift. So I prayed " God I repent I realise I have been living for myself and I aske for jesus to come into my life and I accept your gift of grace and I take it".

I tell you when i got up I honestly felt really embarrassed but i felt different. Everyday people from the church was praying for me and I honestly have never felt so loved.

I have struggled at times and cant say it has all been smooth sailing but it hasnt mattered what trials have come my way all is well with my soul.

I have been a christian for 4 years now and havent looked back. For the first time I have held down a job starting as a cleaner at the Salvation Army mens hostel and now working as an outreach worker for The salvos Homeless mens service. Oh and by the way Katherie and I are engaged to be married next year.

Thank God for the Salvos

Good to hear all these testimonies, everybody! Thanks for sharing! Let's hear some more!!