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Stories of Life Change:Julie M.Tragedy struck my life. Divorce. The man who was supposed to love me scarred me physically, emotionally and mentally. He made me feel worthless and unimportant. I felt like I didn't matter and my heart was empty; I was lonely. I was invited by a friend to come to Heritage and God showed up. He showed me his love, a love I had never felt before. I gave my life to Him and he completely restored and healed me. He has given me the strength to lead a small group of girls and invest in their life. Praise God. Jim M.I grew up as a preacher’s kid. I remember at a very young age not wanting anything to do with God or church. I was around 7 or 8 years old when my father finished his service with people greeting him. I was standing next to him with a lady coming up to me and pinching my cheek. She asked if I was going to be a preacher too. At that time I thought If I don't live for God I won’t be called to preach. So that's what I did. After I got on my own I stayed away from church. Even visiting my parents I arrived on Sundays and left on Saturdays to avoid church. In 1992 my grandfather was about to die in Chicago. My parents came from Texas and stayed with me so my grandfather's affairs could be taken care of. My mother became very ill at my home and ended up in ICU. One of my parent’s friends made a comment that the reason she was ill was because of my sin. Of course that made me angry but I told God if that was the case save her. I told God spare her life and I will do anything. My father was praying and had huge faith. I knew from a child faith can move mountains. I thought she would be spared with my father's faith and my deal with God. My mother died on Mother’s Day. I knew healing requires faith and faith we had. I didn't know faith doesn't require healing. I became very bitter and hated God. I ran further and further from God. I started having affairs, drinking very heavily, and started flirting with satanic worship. In 2002 my father died suddenly. When I got that news I thought now I had no hope as nobody was left to pray for me and I would go to hell. Life was going well for me. I had a good job and started a business that was doing very well. I was bidding a job at a local hotel. I was leaving in my truck and changing the channel on the radio. I came across a program featuring a prominent Christian preacher and I listened for only seconds. I became angry and went to turn the station. I couldn’t change the station. My hand stayed on the radio for the rest of the broadcast. After it was over I was yelling “who does he think he is” and was punching my dash. I was so angry. I wanted to hear what he had to say again so I tuned in again the next day with anger. This went on for several months until December 13, 2003 at 10:00 am I knelt in my home after a broadcast and asked Christ in my life. By this time it had been 22 years since I had even been in a church. I went to Chicago to see this radio pastor with the message title being Ordinary Repentance. Now I am a Christ follower and all my problems are about to begin. I am not married to a women I live with. Wendy wanted nothing do with God or that Heritage cult I have been attending. She did visit one time to basically see if it was safe for me to attend. Wendy thought it was just a phase I was going through and with time it would pass. About 16 months later Wendy and I attended an agnostic class. She seemed to like it and now wanted to learn. Wendy started going to church and then stopped and became very defensive about it. I felt all the progress was gone. I spoke with Patty before one of her classes about Wendy and that we needed to get married. Patty said they would not marry us because she is not a believer. I did not know what I should do. I knew living with her was not right. One night I was praying and it seemed like an audible voice told me The work I have begun I will see it to completion. The second Agnostic class came up with me asking Wendy if she wanted to go. She said no. Later I asked why? She said she had all her answers. What I had not known she was reading and listening to a local Christian radio station. Wendy also now has chosen to follow Christ. We have now made Heritage our home. John married Wendy and I. Our daughter Makena became a Christ follower. All three of us were baptized in 2006. Makena has been feeling the call to full time ministry. GOD IS GREAT! |
