Crystal gave her heart to the Lord when she was 12, but “one bad experience” caused her to walk away into a life full of fear and a lack of self-value. She eventually found herself in a relationship that became “extremely abusive on every level.” Years later, she was able to break free, but continued to make bad decisions, “looking in all the wrong places” for answers. An early-morning encounter with the Lord served as a wake-up call, and with His help, she turned her life around. Now, she says, “There’s a lot of purpose … in everything I do … all hope is not lost, … there’s a lot of peace in my life. … God was still right there, taking care of me, even when I didn’t deserve it.”
Watch Crystal’s dramatic story of salvation, and loss, and redemption.
Harrison
Harrison was “afraid to dream big.” He considered himself to be “kind of mediocre at everything.” An experience with the Lord turned all that around. With his meager view of his future, Harrison had planned to enter military service right out of high school. Instead, he soon found himself in Botswana, “running a Christian bookstore, a café and a farm,” and having an opportunity to disciple new believers. “I could “feel the Lord holding my hand throughout that entire process. He worked miracles.” He says the Lord showed him that “If I’ve called you to do this, I’ll equip you for this,” Now, Harrison says, “I’m just walking by what the Lord puts in my heart.”
Watch this video to hear about the journey the Lord has begun in Harrison’s life.
Bruce and Beth
Beth was spending her life caught up in what others thought of her. Maybe she wasn’t smart enough or pretty enough, she thought. When she began reading the Bible, its words “just poured off the page” to her. She was amazed to find that she had a heavenly Father who loved her. “And when I read those words,” she says, “so much stress and anxiety just flew out of me.”
Before Beth’s husband, Bruce, was looking at life through the lens of the world. He felt like he was doing pretty good, with all the trappings of a successful life. But inside, he felt lost, unfulfilled. “I didn’t feel like I had this great purpose for my life.” He felt like there must be more than just working hard all week, partying on the weekend, and starting that cycle over again. He had been a Christian for years, but didn’t realize that Jesus wanted to have a personal relationship with him. Bruce finally surrendered to the Lord, and now says “that’s made all the difference.”
Watch this video to hear them tell their inspiring story.