The Spirit Lives Ministries Newsletter: Carol- Recommited to the Lord's service after loss of faith

February 16, 2003
Carol- Recommited to the Lord's service after loss of faith
My name is Carol. My family moved around a lot. When I was 9 we settled down and my mom began taking us to church. I was not getting Christian education aimed at my age and remember little about Jesus from that time.

We moved again and I met a girl who invited me to her youth group. She and I became best friends and even though our parents did not go, we never missed a Sunday or Wednesday service. We even went “visiting” Tuesday nights. One night at a youth rally, I was sitting in the third pew listening to a singer praising God. There was a warmth and a golden light surrounding everything - I was keenly aware that the Holy Spirit was there for me. At 14, during a concert, I asked Jesus to be my Savior! The Holy Spirit poured into me! I was baptized and ready to begin my Christian walk. My parents immediately noticed a difference in me. Their quick tempered girl was gone. God had changed me and my family began going to church with me.

As I approached 16, I gained a new set of friends outside the church and began going to church less. My life became that of a typical teenager, hanging out with friends and going to parties.

I got married at 19 and had a beautiful baby. We did the best we could with little money and less education. We even joined my old church. I thought it was time to go to church and make it a building block for my family. It did not work out that way and by the time I was 22, my marriage was falling apart.

Then my father got very ill. He spent 11 weeks in the hospital. Eight of them in ICU. We were devastated. The church members were amazing and helped out in many ways. However, the pastor did not come. After prodding from my grandfather he came for one visit. I was disgusted by him -- he had been controversial and I often defended him. It seemed he was deserting us. In stark contrast was a young minister that I saw at the hospital almost daily. I wondered how many hospitals he visited in a day. I realized that this was a true man of God. With hurt feelings, I turned my back on my pastor, my church, and my God.

Over the next 13 years I got divorced, went to college, met and married a wonderful man, raised my child into a respectful teenager and had a new baby. Still, for several years I stayed clear of religion. God slowly worked on me and over the last 2 years I have renewed my walk with God and recommitted myself to His service.

Please keep me in your prayers as I continue to seek God’s path for me and our family.
[PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION]

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