This is why I want to ... Know Him and Make Him Known

Dysfunctional - functioning I was born into a dysfunctional family. I praise my Lord, Jesus Christ, for being able to be a FUNCTIONING member of His family.

Before Christ…..…a people pleaser After Christ…….…..a Christ pleaser

My two words are depression and freedom, before Christ I Was always anxious and worried which in turn led to depression. I really had it all my life even tho I was raised in the church and a believer in Christ. The last 10 years I was finally diagnosed with a mental illness, depression and anxiety, thanks to my dr’s and nurses I finally got it under control my second word is freedom, I can finally have the freedom in Christ who is in control over everything

As a child I was raised in a Christian home and knew of Jesus. As a teenager I prayed for Jesus to come into my heart confessing my sins. But I was CONFUSED about what this meant or what I was supposed to do with this. As I have studied God’s Word and have entered into a true relationship with Jesus, I UNDERSTAND that God wants to use me. That is what this meant, and what I am supposed to do is pray, study God’s Word, and listen for the Holy Spirit to direct me.

I was helpless, now because of Jesus and His love I am empowered.

I have been a Christ follower my entire life. I have always tried to follow him. I lived in the Dominican Republic for two years in my late teens and early twenties to preach the gospel. I preached Christ, but I didn't know Christ. I talked of him, but I didn't understand him. I believed in him, but I didn't believe him. The God I knew was a God of anger, vengeance, and judgement. So I did everything through a spirit of horrible FEAR. This led to a horrible life of addictions and a worse marriage. What a crazy contradiction. Then I began to know Christ. I began to understand his grace and love. I accepted the things he said and the gifts he had for me. I was able to finally see him as a loving friend who gave all so I could be free of fear. For the first time in my life I began to experience true PEACE. Through that peace I was able to build a wonderful and healthy marriage. I was able to serve God through gratitude instead of fear. I have genuine relationships with people who know the real me, and accept me for what and who I am. God's son, and their brother in Christ.

Before Christ I was only destroying myself after Christ and getting deeper with Christ my whole life is changing for the best I feel it and see it

My two word testimony is AFRAID and SECURE. I have known Jesus to be real and welcomed Him into my heart/life as far back as I can remember. However, my relationship with Jesus, the level of intimacy with Him, has suffered at different points in my life and each of those seasons is characterized by the fear and anxiety that overtook me. In those moments I allowed fear of others opinions, of the state of the world, war, politics, disasters, accidents/injuries happening to my family,etc to drown me in anxiety. BUT JESUS is where I feel secure. When I turn my eyes back on Him instead of focusing on my fears and I trust that He is in control, He gives me peace and protection from my negative thoughts and emotions. Jesus makes me feel secure even in the darkest moments as long as I keep my eyes on Him and stay in His presence. "He will cover you with his feathers; you will take refuge under his wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield." Psalm 91:4 CSB

STRONG to WEAK Along my journey with Jesus through difficult and unexpected turns and brokenness His loving message to me is to trade my struggling strength for His strength that has the power to change the very landscape of my life issues! Simply: Wisely WEAK—Daily DEPENDENT!!

Redemption and grace!! As long as I can remember I’ve been attending church but thought it was following the rules that mattered, I didn’t understand Jesus redeeming sacrifice and the vastness of His grace!! Thank you Jesus for staying by my side even when I chose a wayward path.

REJECTED (Gal 5:4) LOVED (I John 3:1) REJECTED because of self effort that did not win the battle with flesh temptations. Dearly LOVED because He is God. He is good. And He has given Jesus: our only way back to right relationship with Him. Thank you to anyone who has prayed, or counseled, or encouraged. Knowing how LOVED I am by God has brought freedom that nothing else had ever accomplished.

Before I trusted Jesus FEAR was a stronghold in my life. Fear of not having enough, not being enough. When I gave Him LORDship of my life I have CONTENTMENT. He is enough!

My two word testimony is LOST and depressed. I was ready to be done with life. Addicted to diet pills, my weight, looking for love, acceptance. I found Jesus and now I am LOVED, blessed, free and happy. I am saved, living and child of God. He called for me and I ran to him. My sister Rebecca introduced me to KCC, that one service was what I needed that day to renew my life.

Before Jesus I was RELIGIOUS but not yet following Him through the love and forgiveness he offers. I grew up at a church where rituals, routine and liturgy were central to the Sunday experience. Later, as a teen attending youth events through YFC and other retreats, I learned how to be in RELATIONSHIP with Jesus and that the routines of attending church and conforming to the norms meant very little without the personal connection and daily walk with Him! Later in college, I further re-committed to life with Christ and followed in baptism!

My Two words= Cynical to Compassionate

Before Christ, I was lost. I did not know who I was, I didn’t feel like I belonged. I felt like a misfit even among family. I looked for love in all the wrong places. Did things I didn’t want to do just to please others. My life was miserable and I felt alone in a world of hurt and constant disappointment. But as a churchgoer from a young age and the child of a backslider, many seeds were sown into my heart and the Holy Spirit found his way to the stronghold of my life and broke down the barriers. I accepted Jesus at the age of 13 and from that time, I can honestly say that I’ve found everything that I’ve been searching for in Christ. I was lost but he found me and I found everything I needed in him.

Lost and Trusting. I was lost in so many areas of life, and now I've learned how trust in Him is the answer and the path.

Darkness and Light! Before I knew Jesus my life was filled with DARKNESS and sin was all too common. After being saved my life was filled with LIGHT and it has guided my path ever since!!

Before Jesus my life was Hopeless. After Jesus my life is Hopeful.

Selfish before I came to Christ, I was only focused on what I Thought was important to me. I didn’t care about how my life affected anyone else. Unselfish When I truly came to know Christ, God’s love helped me see that life isn’t just about me. It’s about serving others and sharing his love.

My two words are DROWNING and RESCUED. I was drowning in addiction. God rescued me. He set my feet on dry land, cleaned me up, healed me, and told me he loved me. He prepared me for service to honor him forever.

I was born in a Christian family. I knew Jesus since my childhood and still serve him today Withholding nothing! I grew up on a street where Muslim and Catholic was the most practice religion than any other religions. My dad started his church when i was 8 years old and I was involved in the church Sunday school choir, but my friends always made fun of me. Laughing at me for singing in church. This made me uncomfortable but it never stopped me from serving God.

My two words are worry and peace. Before knowing Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior, I would allow my mind to get caught up in everything I could worry about. Now when worry comes, I give those thoughts to Him and allow His peace to take over my mind.

Before Christ I was PURPOSE-LESS. After Christ I was PURPOSE-FULL! Before Christ, my life seemed shallow and my life circumstances made me feel aimless, hopeless, angry and without hope. I was searching for healing in all the wrong places. Then I discovered the truth of Christ and my life was transformed. He made me realize that I was created with a purpose and the gifts he had given to me are tools that enable me to glorify Him and strengthen His Kingdom. I am a new creation, filled with hope and purpose!

Before Jesus I was SAD now with Jesus I am JOYFUL! He has proven over and over again that His love never fails! And I can live a life filled with JOY because He is walking with me.

Empty. I had a lot of things I chased after, before I pursued Jesus whole-heartedly, that left me empty-handed. A party life style with shallow relationships and little time spent on the things that matter. Full. Jesus changed my heart. And the inside changes effected my world. I have deeper connections and relationships with friends and family. He filled my life with opportunities to serve and make a difference. And with renewed hope and love I can take on challenges that I thought were out of my reach like continuing my education.

My two word story... Before Jesus I was EXISTING, looking for my purpose in life. After I fully surrendered my life to Christ I was EMPOWERED to live my life according to His purpose!

Before: crazy. After: peaceful. I now know true love and grace that only comes from God!