Testimonies – Brittany

My mom is a Christian, while my dad is a Catholic (I think). But they don’t practice their religions. My mom liked being a Christian but it was forced down her throat by her step mother when she was growing up. She didn’t want to learn about it anymore because she was forced to memorize verses by the end of each day and recite them at dinner.

(Long story short) I had a conversation with my mom a couple weeks after I started coming to First Grace. She told me that she was fine with me going to church; she just didn’t want to force a religion on me because she wanted me to decide what I wanted to be, unlike her mother when she was growing up.

So I’m just one of those people who didn’t grow up in a Christian home. When I was younger I did believe in him. I knew he was real and that he was there. I believed he did die on the cross and that he rose from the dead, but the thing is… I don’t really know how I learned those things. I remember when my Grandma died in 2003 that I prayed before I went to bed every night, hoping she would be okay and that she would go to heaven. I always prayed for my friends and my family’s health and that everyone would be safe the next day. I prayed and talked to him like he was my friend. I was just another one of those people who said they believed in the Lord, but never practiced it or surrendered myself.

In the past I never went to church regularly. I did go sometimes with my friends when I would spend the night with them. The things I learned then were from my friends and I thank them for that. Also in the past I had a problem with cussing, I had a bad temper, a bad attitude and I didn’t keep promises most of the time; but I have changed. I rarely cuss and if I do it’s a mistake. I try to control my attitude and temper by avoiding problems that would make me flare up and I have been keeping my promises.

I gave myself up to Jesus in April, 2010. I made that decision because I felt incomplete and lost at some times. I tried to follow what I thought was right (I sometimes still do that now) and it didn’t end up so well. But ever since I made the decision to give myself up to him I have felt happier and coming to church just makes it an amazing feeling. I want to get more into the word and I’m learning to have a stronger relationship with him.

It was and is the best decision I have made in my life. I’m so glad that I have been coming to First Grace. It’s an amazing church and every time I come, it feels like everyone is a family.