Welcome to Impact 4 Jesus Ministries - BEC Youth

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September 3, 2010

BECY Testimonies

Josh Horn- "Praise You in this Storm"

There are so many things I can thank the Lord for. He has been so good to me. He blessed me with a good Christian home growing up. He has shielded and protected me throughout my life, an one glorious day, He saved my soul! Since then, He has filled me with the Holy Ghost (If you don’t have Him, get Him.) In 2006, God blessed me with a wonderful, Christian wife at the age of 18. One year and nearly a month later, we received a beautiful baby girl. This was a miracle in itself. When my wife, Jacki, was 13 years old, she was diagnosed with cancer. She fought through and beat it, but the chemo sent her into early menopause, ruining her chances for children. But God proved the doctors wrong. Mikayla was born early due to complications with Jacki’s blood counts. Her doctor, after the blook counts did not recover, suggested she see a cancer doctor. Mikayla was born in August 2007, and in December or 2007, Jacki was diagnosed with leukemia. Jacki fought for over a year all together, but in September of 2008, she passed away. This was the hardest thing I’ve yet to go through. But God however, has not let me go it alone. I have felt Him with me. I feel closer to Him than I ever have. See, I reached a place where He was all I had to lean on. He became my EVERYTHING!! At my lowest point Jesus picked me up. When I thought I could go no further, Jesus dusted me off and helped me on my way. I can tell you that friends and family can only go so far, but Jesus can go all the way. Do I have questions? Of course! Am I mad at God? No! Jacki and I prayed for a complete healing in her body and she received it. Maybe not the way I had in mind, but God sees the big picture. II Samuel 22:31 says “As for God, his way is perfect.” God has the perfect plan. I am thankful for His healing. I thank Him for His strength He gives me from day to day. God is a GREAT GOD!!!

Erica Jackson - "I couldn't refuse salvation again"

Picture this: a young, solitary girl; sad faced, and lonesome. She often causes harm to herself because she doesn’t want to live. She’s angry at herself. She’s lost without Christ and there’s no denying it. Well, that girl was me.

I spent my life searching all the wrong places trying to find something to fill the void. In my mind, there was no reason for me to be here except to cause trouble and take up space. All I wanted was to FEEL wanted, and I was. But the devil had me so blinded I couldn’t even see it. But thankfully, God took off my blindfold one Sunday morning at church. I felt so convicted, I couldn’t refuse salvation again. I was drawn to the altar and to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and now I have hope that the same will happen to my family! I’m definitely thankful for what God’s done for me and exited about what he’s going to do in this church and in this community!

Trent Blanton- "I almost gave up"

Since I was born I have been attending church three times a week or more. I attended revivals, and saw great moves of God at church and youth camps. One thing that I never really could grasp was the fact that I had to have a desire to serve God on my own, I had to want to serve him. Where I had grew up in church, I guess I had been used to seeing God move. Because of this, I slowly backslid and fell into the world. I had a rebellious spirit, wanting to run from God and my parents. At the same time, I wanted to serve God. I just thought that I couldn’t do it. I thought that I would backslide if I tried to give my life back to the Lord. Even through this rebellious state, God had a plan for me. I know that God was protecting me throughout my sinful life. There must have been people in my church and relatives praying for me because there’s some things that I should have been able to do that would have harmed me in the future that God just wouldn’t allow me to fall into.

I also pretended that I was still a Christian to my church and parents to gain there trust so I could stay out later and go to my friends houses. Therefore, since my pastor didn’t know I was lost, he had me be the counselor at Southern Kentucky Youth Camp. I couldn’t really argue, even though I completely hated the fact that I wasn’t saved and I was going to be a youth camp counselor, I had to do it to keep their trust. The first day of youth camp was July 21, 2008. July 20, 2008 was one of the lowest points in my life. I was facing possible jail time for some alcohol charges I had received that week. I was driving home that night and saw my best friend who had been asking me to move in with him, so I followed him to his house to say goodbye before I left for youth camp. I told him how I was miserable going to church every week and then partying on the weekends and I had to do something about it. I asked him if he still wanted me to move in with him and he said I could anytime I wanted. So, I told him as soon as I got back from youth camp, I would have my clothes already packed and I would be ready to move in with him. I also told him that after I moved in with him, I was never going to church again!

The first day of youth camp, Bro. James Burgess preached a message on the Valley of the Shadow of Death and how even though one of the shepherd lambs have left the herd and traveled into the valley of the shadow of death, the shepherd longs to carry you home and when a shepherd finds a lost sheep that tends to go astray over and over, he will break its legs making it to rely on the shepherd completely. At this service, I felt the Lord gripping my heart, but I feared that I would just backslide again like I had so many times before. In my prayer, I told God how I wanted to serve him, but I just couldn’t, I would fail him again. The next day, Bro. Burgess preached on bearing our crosses and having to go through struggles as we followed Jesus. At the conclusion of his message, everybody stood and were praying as he asked for people who wanted to bear the cross to come up and pray. One person went up and took a hold of the wooden cross that Bro. Everett and Bro. Burgess had made to help us visualize his message. I stood at my seat and cried as I told God that I would NOT go up to the alter until I felt that I could make it without failing him. I wanted to decide in my heart that I wanted to serve the Lord on my own. Not by what my parents wanted or by what others at the youth camp wanted but by what I wanted! Bro. James kept asking us to come up and bare our crosses, he repeated it over and over again. I finally opened my eyes and he was looking at me and pointing to me saying, come up to the front. It was almost as if I could here God calling my name. I headed out towards the cross and took it up and held it in the air, repenting of my sins and asking him to forgive me. I made a decision that day to follow Jesus no matter what happened. No matter what would come my way. For the first time, I felt that I was saved because I completely wanted to be saved.

Almost as soon as I got home from youth camp, I disenrolled from college and filled out my application to FGBI. After I sent the application, I told my parents that I was going no matter what. Even if I wasn’t accepted, I was going to go. Now I don’t regret the decision I made at all. The Lord has been so good to me, and my life is completely different. I have joy in serving the Lord and I can’t wait to see what he has in store for me.

Rachelle Blanton - "Death, where is your sting?"

There are no words to describe how thankful I am for all that God has done for me. Although I am so young, I've been through a lot, just like every other young person has, but God has never failed to pull me out of the pit I've placed myself in and set my feet upon a solid rock!

I was raised in church all of my life but I never really knew what it was like to have a relationship with Him. Wanting so badly to fit in with my friends, I started to compromise my faith, beliefs, and what I knew to be right just so that I could gain popularity. I knew that I needed Jesus and He was the only thing that could satisfy my heart, but I was too stubborn to accept the help He offered me and I fell deeper and deeper into sin.

As I continued on I became more and more miserable. My life seemed absolutely pointless without Christ yet I refused to really give my heart to Him. I would go to church and "play the part" of a Christian, but my heart wasn't in it. I got to the point that I was always thinking about wether or not anyone would miss me if I just killed myself. The devil would whisper in my ear, "You should just go ahead and do it. Maybe then they'll notice you." I was absolutely miserable. I began cutting myself to get rid of the emotional pain I felt. I cried myself to sleep every night and I just wished my life would end, but something kept me from taking my own life. My parents didn't know, my brothers didn't know, and my friends didn't know. The only people that really knew my pain was God, Satan, and Me.

I struggled in this ongoing battle for almost a year, but then one day I finally realized that if I didn't give my heart to God, I was going to die in my sin and I would be headed straight for Hell. I knelt down and an altar and completely gave my heart to God. God knew the pain I felt. When He died upon the cross for my sin, He felt all the feelings of rejection and pain I could ever feel. He knew just what I needed and that day I recieved salvation and joy like I hadn't felt in almost a year! He saved me from sin and a spirit of death that surrounded me each day. He released the shackles that had me bound and I praise Him for the mercy He has shown me! I did not deserve His grace, but He loved me enough to save my wretched soul. God is an awesome God!

Brandon Gibson - "As long as I'm popular with God, who cares?"

God has been so good to me. He has blessed me with an awesome church and with some great friends. Most of all I'm so glad that God saved me. What I like most about Berea Evangelistic Church is the great music and listening to the awesome preaching by Pastor Jeff. His preaching is a real ear catcher because it's directed a lot toward the youth and it makes us think. Being a Christian doesn't have to affect your popularity. A true friend would be your friend if you were a Christian or not. As long as I'm popular with God, who cares?

Kayla Gibson - "I don't know where my life would be without God"

Hi, I'm Kayla. I've been saved since I was 6 years old, and I'm so grateful for what God's done for me. I have a great family and a church that I love. I don't know where my life would be without God. I have learned that no amount of popularity is worth going to Hell for. Although, being a Christian today in public school can be hard, it's the best life you could ever wish to have, and I'm happy to have it.

Cody Blanton - "He is my everything"

God is the best thing that has ever happened to me. He has brought me through thick and thin and has never failed me. Everytime I stumble, or even fall, he picks me up and puts me right where I'm supposed to be. He is my everything.

Stuart Rose- "How Important it is to spread the Gospel"

My name is Stuart Rose. I am 15 years old. I was saved when I was 9 years old at a little church where my Grandpa Rose is pastor. When I was 11, I received the baptism of the Holy Ghost at a BEC youth rally. Since June of 2004 BEC has been my home church. I am thankful the Lord has given me a pastor I can talk to and relate to and know he understands my problems. I appreciate the way he preaches to us straight from the Bible. I am glad he doesn't care to single us out in his preaching to keep us in line.

I have also got to go on some mission trips and it has helped me see how important it is to spread the gospel. I've enjoyed the youth camps and good fellowship of the other young christians I've met through this. I desire to be in God's will and help others in their walk with God.

Chelsea Young - "He's the rock I can run to"

I thank God because he saved my soul. He has blessed me with a good life, good family and good friends. He helps me by giving me strength through day and being the rock that I can run to in the time of need.

Andrew Rose - "Our pastor preaches good about Jesus"

My name is Andrew Rose. I am 11 years old.I got saved one night at a church where my uncle is the pastor. I like coming to BEC because of Pastor Jeff Osborne and my family. He preaches good about Jesus. I like the people I go to church with. I like my Sunday school teachers.

Kylie Harris - "I thank Him so much!"

I thank God so much. He brought me back home when I was in my worst times. I was raised in church, but I moved when I was nine and that's when my life changed. I didn't have anyone to guide me in the wat that I needed to go, but I also thank him for doing that, because now I can say I have changed my life for Him. I really do know what's out there and I don't want to run back to it. He has saved me from so much and i just can't thank Him enough.