Acts 2.36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
I bless the name of the Lord for the grace of salvation. I remember when I arrived in the United States in 2017 and started attending Mission Marc 16, it wasn’t easy. The lively way of worshipping the Lord, raising one’s voice, the drums, the praises accompanied by cymbals. Everything was totally different from what I had known before.
My mom reassured me every time, assuring me that I would love it. But I resisted the Lord’s call, and even stubbornly took paid transport just to get to a parish of the religion I used to practice.
Some time later, during an passover vigil, I went there and everything seemed strange to me, the statues that were there started to scare me, I was no longer at ease. I tried to stay, but inside I’d lost my peace. That’s how the Lord opened my eyes, so that I could see the spiritual reality that was attached to these statues and others.
Many years later, one Sunday at JCMM16, the pastor had given us some cards. And everyone had to choose moments of intimacy with the lord at home during the week, without distraction. So I chose Tuesday at 6 a.m., as it was my day off.
That Tuesday, I woke up late, at around 7 a.m. I wanted to start housework, but the spirit of God reminded me that I had an appointment with the Lord. So I sat down, prayed and went about my business. The following Wednesday, I felt the urge to take part in the Friday prayer vigil, but I resisted.
The following Thursday, the desire becoming more ardent, I mentioned it to my mother, who agreed to take me to prayer on Fridays, and so it was.
I remember that Friday there were three very edifying exhortations on grace, then on faith, and the third spoke of Jesus’ victory over the devil’s temptation.
And the question we were asked was: “And how do you respond? Touched by all this, during prayer, the Lord visited me and opened my eyes, so that I saw ancestral alliances being broken. We prayed, standing on God’s word, and I saw God’s power manifest. It encouraged me to be faithful to the Friday prayers, because each time I went away stronger and taller.
In 2022, I decided to join the Holy Spirit College. It was the next step in my transformation. As I progressed, I realized that everything is based on the word of God. Jesus is the Word, the Word is the Truth and it is powerful.
Powerfully strengthened, I can also testify that the Lord Jesus delivered me from dreams where I was eating. And even the Lord allowed me to get rid of the rosaries and idolatrous objects I’d brought back, because it was all contrary to His word.
With the Lord helping through His word, even my character began to change. I used to be very unkind, contemptuous, proud, never accepting my faults and lacking in self-control, but Jesus transformed me to the point where even at work, people noticed the change.
Since then, I’ve decided to confirm my commitment to walk with the Lord through the waters of baptism. I bless the Lord for the grace he has given me to know Him. I rejoice, my heart is filled with gladness for Christ, my Redeemer. Hallelujah.
A.W.