Two young adults share recommitment experiences
HAMILTON, ONTARIO—A small fire is burning at McMaster University here in Hamilton. The flame has been lit by the Holy Spirit. Students are praying daily and fervently. They are initiating conversations and sharing Christ. They yearn to live lives of joyful obedience.
I want to share with you a snapshot of what is happening here. Enjoy the stories of Jen Scriver and Abi Etich. Pray that God will do such a work here that He would be the only One who could take the credit for it.
Abi’s testimony:
I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour at the age of 14 at a Billy Graham crusade. With tears steaming down my face I walked up to the stage knowing that this was the only true way for my sins to be forgiven.
However, after that day I became an “amnesiac.” Although I didn’t totally walk away from Christ, I forgot the promise and hope and the salvation that I had received that day. But God didn’t forget about me.
At that time I didn’t understand that I could have a deep and intimate relationship with God like I do now. I didn’t read the Bible or attend church regularly or pray regularly. I know now that prayer is the way to communicate with God and it’s a daily event not just when I feel like it or need help. I remind myself that even Jesus the Son of God was in constant prayer!
Without the God’s word I became lost again. As I continued through high school I always said to my friends, “I don’t know who I am,” and I pondered why I felt so incomplete. Although I had many friends and had a great family, the void still remained.
Sadly I tried to fill this void with partying, drinking and food. Although I didn’t enjoy it, I did it and felt worse after. I had ambitious dreams of helping the world because, coming from a third world country, I knew that my life was useless unless I could use it to help others.
Partying and drinking was useless but I still continued to do it. It got worse during my first year of University as I spent most of it sleeping, clubbing, dating or eating. Last summer was when I hit rock bottom. I became completely depressed and I had lost all motivation. I wasn’t really living life. I was going through the motions but inside I felt dead. I became obsessive about what I ate: attempt to fix the guilt, condemnation and emptiness that were within me.
I cried out, “If there is a God why am I going through this pain? How come everyone around is happy and yet I have everything they do but still felt empty?”
Now it is no surprise I was in unhappy and in pain. I was sinning and living life my way and I had to learn the truth that Jesus was the only out. I was tired of the guilt and condemnation I felt. I was tired of being critical of myself and thinking that I was worthless. I was tired of being ungrateful for the blessings of friends, my family and the opportunities that I had been give. I was broken into a million pieces.
Just at this point a friend invited me to a service for young people. That night I remembered the love and hope I had found long ago and that I have a heavenly father and maybe there is a purpose to my life.
I knew that there was a light at the end of the tunnel. That week I woke up one morning and I said to Jesus, “I don’t know how you’re going to put me together but here I am, I surrender.”
Today I have such deep peace. My soul is saturated with God’s love and grace. There is light and brightness that it is blinding! My healing didn’t come right away as I was still struggling with obedience. I learned quickly that I couldn’t do it my way anymore. My Father was disciplining me and all the pain and frustration I had experienced was my doing but He was going to use that to teach me some important lessons.
I know that I am a child of God although unworthy of His love. I accept this love and lay down my will so His will can be done.
On the photo: Bob Royce, lead pastor of The Sanctuary West, baptizes Jen Scriver as Abi Etich awaits her turn. Photo by Alan Chettle
By Bob Royce, lead pastor
The Sanctuary West