Testimony

What is your Testimony?

We in general use the term "testify" or "to give your testimony" to mean "the story of how you became a Christian." Sometimes very dramatic testimonies are given that capture every ounce of your attention on how Christ has made a difference in that particular person’s life.

Why do we testify? An obvious answer comes from the Bible, “Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony of God in their heart.” (1 John 5:10)

Defining a testimonial:
1. A statement in support of a particular truth, fact, or claim.
2. A written affirmation of another's character or worth; a personal recommendation.
3. Something given in appreciation of a person's service or achievement; a tribute

How do our testimonies impact our daily living? Are we captured for the moment in which Christ has first come into our lives or do we express and live out the testimony for the rest of our lives? I think about people going out to the movies and wanting to see that great highly anticipated movie. We watch the much anticipated movie but find disappointment in the movie but we were excited about the one movie preview in the beginning. Can we relate this to our testimonies in that do we find ourselves extremely excited about what God has done in that “one specific moment” in our lives and then go through life not testifying or living out our testimony in everything we do? In history class we would often examine timelines and how long a society/tribe, or period in history lasted. The timeline is a representation or exhibit of key events within a particular historical period. The key question is what are you inscribing on your timeline? Is it one date in which we explain the story of how we begun our relationship with Jesus or is it filled with the continued everyday testimony that we share the Good News in everything we do. I think the challenge is not to press the pause button after receiving Christ in our life but keep recording and sharing the Good News everyday in our lives.

We would Love to share the Great News by sharing our testimony. Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. ~ 1 Chr 16:8

Dale M.~

Listen to Dale's Testimony, or right-click and "Save Target As" to download the mp3.

Bill C.~

Listen to Bill's Testimony, or right-click and "Save Target As" to download the mp3.

Jane C.~

I accepted the Lord when I was 15 at a Presbyterian church camp. We were raised in a Christian home and went to a Presbyterian church uptown until I married Frank in 1953.

I was born January 21st, 1932 along with my two sisters, Joan and June. We weighed 2 ½ - 3 pounds each. We have a brother, Don, who was 2 years and 1 day older and very jealous of us being triplets. We grew up on the Ford family farm, which is the home where the Living Word Drama is currently showing.

Our mom, Helen (Smith), and our dad, Raymond Ford, had 7 children: Donald, Jane, June, Joan, Mary, Bill, and Pat. Grandpa Ford was a “milkman” and shared the news with everyone about the birth of me and my sisters. Everybody thought he was joking! He had our pictures put on his milk caps. Daddy was in the corn field the day we were born, which is now the parking lot of the Living Word. Aunt Pearl and Grandma Ford (Edith) helped take care of us. They kept us warm with hot water bottles and blankets. They had to put different colored ribbons on our wrists so we wouldn’t get mixed up. Growing up we were dressed alike and our clothes were made out of colored feed sacks.

Our first dolls were the ones that opened and closed their eyes. That Christmas our brother Don saw them under the tree and said to Mom and Dad, “not three more sisters!” Later on they made quilts to give to us when we were older. Our first snow suits were from our Aunt Ella and Uncle Russell.

Grandpa Ford was our family barber. One day when Mother and Daddy had to go into town, Grandpa decided to cut our hair… boy oh boy was Mother upset when she came home.

On the farm, we all had to work together doing many things. Working in the hay, gathering eggs, gardening and so many other chores. I was gathering eggs one day and the rooster chased me out of the house. Grandpa found a black snake when we were putting up hay and he tossed it out into the field, where it landed near June and wrapped around her legs. We were all scared!

We attended a one room school and our teacher was Grace Holiday. She taught all 8 grades. One day she asked my friend to go outside and get a switch off the weeping willow tree. She used it to get our attention by cracking it. No matter the weather, we went to school. If the snow was too bad, we took a horse and sled. If it was rainy and the water was high, we took a boat. When it was cold, the pond across the road would freeze and we were allowed to skate on it. One day, we were told not to go, but wanted to anyway, so we went. Folks, it always seems when you try to be sneaky something always happens. The board we walked across dropped into the water and we all got wet! Our brothers, Bill and Donald, were very small and we all got whipped with a razor strap.

We went to Brown high school for our last years of school. Joan, June, and I were chosen for the “Who’s Who” our freshman year. Our picture was in the Jeffersonian with our principal, Harry Kirke. According to some staff and Brown school, “teachers and pupils at school seldom can tell them apart. They say it is easier to identify them when they are together, but even then it takes someone who knows them personally.”
My brother Bill wanted to try to teach me how to drive when I was 15. So one day he drove us up to College Hill Road, then we switched positions and I drove back down. He told me to “brake slowly” but I didn’t and we ended up in a culvert. He had to walk back home and get the tractor to pull us out before Daddy got home. That ended that driving lesson!

Joan married the very same day she graduated. June did not graduate because she had a baby. She then married later and had 7 children. Then she raised 4 boys from a second marriage. I worked at Kennedy’s Bakery my junior and senior years, and even after I graduated. Then I cleaned and ironed for people and have since retired at the young age of 75. I met Frank at the local theater. He is the love of my life. We went to see a lot of outdoor movies. One of the movies I remember was “Ma and Pa Kettle.” We dated for a month and then decided to get married on July 11th, 1953. We would have been married 55 years this past July. We have two beautiful daughters, Darlene and Lisa, and two wonderful sons-in-law, Sam and Rex. Our grandchildren are Nik and Caitlin.

I met a wonderful neighbor, Mrs. Ethel Wiley, when we were living on Byesville Road. She is such a wonderful friend. She invited me to visit Christ United Methodist Church. This was more than 50 years ago! I have been coming to CUMC ever since. It is still as loving and caring as it was back then. I have grown so close to the Lord in many ways. I am more loving, more spiritual, and very prayerful.

My sister in Christ , Mabel Leeper, and I went to Shirley Barnes’ 10 Basic Steps classes on August 29th, 1989. We received the Lord and were baptized by Pastor Bob Matthews at Salt Fork Beach. God has given me comfort in very stressful times. He has even healed my back problems and has been right there with me during surgery.

One special instance that God has answered my prayers was keeping a dear friend of mine alive so that he would get to see his daughter one last time before he passed on. His wife and I prayed so hard during that time and once again, God came through! I often have had to pray at work for people when I sensed that prayer is needed for whatever reason.

Frank received the Lord through Pastor Dale Eppels on March 9th, 1997. He had always said this: “I will be just fine because I am riding with my Lord.”

He loved his garden and often talked about it with many of our church friends. He was good friends with Jim Leeper and often went fishing with him in Sencaville. Frank passed away June 29th, 2005.

My life has changed so much and I am doing more for the Lord. I am very happy and I thank Him every day for providing for me. I love Him very much! After Frank passed on, I wanted to be more involved at church. I walked the Bible to the pulpit. I was a greeter, and I became part of the prayer chain. I have since become more involved in studying the Word and taking part of the Bible study here.

I would like for all you folks to think about your walk with the Lord today, and I am praying to Jesus that He will fill you with His wonderful love.

Ed R.~

Over the last four-plus years, I have had five-way bypass surgery and three stents put in my heart, in addition to numbness in my feet and lower legs. Most recently I went to Genesis Hospital on August 7th with a heartbeat of 37 beats per minute (60-80 is normal). X-rays were taken, chemical stress tests were performed, but the doctors couldn’t find the cause of the problem. In the past, the causes of my heart issues were always able to be found and treated, but not this time.

While I waited in my hospital room, I kept looking at the cross hanging on the wall and said to God, “I leave it in your hands.” It was up to Him, now. Later, new x-rays were taken and tests run, and when the doctors reviewed the results, they were very puzzled because they could not find any evidence of the problems that had shown up on the first set of tests. My heart was strong and for the first time in years I regained feeling in my feet and legs. The doctor told me there was nothing wrong with me and to go home and enjoy the weather!

God said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5); to “wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right” (Isaiah 1:16-17). When we do this, the healing can begin. God’s blessings to you all.

 

Vickie L.~

I don't remember a time that I didn't believe in God but I was 28 years old before I realized my need for a Savior. In October of 1979 I prayed asking Jesus to be my Lord and save my soul. He is so faithful, His Word says in Romans 10:9,10 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation. At that moment I became a new creation, I had been living in the prison of anxiety and fear for nine years and in Jesus Christ found the hope and strength I needed to be healed. It took several years of learning to trust and obey, my Lord has been will me every step of the way. He has given me His peace that passeth all understanding Philippians 4:6,7. God has used the "fears" of my past to His glory by giving me the privilege to serve Him in many ways. He has blessed my life so abundantly. If you don't know Jesus in a personal way, don't wait another moment ask him to be your Lord and Savior. God has a plan for your life.

 

Becky K.~

When I was younger, I used to think that God was up in heaven just waiting for me and others to do something wrong so he could punish us. He seemed distance , angry, and aloof. I didn’t think that He really cared about me personally. That is, until I started studying the Bible and read these verses spoken by Jesus: Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son: if you ask anything in my name, I will do it. John 14:13, 14

Ask anything? Could this really be true? I went to my Pastor at that time and asked him. He said that it was true. Wow! But that’s incredible. I wasn’t interested in asking for lots of expensive material possessions like fur coats, jewelry, and so forth. I was thinking about having good things like world peace and cures for diseases and hunger.

Suddenly I thought that God must really care about us after all if He made such a promise. He really does care and is right here with us. I starting talking to Him. He became my best friend and my life has never been the same since.

He can become your best friend too. You can talk to Him anytime, anywhere and He will answer. He says in Jeremiah 29:13: You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Why not seek Him today? He will hear and answer you. And you will never be the same!

Jan W.~

“I don’t think there is any area of my life that He hasn’t changed. He met me where I was and pulled me out of the slime of Hell, cleaned me up and dressed me in His robes of righteousness. Now I am a child of a King – going from rags to His riches. How blessed am I!”

I am also blessed to be a part of the praise band and enjoy the ministries for women in the church.”