In the last year I taught in public school, I was having a tough year.  I had 5 or 6 students that were extreme behavior and academic challenges.  As the final semester approached,  I felt a deep, small voice in my heart telling me to not accept the contract if it was offered.  That was a really scary leap of faith – no contract meant no job.  Where would I work?   The day came when my principal did email me a contract offer for the following school year.  I took a deep breath, prayed, and sent her my answer – no, I was sorry to inform her I would not accept the offer for the next year.  Immediately I felt a peace about this decision.  I was not afraid, but instead I felt calm and assured that God would show me where he wanted me to be.  My family, friends, and co-workers all told me I had made a mistake, but I knew that voice in my heart was God telling me I had done the right thing and I felt He would bless my obedience.  Did He ever!  A few weeks later, I found out St. Mark’s UMC was going to hire a Children’s Minister.  I interviewed for this position on the evening of my last day at school.  Within 24 hours, the Pastor called and offered me the position.  The “after” has been the best years of my life.  I am so thankful I listened and obeyed when I encountered God that day.

A.B.

What Jesus has done for me has changed my life.  Before I knew Him, I was a self-righteous person, always comparing myself with others.   I prided myself on my achievements and the “good” things I did. 

Then things started to turn bad.  I couldn’t find a job.  I was single and lonely.  My friends all moved away.  I felt humiliated. God led me to a Bible study where I heard someone talk about the Bible in a way that made sense.   I realized there that my life would never measure up to the perfect standards of a Holy God. 

I realized for the first time that I needed Someone to save me because I couldn’t do it myself.  So, I confessed to God in a prayer that He is in charge of my life from then on, that I am sorry for my sins, and that I believe Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for my sins. 

After that, I’ll be honest, my life wasn’t perfect.  But the peace I had with God was unlike anything I’d ever felt before.  How freeing to know that I was forgiven and accepted by God, not because of what I did, but because of what Jesus did! 

L.S.

Before I met Christ I was like a piece of driftwood being tossed around in the ocean.  I followed and did whatever was popular or easy at the time.  I had few real values or convictions.  Living like that finally led me to a pit of despair and confusion.  God at that time sent someone who offered me a hand out of that pit.  They revealed to me that a relationship with Jesus Christ would provide me the answers for which I was looking.  Today I am a person with deep convictions and values.  I am also a person who knows the joy of walking with Christ.

B.R.

I was born into a poor, uneducated family.  Because my parents had little education, we worked and lived in camps for migrant workers.  As a result, all memories of my childhood are of having no friends and being looked down on as less than other people.

 I hungered for acceptance but to no avail.  No one wanted to be my friend because we were poor and I didn’t have nice clothes like the other children.  This went on until, one day at the age of 13, I was invited to church.  There would be a bus to pick me up and return me home.

 My older sister had already been to this church and went on and on about how she felt loved and accepted.  She had given her heart to the Lord.  I wanted this joy and acceptance too.  So at the age of thirteen, I became a Christian.  However; I found that living a Christian life and following the strict doctrine of that particular church was very difficult.  I found myself, again, feeling not good enough and overcome with guilt that I was unworthy of God’s love.  It was very painful for me.

 After I married, I tried again to live for God under the guidance of a legalistic church.  This time I did better.  I went to church every time the Church doors were open.  Soon my husband, who was not committed to God, became hostile, mean and abusive.  He had a hard time believing I could like to go to church so much and accused me of having a boyfriend.   To keep our family of four together, I wondered away from church and God.

 The taste of love and acceptance I got when I gave my heart to God stayed with me.  I never felt that in my marriage or any other empty relationship and my hunger for it was fierce.  I felt empty.

 My rebirth to Christianity came the year I got another divorce, my mother died, I moved from Texas to Oklahoma and I had developed health issues.  I had hit rock bottom.

 Once in Oklahoma, I started looking for a church.  After much searching, I found a United Methodist Church.  I also found a Christian man who was interested in me and life changed.

 I know now God let me go through some painful times to build my character.  I have a compassion for those who hurt, for those who feel rejected and afraid.  I pray God will give me opportunities to show his love and acceptance to those in need.  I pray with His Holy Spirit I can make a difference in someone’s life and He will receive all the praise.

D.F.

Well – way back in 1985 I was substituting in the Putnam City School system and enjoying it when the secretarial position opened up at St. Mark’s.  My husband teasingly said, “You should apply for that position.”  I thought about it, and since I had a degree in business thought I really should be doing something in my field of study. 

I decided to apply.  I was on my way to visit with the Pastor about the position when I got out of my car and thought – “What are you doing!  Do you want to work at a CHURCH?”  Then I felt a hand on my shoulder, and turned to see who was there.  No one was there, but I was suddenly at peace and walked into the church. 

The rest is history.  I have been working here now for over 20 years.  I have met so many wonderful people along the way who have helped me grow in my walk with Christ.  Thank you all for what you have done for me.  

D.H.

 “Before I encountered God, I was lost.  People tried to give me directions; they gave me maps.  I felt the directions led only to boring places; the map was too hard to follow.

As I found myself going down dead-end roads, making choices that I knew were stupid...even dangerous, and getting nowhere, I realized my own way was empty, useless, without meaning.

I cried, I prayed, and I remembered God.  I asked for God’s help, and He provided exactly the love, direction and meaning I yearned for.  This is God’s grace.  And through His grace, I live with direction for my path and with hope and love for today and for the future.  I live with joy.”

J.B.