I grew up in a very biblically conscious home. Both of my parents are strong believers and did their best to raise their children to pursue God. But I discovered pornography at age thirteen through a video game, and for the next ten years, I continued in a cycle of sin that dragged me further and further away from God. I covered my shame and my lustful fantasies by being an outwardly righteous person. I was convinced that I was a spiritual giant with a tragic flaw. The level of self-deception I was in still frightens me today.
I heard about Pure Life at a July 4th picnic but had no plans of going. Two years later, however, my sin had taken over my life and I was depressed, angry, and seemingly unable to do anything but indulge. I wanted to be “fixed,” so I looked up the only place I knew of that dealt with sexual sin. I arrived on campus in October 2020.
My “tragic-hero” view of my life was shattered in my first counseling session. To my horror, I was shown from the Scripture that I likely had never known God and was unconverted. The Lord reawakened a healthy fear of God in my heart. Over the next few months, He broke down more and more of my image. My first breakthrough came at three months, when I realized that I did not have the ability to solve my own problems. From that point, I began to cry out to God for freedom and to change my defiled heart. Around six months into the program, I heard God speak to me for the first time. I was shocked! I never knew that God would actually talk to us when we prayed! Then, a few days later while working on the assembly line at my job, I was filled with the Holy Spirit and fully born into the kingdom! Praise God for His faithfulness!
As I neared the end of my program, I began to seek the Lord on where I should go afterward. I knew that my pre-program goals were sheer foolishness, and that I needed to be discipled. The Lord opened the door to become a member of a very close group of believers in Madisonville, OH. For the past two years, I have lived, worked, and fellowshipped with this little church. God has faithfully answered my prayers for discipleship. He has provided me with a work environment that encourages personal and spiritual growth, as well as a house of godly men that also pushes me to know God more deeply. I have been astounded at His blessings and strengthened through the trials that God has allowed. He has given me fulfillment and life that I never knew was possible. Thank you, God! |