Testimonies – Alexis

Before Christ came into my life, I was making all the wrong choices. I was getting into a lot of trouble with my parents (for things like sexting) and my main focus in life was boys and my friends. I was getting bad grades in school and, because of my grades, I was ineligible to play basketball or be involved in cheerleading. On top of that, my mom and I were fighting all the time. The majority of these fights got physical and left us both with bruises and a lot of hurt on the inside.

I was to the point where I wanted to give up. I felt like my parents were taking everything away from me and it didn’t make me want to try to become a better person at all. I just couldn’t take it anymore; so I quit trying in school; I didn’t listen to my parents and I continued to strive for the wrong things. I kept sexting and I even tried drinking a couple times.

For me, (I thought) there was no light at the end of the tunnel.

Then, I stayed the night with my best friend Autumn one Saturday night and she told me we were going to church the next day. I didn’t really think it was a big deal; I was just thinking about what we were going to do after church. We went to her church called Crossroads.  The pastor’s message that day was amazing. He talked about Jesus’ life. I thought it was incredible how one man could’ve gone through all those struggles and temptations. That was when I thought that I should be repaying his sacrifices to me.

After that weekend, I stayed with Autumn every Saturday night and went to church with her every week. I was really getting into the Word. Then, my sports and school activities started interfering with church and I couldn’t go as often. Autumn started going less and less and the church started to change until we stopped going completely. One day, the Jackson family and Kevin Holly came to Newton to have lunch with the kids from Truth Youth. There wasn’t any room at any tables so Brent and Kevin came and sat with Autumn, Brandie, Heather, and me (I was really intimidated by Kevin). We introduced ourselves and got to talking. Then Brittany and Brook came and sat with us as well. They were very upbeat and happy and really nice. They invited us to their youth group and gave us the directions.

The next week, I went and brought Autumn with me. I was really unsure when I got there but everybody was so welcoming (it was a little bit overwhelming). We started youth group off with a game and then the message. Kevin Holly spoke that night and I don’t remember what he talked about but I do remember how moving it was. I enjoyed that Wednesday a lot and started going to First Grace on Sundays too. I loved it, the messages, the people, the music, everything. There was just something about it that automatically put me in a good mood. I’ve also gotten really close with Brittany Jackson. I talk to her about everything and she helps me through so much.

Now, since my decision to serve Jesus, I have been getting good grades in school, I don’t sext or drink and I don’t listen to bad music; I’m also trying my best to have a positive outlook on everything in my life. I never thought I could do it and I never thought God would show me the way. But, now I truly know I can do all things with God by my side. (Philippians 4:13)