okay, so my life just SCREAMS how fast God can change a life.
my testimony starts in grade 5. This is the grade where I was first introduced to ... ography. At this time in my life i wasn't a Christain, i went to church, but i didn't have Him in my heart. So after i became introduced to ... , i was slowly getting addicted. and by 6th grade i was hooked. I attended my church camp that year, and i accepted God as my Lord and Savior. Well, i was still doing the ... thing. I went to my church camp the NEXT year, and after coming back home, i felt the wierdest feeling ever. I felt the God wanted me to go into vocational ministry. Now, i am not a very good speaker. i talk REALLY fast, and i mumble and slur my words, so when God asked me to do that, i said, no way dude! You're crazy to think i can get up in front of people and talk about you. I spent a month battling with the call. when finally i came home one day, and my mom had bought my sister and I new Study Bibles. so i crack my open, just to the first page it falls open to, and guess what story landed right infront of my face... Exodus 3. Moses and the Burning Bush. and sat there and read every word of chapters 3 and 4 in exodus, and I called my youth pastor and told him i felt like God was telling me to become a minister. and he said that he would pick me up at my house before school, and take me to McDonalds, and we would talk about it. so he came to my house, and we ate at McDonalds, and we talked, and then he took me to school. well I kinda do somethings for the church, but it's not what i feel God is wanting me to do, so i just sorta wait it out. but i am still doing ... . well my eighth grade year, i skip church camp to stay home and play baseball, but that is the year my parents discover my problem, and they slowly help me out of it, but an addiction is a hard thing to break. so i go into high school next year, and i am becoming a bigger influence in my church. well I go on our fall retreat. and i have a BIG step foward in my faith, but then a BIGGER step backwards. it's just ways of how the enemy retaliates... but my dad and i got into a HUGE fight. i can honestly say he was the first person i have EVER hated. my own dad. i was to the point of running away. that's how bad this was. running away at age 14. this was just before Christmas. but this time it WASN'T the best time of year. when i got back, i actually attempted to leave. but we eventually worked things out, but i still don't talk to him like i used to. there just isn't enough trust there... but anyways.
so i was talking to my youth leader one day, and he asked me if i wanted to give a sermon, cause i had been asking about talking for sometime now, and of course i jumped right on the opporatunity. so i gave my sermon over loving your neighboor. and it went SOOOOOOO good. i had just turned 15. it was a great feeling. but later on in the year, camp gets closer and closer. and about two weeks before our camp. i have a MAJOR break down with two of my best friends. well i just feel like life isn't worth living anymore. so i go into my kitchen, grab a butchers knife, press the tip to my chest ready to pull it into my heart, when something tells me to look down, and what do i see hanging around my neck? a cross necklass that my mom got me for my birthday. i drop the knife, hit my knees bawling, and just start praying for help. now the scary thing is that about 4 days earlier, my necklass was broken, i had gotten it back on the friday before all of this. it happened on a monday. my life was hinged on something to close to me not having. so i go to church camp two weeks later. and i talk to my youth leader. i tell him EVERYTHING. the ... the suicide. and he helped me with the ... by just talking me through all my problems, but then the conversation kinda switched tracks to the suicide, and he YELLED at me about it. and it was the best thing ever. he was yelling at me, "Steven, that is STUPID. God has SOOOO many great things planed for you. don't through that away over two stupid girls." and i mean it was a wake up call. which i desperatly needed. so i have forgotten abotu the ... . no longer addicted. suicide is a thing of the past. my dad and i are better, but i still don't talk to him about certain things. and i love God more then ever. i was cm away from being six feet in the ground. and that is WAY to close for a 15 year old to be. i am a leader in my church and my community. i try my best to lead by example. words can't begin to describe how much i owe to God. i love Him more than anything. thanks for reading. hope i have helped someone.
Steven Baldwin
Age 15

Dear readers, dear Paul,
I'd be happy to testify of our saving God.
My story starts when I'm in grade 7. By then I had some friends, and we really had a big fight, which was kind of my fault. Later I realized I should ask for forgiveness, so I did, but they wouldn't forgive me. It struck me real hard, and so more and more I started to feel bad about myself. My self-esteem was down to 0. I really thought life hurts, and I hurt life, and I rather wanted to die. This was a period of a few months. Then suddenly, once upon a time, I was crying in my room, and right then God hit me hard. He told me He loves me, and that He thinks I'm special, He wants me to live. I told Him I'd live, just coz' He asked. A months later I was still living the very same life, and I realized that I couldn't live on like this. Like I couldn't go any longer, and I decided to search for God, because He searched for me. And in december 2004 I and He found each other. He really showed me I was in the position to call Him Father. "His Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are children of God."
I'm 17 years old right now, so it's like 3 and a half years later. I'm growing in grace and faith, and God is preparing me for a future as a missionary. May His great Name, worthy of awe, be praised all among the nations, may His loving kindness fill the earth.
I will boast in the Lord, my God. I will boast in the One Who's worthy! I will make my boast in Christ alone.
Alinda, the Netherlands

Early this year in January my 18 month old son was getting ear infections repetitively .He was on antibiotics every 3 weeks .When we went to the spe ... t ear doctor he then diagnosed brayden with fluid in his ear and this caused issues with Braydens hearing test as well. So anyway the spe ... t said that he needed grommets in both ears and booked him into hospital for surgery/and booked the anesthetist because Brayden had to be put asleep for this. I could not accept this decision I felt heavy hearted so I decided to go for healing masses because I had no doubt that the lord would help and I kept goin and Pastor kept on praying over him. As days went by I saw a huge improvement his cold had left, his cough had gone and wasn’t touching his ears any more.. still kept going for healing and today the 23rd of may I went to get Brayden immunized and asked them to check his ears and they gave me all clear……… the heavily blocked ears with fluid has all gone praise to you lord. Thank you so very much. .
Anushka & Thushan Fernando

Before giving my life to Christ I wanted to live my life, my way.
I did what I wanted to do; I was in control of my life, not my parents, not God, not any one. What came from having this type of attitude; I had a lot of problems in my life, like depression and almost committing suicide.
I hated anything and everything about God, and wanted nothing to do with Him. But yet, God; who I did not want in my life, He wanted to be in mine. I'm grateful to be healthy, to be alive, to know true happiness, to know peace I never knew existed, and to have Freedom. I’m free to be me, free not to care about what anyone thinks or says about me; free to walk around with satisfaction of knowing I will live, free to know that when I die, I will go to Heaven to be with my King and to spend all eternity in His presence.
Most people plan for their future, I never did, because I never thought I would have one. When I had a heart attack; I thought I was too young. When I had a second heart attack I knew something was wrong. When I had irregular heart beats, and pain in my heart I knew it was time to give my life to Jesus Christ. I gave my life to Jesus Christ because no one could explain to me what was happening; I expected to die so I figured I mind as well know that I would go to Heaven and not to Hell.
The day I had my heart attack; I could not breathe, my heart rate was getting faster and faster, I felt faint, I became dizzy. I fought to stay awake long enough to call my dad and ask him to pray for me. In my heart I knew if I had passed out I would not have woke up. My dad prayed for me but it wasn't what I expected. My heart rate started slowing down, I was able to breathe, and no longer felt faint.
God saved my life, he even kept me from committing suicide. I want to show people all over the world that regardless what they are going through, no matter how big or how small, God if you allow Him can deliver you from it and set you free!!!

Hi my name is maria and I am 27 years old ..I have been a christian since november 2004 ...
before I meet jesus I lived in a very dark situation
I grow up in a family with alcoholic problems and I was often scared
When I was ten years old me and my brouther saw our mouther be asulted for the first time .. We try to call for help but nobody hear us .. I begin to feel like a outsider in school I though that everyone though that I was diffrent and ugly .. I couldent leave my home without make up.. at two times i try to find help to a psykolog but of some reason i have to wait in 3 month to come .. but when they ask me to come .. I allready been saved by jesus ..

Brother Paul,
Many a morning in my time of prayer your CD is playing in the background. When the brother prays before "Halelujah to My King" I feel the presence of God in a powerful way. Thanks for making this CD. You are a blessing!
Steve Lehmann

GOD IS FAITHFUL … WE ARE NOT
ON 15 AUGUST 1975, I WAS BORN AGAIN. WHAT LED UP TO IT, IS QUITE REMARKABLE.
THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT, I HAD HAD AN OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCE WHICH SHOCKED ME TERRIBLY. I HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN MARTIAL ARTS AND ASTRAL TRAVEL AND OTHER EASTERN MYSTICISM FOR QUITE A WHILE. I USED ASTRAL TRAVEL TO GO INTO A TRANCE-LIKE STATE AND FORCE MY SPIRIT OUT OF MY BODY TO ROAM FREELY AT WILL. I USED TO INFLUENCE PEOPLE IN THIS WAY AND EVEN TO KEEP TABS ON MY MOTHER. SHE WAS LIVING IN WELKOM IN THE FREE STATE AT THE TIME AND I WAS AT ATLAS AIRCRAFT CORPORATION IN KEMPTON PARK IN GAUTENG. I THOUGHT THAT WHAT I WAS DOING WAS VERY ENLIGHTENING AND SPECIAL. HOW WRONG I WAS.
THE EVENING OF THE INCIDENT I WAS JUST LEAVING MY BODY WHEN I HAPPENED TO TURN OVER AND LOOK BACK AT MY BODY. NORMALLY WHILE TRAVELLING EVERYTHING WAS IN A SORT OF HAZE WITH NOT MUCH VISIBILITY OR COLOUR, BUT THAT NIGHT IT WAS AS CLEAR AS DAY. I SAW MY SILVER CORD ATTACHED TO MY BODY, BUT THAT WASN’T WHAT SHOCKED ME.
THERE WERE THREE OF THE MOST GROTESQUE BEINGS I HAD EVER SEEN TRYING TO GET INTO MY BODY. I GOT SUCH A FRIGHT THAT I SNAPPED BACK INTO MY BODY AND ON THROUGH IT. THERE I LAY BELOW THE BED, UNDER MY BODY AND STRUGGLING TO GET BACK IN. AT THE BEST OF TIMES IT WAS NOT PLEASANT GETTING BACK IN, SORT OF LIKE PUTTING ON A WET COSTUME, BUT THIS TIME IT WAS AS IF MY BODY HAD SHRUNK. I EVENTUALLY GOT MYSELF REALIGNED, BUT WHEN I CAME OUT OF THE TRANCE-STATE MY BODY FELT AS IF I HAD BEEN STEAMROLLERED.
I WAS SHAKEN AND AFRAID TO SLEEP AND THE NEXT THREE WEEKS PASSED SLOWLY. DURING THE THIRD WEEK MY EVENING-JOB BOSS (I WAS A TICKET-TAKER/BOUNCER AT A MOVIE-HOUSE), INVITED TWO OF MY BUDDIES AND MYSELF TO A CHURCH SERVICE IN THE GERMISTON PENTECOSTAL PROTESTANT CHURCH. WE, “AFRAID OF NOTHING”, AGREED TO GO. FRANK EVEN CAME TO PICK US UP AT THE ATLAS SINGLE QUARTERS.
WHEN WE GOT TO THE CHURCH EVERYONE WAS IN THEIR SUNDAY BEST AND WE WERE IN DENIM. ON TOP OF THAT WE ALL THREE HAD HAIR DOWN OUR BACKS (IN THE FRONT MY HAIR HUNG BELOW MY DENIM SHIRT’S POCKETS AND AT THE BACK TO WITHIN A HANDSPAN OF MY BELT). NO-ONE TOOK A SECOND LOOK. I WAS ALREADY AMAZED … ALL OTHER “CHRISTIANS” I HAD MET BEFORE WERE VERY JUDGEMENTAL AND PREJUDICED ABOUT OUR LOOKS … BUT THE BEST WAS TO COME. THE MUSIC WAS TREMENDOUS, THE SONGS WERE POWERFUL AND THE PREACHER SPOKE AS IF HE WAS SPEAKING DIRECTLY TO ME. I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE.
I FOUND MYSELF CLINGING TO THE SEAT OF THE PEW WITH BOTH HANDS LONG BEFORE THE ALTAR CALL AND WHEN I HEARD IT I SAID TO MYSELF: “NO WAY AM I GOING TO ANSWER SUCH A CALL TO LET EVERYONE, A BUNCH OF STRANGERS HEAR ME SAY THAT I WAS A SINNER WHO NEEDED SALVATION”. WHAT I DIDN’T REALIZE WAS THAT THE TEARS WERE STREAMING DOWN MY FACE BY THIS TIME, HOLY SPIRIT WORKING IN MY SPIRIT AND THE NEXT THING I FOUND MYSELF ON MY KNEES IN THE FRONT OF THE CHURCH WITH SUCH A FEELING OF PEACE AND FREEDOM AND THANKFULNESS IN MY HEART. I HAD ALREADY PRAYED THE PRAYER OF SALVATION WITH SOMEONE AND JUMPED TO MY FEET EYES STREAMING, ARMS OUTSTRETCHED, RAISED IN ADORATION TO MY NEW KING, JESUS. WHAT A RUSH.
THE DOWN SIDE OF COURSE, IS THAT BETWEEN THEN AND NOW, A LOT OF WATER HAS PASSED UNDER THE BRIDGE AND I DID NOT REMAIN FAITHFUL AND ACTUALLY BACKSLID TERRIBLY UNTIL JUST UNDER THREE YEARS AGO, WHEN WE RAN INTO THIS COMMUNITY OF ST MARK’S AT THE ROCKLANDS FAMILY WEEKEND.
AT FIRST I FELT VERY GUILTY AND SAD AT THE LOSS OF TIME DURING MY SECOND LIFE, BUT MY SPIRIT WAS QUICKENED AND HOLY SPIRIT CONFIRMED IT, WHEN A VERY WISE LADY SAID TO ME THAT THE TIME IN THE WORLD WAS NOT LOST TIME, BUT GROWING TIME WHEREIN THE LORD WAS PREPARING ME FOR THIS TIME IN MY LIFE AND THAT HE HAS GIVEN BACK TO ME THAT WHAT THE LOCUSTS HAD DESTROYED. SHE WAS RIGHT AND I HAVE FOUND A COUPLE OF SPOTS WHERE I TRULY FIT IN AND FIND MYSELF OF USE TO THE BODY OF CHRIST HERE AT ST MARK’S.
PRAISE AND THANKS TO GOD, OUR FATHER, FOR THE COMMUNITY OF ST MARK’S. WHEN WE AS A FAMILY NEEDED A SPIRITUAL HOME WE LANDED ON YOUR DOORSTEP AND THANKS TO YOUR WARMTH AND LOVING WELCOME, WE’VE STAYED. THANK YOU ALL AND GOD RICHLY BLESS YOUR GOING OUT AND YOUR COMING IN, TILL HE COMES AGAIN.
THE REST WILL COME IN A FUTURE TESTIMONY.
BOBBY VISSER

... One more thing, the website that I didn't completely type in is; ... drgrantmullen ... . He's the doctor specializing in mental illness, and mood disorders. His website is an excellent resource! Thanks so much for your patience, and understanding.

... I'd just like to add, that God has delivered me from sexual promiscuity, struggles with my sexuality, and smoking! He has yet to deliver me from food addiction, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, as well as Bi-Polar disorder. I have learned like most things in life, it is all a process, that's well worth the wait, He (God), is faithful!! Be encouraged to know that," ALL things work for the good of those who love Him, and are called according to His purpose!" <Romans 8:28
Also, know that there is no shame in taking prescribed medications. God is a creative God, who are we to limit Him? If you would like more information on mental illness, and mood disorders from a credible, reputable Christian source, visit ... dr.grantmullen ... . If you, or anyone you know, is dealing with a mental illness, know that you are not alone, that it is not your fault, and like glasses, when you have problems with your sight, there's no shame in wearing them. Like medication, if they are prescribed for you, by a medical professional, to correct any chemical imbalances, there is no shame in taking them! I'll leave you with this thought; "There is therefore now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1

I grew up in a really dysfunctional home. My father was a raging alcoholic, my mother; a passive ppl. pleaser. My dad drank, and smoked dope regularly. Growing up, I remember that he would always have a stream of 'shady' characters, ( that he considered his friends), streaming in and out of the house. I just remember my mom, my sister, and I living in a constant state of fear and uncertainty, we were always treading carefully, afraid to step on any landmines, (as far as my dad was concerned). I personally remember times, when my head would get slammed into a wall, or a stair. I can't stand painting such an ugly picture of my father, but that was just the way he was back then - the good stuff will follow a little later. I also remember him saying that I was useless, I wouldn't amt. to anything, and that I wouldn't make it past gr. eight.
Unfortunately, because my dad wasn't emotionally supportive, or there to protect me from predatorial males, I was raped by the age of 13, I was also raped 3 more times, up until my early 20's. Consequently, I became very promiscuous, throughout my teens, and into my 20's. I have struggled some with my sexuality as well. I was first taken into the school bathroom, by a girl in gr. eight, when I was in gr. two. I experienced my first kiss, (from a girl who was nine, I was nine also at the time).
I ended up dating a boy at around 16, who got me pregnant. I discussed with him, what he wanted to do, (concerning this pregnancy). He didn't want anything to do with the baby. Consequently, the baby was aborted. Needless to say, I was in and out of unhealthy, codependent relationships, from my teens, and into my late 20's.
I'm jumping around a little bit, I apologize. At the age of nine, I had my first beer, at age 12, I started smoking cigarettes. At around age 13, I had my first joint. I remember smoking a joint, laced with cocaine, in my early 20's. This sounds a little cliche in Christian circles, however, if it hadn't have been for God's awesome mercy and grace, I would've developed an alcohol, and drug addiction. Aside from the handful of times, that I've abused each substance; the attempts that Satan had made to derail God's purpose for my life, with addiction, remain unsuccessful!! Again, a testament to God's sovereign hand.
I also remember my dad making comments about my weight at times, growing up. The funny thing was, is that I honestly didn't struggle with weight issues, until my early 20's. However, I did struggle, (and still do), with self-esteem, and self-image issues. For a short period, of a few months, at the age of 12, I struggled with anorexia nervosa. I remember during that time, chewing nothing but gumballs, and drinking milk and water.
Now, the good stuff. At the age of 19, I ended up becoming homeless for three weeks.
For those three wks., minus a day, I called the Mustard Seed Street church in Calgary, AB, my home. It was there that I was introduced to a wonderful outreach worker, by the name of Yana. She was the lady that ultimately lead me to the Lord, Jesus Christ. That was in the summer of 1995. I'll tell you, after I prayed the sinner's prayer, nothing could compare to the incredible feedom I felt, from the many burdens, and sins, that had been lifted off of me. At that moment, my name was written in the Lamb's book of life, God's unmerited favor was placed apon me, and I had recieved the free gift of salvation, (an eternity ever present with the Lord).
Since 1995, I have definately had my share of struggles, but I wouldn't trade making the most important choice, of accepting God's free gift of salvation, for anything!! Since that fateful summer, in 1995, I have seen the miraculous birth of my beautiful son, Brayden, (Bradybear). I have also seen my dad walk away from the use of alcohol, (it's been 4 years now). All is not perfect, he, (along with most of the rest of my family), has yet to accept God's free gift of salvation, as well to stop smoking dope, (my dad, that is). All is not lost, the Lord is willing that none perish. Thankfully, there is still time, and a priceless commodity called prayer left in the arsenal!
All glory and honour to God. For now, always persevere, never give up hope, trust in God. He will never let you down!!!!! Erin :D