LIFE Stories

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scroll to the end of this page.

Cardboard Testimonies

A group of FBCM's family were asked to share thier Life Stories in a very simple way.

Each person wrote a brief version of their story on a piece of cardboard.

Cardboard Testimonies from FBC Middleburg on Vimeo.

Jimmy

Having grown up in a home that pretended to be Christian, I never believed Christ had a plan for my life or really could accept someone who had done the horrible things I had done as a young man. But sometimes He has to stomp you into the ground to get your attention. So after showing me who was really in control, He put in front of me two women who showed me that being a believer was not only cool, but made life worth living. Now I have a Savior and a wonderful family of friends who doesn't judge me by my past but rather supports my future. It's so wonderful to be loved!!!

Kathy

I grew up in a Christian home and accepted Christ as my Savior at the age of six while attending Vacation Bible School. I was baptized a couple years later. As I reached the teen years my dad would tell me to remember that not only was I to obey my parents but God was there watching everything I did no matter what I was doing, thinking of doing, or saying. It didn't matter what it was, God knew. I think that, along with knowing my dad would discipline me if I was disobedient, kept me focused on what God wanted for my life. I thank God for my upbringing and for the fact that I did not have to go through anything terrible for God to love me and forgive me. I have had ups and downs like anyone but God always spoke softly to my heart and kept me focused on him inspite of myself. God led me to a wonderful Christian young man, Henry, to whom I have been married to for 41 years. Praise God for His protecting hand and loving care of each of us.

Hannah

I have grown up in a good home, with good parents. And I am still being raised the same way I was 4 years ago: going to church every Sunday, going to AWANAs, attending church choirs, that kinda stuff. When I was ten (I am 11 now) I moved; I left my home, my pets, my friends, my church, my grandparents, and most especially: Florida. I moved to Russia. I am still there now. I know God is always there for me, through the thick and thin, because that is what my parents say, and also what the Bible says. I have had some tough times in Russia. I know I will have more. But I have also had some good times. God has helped me through everything hard, and easy, and I know he always will!

Jan

I was raised in a loving Christian home and was saved at the age of 12. During my school age years I regularly went to church and was active in the youth group. It was after graduating from high school when things changed. I decided it was time for me to do things my way. I became involved with a guy that was exciting, carefree, and liked to party. At the age of 19, we eloped. No one was going to tell me what to do, for I was now my own boss. It wasn't long when the abuse started; first the mental anguish, then the physical abuse. After 3 short years, God brought me back to reality. He took control of my life when I truly felt as if my life was spinning out of control. He was faithful and true, while I was not. I am still honored to do things His way, which is THE WAY. I thank God for His mercy and grace!!

Terri

I was raised in a wonderful Christian home and went to church every Sunday; however, I still felt a distance from God in my heart. As an adult, fighting diabetes, I was told I needed to excercise and drink more water. It's been a year now and every morning I get up, I fill two bottles with water, put on my IPOD - filled with Christian songs, and bike...12 miles, daily. I spend an hour every morning listening, singing, and praying to God. My heart opened up and I'm so close to the Lord now. My days are so special. I've dropped 30 pounds and feel so good. You find out who you really are when you spend an hour a day being lifted up with Christian music, excercise, and God in your life.

Tom

January 12, 2008, was very difficult for us. We lost our daughter at only 19 years old in a single car accident. Can I share with you that this is the single hardest thing our family has ever had to deal with. The void and pain is indescribable. Thank God we have God. Thank God we have this family of friends, our church, this church! Thank God we raised our daughter in this church where she surrendered her life to Him. As a parent, that is what it is all about. We still have our joy and peace in that, only He can provide. It was an honor to father this child for 19 years; now she is with the Father. We look forward to seeing her again.

Mark

I grew up in a nice home with nice parents, but something was missing. I started attending church when I was 15 years old. I knew Jesus was the son of God, but I never knew why he had to come and die for my sins. When I was 23 I made the best decision of my life, to commit my life to the Lord. Since that time, I have had plenty of "ups" and "downs" but I am able to ride out every storm knowing that the God that saved me on September 27, 1987, is with me always. The last several months I have had to battle a severe case of depression. It is something I have dealt with my whole life. Without the Lord, it would have destroyed my marriage and family. However, with the Lord, it has made my marriage of 18 years stronger than it has ever been.

Drena

I didn't grow up in a Christian home. In my youth, I was rebellious to ALL authority. I conceived my first child as a senior in high school. My family tried to convince me of the lie for abortion, calling my situation a mistake. Several years later, my neighbor took my kids to FBC where they learned about Jesus. They wanted me to go with them. I had no idea the pathway God was leading me down was paved by my own children. The "mistake" I made at 18 held my hand down the isle to confess my sins, ask forgiveness, and accept Jesus in my heart. It's no wonder their names meant so much when choosing them: Grace and Christ bearer. Thanks be to God for His love, mercy and grace.

Sean

I accepted Christ as my Savior as a youth. But as I entered high school and then college, I turned from God and my focus was on partying and pleasing myself. As a senior in college, I felt God calling me back to Him. I went back to church and didn't feel worthy to step through the doors - I had completely abandoned my Lord. Thanfully, He accepted me back with open arms with forgiveness and grace that I couldn't earn, only accept. Eight years later, I am married, have 2 kids and another on the way. I am privileged to be able to serve and worship my Lord Jesus each and every week, helping to lead others in worship and teaching His principles to others on Wednesday nights. I continue to grow in my faith and He continues to sharpen me and draw me and my family closer to Him. I am blessed to be able to serve a God of second chances!

Kim

I was saved when I was 9 and then got into a bad crowd of people in Junior High School. I had my first child at the age of 16. I got married and then had a second child. Life was hard having two young kids and being newly married, living out on our own. My marriage was rocking I was not happy. I just wanted to do my own thing because I had not had a chance to grow up. I turned to drinking and really did not care about my kids nor what they were doing. Then I found GOD again when I was 33. He has changed it a lot. I now do for GOD and things just fall into place. God had a plan for me and I see that now.

Gloria

I never really cared about God as a child. Church was just a place we went on Easter and listened to an old guy talk. In eighth grade I was arrested for petit theft and felt horrible. I had guilt weighing me down for months, and was really depressed. The cops gave me a court date and 40 hours of community service. At First Baptist Church they offer community service hours for helping out and going to church. The first Wednesday I went everyone was so inviting. After my community service hours were over, I still kept coming. That summer I went to the First Baptist Church camp, and received Christ for the first time. I have changed so much; I always have someone there for me. God will never leave me, and I know He has a plan for my life. I live for Him and I couldn’t be happier.

Daniel

I came to know the Lord when I was 15, but my relationship with God did not grow like it should have. I didn't spend time reading my Bible and praying, instead I partied and looked for what would make me happy. It was not until April of 2007 that God brought me to my knees. My wife left me and my daughter, but my Lord did not leave me. He was still there waiting on me with open arms. When I first started attending FBCM I was in the lowest point of my life, but through fellowship with a great "Family of Friends," the Lord has shown me that he has a plan for me and that he can use me no matter what my past holds.

Donna

I am blessed to have been raised in a loving home and grow up going to church. I participated in all of the activities that my small town church offered for children. One Sunday morning when I was about 9 years old, I walked down the aisle and let everyone know I had decided to give my life to Jesus. That was the best decision I have ever made!

Throughout my life, I have made my share of wrong choices and mistakes. But I have always received God's forgiveness and he has never turned his back on me. I have been though many difficult times, the most recent of which was being diagnosed with cancer and going through chemotherapy. Yet, even in the worst of times, there has never been a time that God has left me alone. He has always lovingly carried me through every circumstance in my life.

Wendy

I grew up not knowing God. I entered into the Military and lived a promiscuous lifestyle. I met a wonderful man and married in 1998. By December 2003 my marriage was on the rocks. I went to church on January 1, 2004 and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. My marriage is now on steady ground. I have more self-esteem today, and I love the Lord with all my breath. I am definitely a work in progress, but I keep it real and let everyone know of my salvation and what it has done for me.

Kandee

I just want to say how great God is. Even though I have been going through some tough times lately, God has never let me down. I used to think that I would never find a life partner to share the rest of my life with, but by going through this tough time, I know now that God has already picked someone for me. I just need to wait on Him. I need to live and strive for him. I want to thank Him and give Him the praise that he deserves.

Betty

I married at nineteen. My husband was an alcoholic, and our marriage suffered. We lived for ourselves, we made terrible choices and divorce appeared certain. I knew there had to be more to life than this. I was miserable and looking for happiness. I studied to become a Jehovah's Witness to fill that void, but God had other plans for me. Through a friend, I met Jesus!! Thank God for His forgiveness! Shortly after I was saved, my husband accepted the Lord. What a change!! Our house became a home. We have walked with God for 46 years, stumbling along the way, but He's never left us. We have had many trials throughout the years with my husband's health, and recently, my bout with cancer, but through it all, God has held our hand. You'll never regret asking Jesus into your heart and life!

Tricia

My Mom tells me I asked Jesus into my heart at the age of four. I don't remember this, so I did it again at the age of 5, 6, 7, 8, 20...get the picture? It was not until I surrendered my life completely to God and stopped living in rebellion against Him that I had His peace about my salvation. I suffer from Fibromyalgia and Chronic Depressive Disorder. When these illnesses started seven years ago, God used them to get my attention. He spoke to me very clearly. He told me to be consistent. So, for the past seven years I have been obedient to that. I start my day with Him in prayer and the reading of His Word. I have been blessed by being consistent. I may have doubted my salvation, He never did. Praise Him! He knew I was His child the first time I asked Him in. One hundred and fifty words is not enough to tell all God has done for me. He does not need me. He wants me. Amazing! All praise and glory be His!

Andrea

My friend invited me to AWANAs where I heard that Jesus died for me, and as an 11-year-old child, I invited Jesus into my heart. My home life was rough. Jesus was my anchor and I hung onto Him because I knew He had a plan for my life.

Twelve years ago at age 32, I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. God is faithful and carried me through. That was 12 years ago. God is not finished with me yet! I now have one major struggle with my teenage son. I have let this one struggle get me down to where I have taken myself "out of the game" and put myself on the bench. Since coming to FBCM I feel recharged. I can't let Satan win by sidelining me. I'm getting back into the game because there is much to do for God and I have much to share to encourage others to "keep on keeping on" for God!

Sherri

When I was first told of my cancer I knew that God had not given this ugly thing to me but allowed it to happen for a reason. The day the doctor told me I had pancreatic cancer my world fell apart. On the way home I was crying and asking "why me?" At that very moment God spoke to me in a very clear voice that said, "I'm in control and you are not going to die from this." What a peace I had because he had spoken to me and I knew it was true. God is so wonderful; all I can do is sing His praises. He is alive and in control.

Jonathan

In 2002 my son was diagnosed with autism. Late the next year my daughter was also diagnosed with autism. The next year my family's finances fell apart. With all the stress, my marriage was also on the rocks. I believed in God, but in light of all of these difficulties I thought, "If God was mad at me, why did he have to take it out on my wife and kids?" However, January 1, 2006, everything changed. Long story short, my family and I went to visit my folks in TN for the holidays. We went with my mom to her church and the message that day was crafted by God and for us. That day I was saved, and I haven't been the same guy since. As with everyone else, some days are great and some are not. However, the joy is there knowing that life on Earth is but a mere stopping point on the way to eternity. Because of Jesus I feel I know where MY eternity lies!

Patrick

The last four years have been really tough health wise. In 2004, doctors found a very rare tumor in my spine. I had a lot of damage to my spine from the tumor. I had surgery not long after they found the tumor to rebuild several vertebrae and add screws and rods to my spine to hold everything together.

Thanksgiving Day of 2004, I woke up with blisters all over my body. Somehow I got another very rare disease called Pemphgius Vulgaris. It is an auto-immune disease that causes your immune system to see your skin as a foreign body and then it attacks your skin. The sores are like burns and I have battled this for four years. I am free of sores now, but live life in a lot of pain and I have to take a lot of medications to control everything. I live in fear that the sores will come back at any time.

Sometimes I wonder why this happened. Satan attacks us and tries to keep us from God. God has a purpose in my life and maybe one day I will be able to use my sickness to help someone else who might be going through a tough time.

Lara

I was molested by my father for over ten years. I grew up hating God because of that. During my teenage years I was very promiscuous and was always in abusive relationships. At the age of 21, I had a child out of wedlock. I got married in 1994, was separated in 1999 and again in 2003. During the time of our separation I would go on the weekends and stay with a girlfriend. She attended First Baptist Church of Middleburg and would invite me to come. I went to see The Passion of the Christ. I knew then that Jesus was the answer. I came to church that Sunday and accepted Him as my Savior.

Our divorce never went through. We worked out our marriage. I want to tell people that there's NOTHING that you've done that God would ever turn away from you! And you're never too old to start your life over!

MaryBeth

Before I met Jesus I had been married for two years and we had just had our second son. We were not involved in church. My husband's grandparents were believers and spoke of Christ often. We began attending a local church and in one service soon after we began, I felt moved by the Holy Spirit to pray the prayer of salvation. I began attending new believers classes and was baptized six months later. It was an amazing experience to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit from that day on!

It has been five years now that I accepted Christ and my life is still filled with difficulties (health, finances, etc.); but, my outlook on life has now changed. I look to the Lord for answers. I hand my worries over to Him. I give thanks to Him, praise Him, worship and pray to Him. I couldn't imagine my life without Him.

Danny

I lived most of my life doing what I wanted to do, "feeding the fleshly desires." There were no limits to my indulgence. While going through a divorce, God allowed me to hit rock bottom. He closed every door except His. I gave up my old life and received His new life. He has placed so many blessings in my life since then that are too numerous to count or tell.

I strive to connect to God and others by obeying His commands, living by His word, and finding His hand at work in my daily life. I desire none of my past vices and have replaced those addictions with His plan!

Share Your Story

Please tell us your story in 150 words or less and share what God has done in your life!

You can E-mail us @ office@fbcmiddleburg.com or use the form below. Submissions may be edited for grammar, length and clarity. If you're story can encourage others, we'd love to know it.