Mid-year Refresh Testimonies 2011.pdf

Testimony 1– Emma B (DT/N) – Young Adult

Hi, my name is Emma, I’m 16, and I’m a junior in high school and my family has been attending Bethlehem for 5 years. I knew something was different at Bethlehem as I was attending Sunday School and Connections, but I couldn’t really put my finger on it and I didn’t really appreciate it until this summer when my sister and I visited our grandparents. We were there over a Sunday so my sister and I visited their youth group and I was really excited to get a chance to see how other youth groups act. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was the 4 plasma screen TVs mounted on the wall, each with their own gaming system. And that was when I started thinking that maybe things weren’t right. Grace and I stood around awkwardly until youth group leaders realized that there were new people and that they need to help them find their place. So the youth pastor came over to us and started talking to us by making fun of his daughter’s sunburn that she had received at summer camp and his daughter was standing right next to us. Once we sat down, the intern pastor, it was his turn to preach that day. He got and preached for 15 minutes at the most. His sermon was good but he preached it as if he knew that no one was listening and no one cared which they didn’t. All the kids were sitting there not listening, and probably a lot of that was the example set by the youth pastor. He and his wife were sitting in front of my sister and me, and the youth pastor fidgeted for about 5 minutes and then got up and went on the computer in the back of the room. After he was on the computer waved goodbye to his wife and left, right in the middle of the intern’s sermon. As soon as he left his wife pulled out her iPhone and played on it for the rest of the sermon. After the sermon there was no follow up, no prayer requests, no small group, nothing. Everyone was dismissed and they left. Grace and I were kind of in shock after everything we’ve experienced at Bethlehem. So that was when God really opened my eyes to what a blessing all of us senior highers have at the youth group at Bethlehem. I’ve been in youth group under Kempton for 3 years now and God has used Kempton Turner and all of my amazing small group leaders in my life so much. I still keep in touch with most of my small group leaders, actually even from Jr. High. God has used Bethlehem to encourage and convict me every week. Every Sunday and Wednesday I come home with something new that God has shown me and it’s always so intentional and God-filled. It’s really been such, such a blessing. And so I want to thank everyone who has prayed and worked to make Sr. High such a God-filled, inspiring place. They are not trying to woo us in with plasma screen TVS and funny jokes. They totally rely on the Holy Spirit to get kids into the Sr. High.

So I was praying about a verse to share and God led me to this passage−1 Timothy 4 starting at verse 7. It says have nothing to do with irreverent silly myths and I think we can safely put in have nothing to do with fun-seeking silly youth groups. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which is given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress…Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
―1 Timothy 4:7-16

Testimony 2 – Mary Jane D (N) – Child & Youth  

My name is Mary Jane and I am a 6th grader. 2010 was a hard year for me and my family. My family was in the process of adopting and a few things happened that made it hard. First, we were matched with a 3 year old boy, and we loved him a lot, but 1 week before everything was supposed to be finalized, we learned he couldn't be adopted and that he had to stay in the orphanage. A few weeks later, we were matched with another little boy. His case was delayed a lot because there was a chance that we could also get the first little boy. Sadly, that didn't work out. Also, 6 days before my parents went to pick up my little brother, the US Embassy in Ethiopia had to do an investigation to see if there were any lies on his case. This took several months. Instead of our adoption taking 12 weeks from the time we got a referral, it ended up taking 39 weeks! It was very hard. During this time I wondered "Why can't my brother come home?" My family kept reminding each other to say verses or to sing songs that had verses in them. One verse that was one of the Fighter Verses helped me when I was scared. It was Isaiah 41:10 "Fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

It was hard for me to trust God, but he was there and he helped me. I remember one time I was at Adventure Girls. One of the teachers brought me into a separate room in order to pray for me and my family. That was encouraging to me, and it showed me that there are people out there who are praying. Another thing that was cool for me was the curriculum at Sunday school (God's Purposes Will Stand!) was about when God does something and we don't understand why he is doing it for our good. Also, it said that everything God does has a good purpose. That was exactly what me and my family were learning, and it reminded me to keep trusting. I also remember my class at Sunday School praying for me and my family, or some of the teachers writing to me and telling me they were praying for me. I also spent some time one day in my room, listening to Mrs. Michael’s adoption testimony. That was good for me to hear and it helped me. My mom said I came down knowing God was there for me, and that He would work things out. God was there last year and he is with us now. We are thanking God my new brother is finally home. Thank you who prayed and cared for us, and for teaching us!

Testimony 3–Anne B (DT) – Small Group Leader

My husband Steve and I are helping as small group leaders in the 2nd grade Sunday school class this year. Our class is focusing on a study of the Promises of God. It has truly been a blessing each week even just for ourselves to be reminded of God’s amazing promises. One particular week early in the year, we were discussing in class the more difficult passages which tell of God’s promises to Unbelievers. This was our third lesson, and we learned that unbelievers are promised things like God’s wrath, punishment and hell. The Holy Spirit definitely used that message to stir the hearts of a few of the children in our small group. One particular little girl was quite intense in her questions, and it was one of those precious moments that every small group leader  or Christian longs for- a child truly hungry to know for certain the state of her soul before God, and wanting eagerly to know what to do and how. She was looking up at us with her big brown eyes and asking questions like: “How do you know if you are a Christian or not?” then, “Well how do you know if you really love God or not? And finally, “How do you walk with God?” Well, those three questions, were BIG questions for a little second grade girl to be asking!  In our class, we typically have about 20 minutes or so to discuss the lessons. Steve and I were doing our best to try to adequately answer her questions, and the whole time I was nearly in tears from the specialness of the moment, but still when the class was over I felt this needed more follow up. Shortly after class, I was able to catch up to this precious girl’s mom and tell her briefly how significant the class time had been for her daughter, and told her that I would call her sometime during the week. This mother and I are long time friends, which also made this experience special and easy for me to contact her. The next day however, as I began the week, this little girl’s questions were much on my mind. I happened to run into a Christian friend that morning, and as we were talking, she told me she had just finished a book I had several times recommended to her. I had used the book for a devotional several years prior and had urged her to read it, however I hadn’t mentioned it for literally at least two years. The book was Stepping Heavenward. After she shared about this, I told her about my dilemma in wanting to better explain how we can know we love God, and how to know if we are a Christian or not to this little girl in my class. This friend then exclaimed that the Stepping Heavenward book addresses those questions quite well, and encouraged me to look at it again, since, as I said before, I had not mentioned it or read it myself for years. I would never have remembered that portion of the book without her having recently read it and then reminding me. I went home and searched through to find just the very questions being addressed that I was hoping to better answer from Sunday school. It turned out to be such a blessing to both my friend and I to see God teaching and using us to help each other. First I read and am blessed by this book, then share it with her years earlier, and then she is greatly blessed by it, and ends up finishing reading it the very day when I needed the help myself communicating God’s truth to this little girl. It was just one of those beautiful moments where we were able to see God’s hand in bringing together seemingly unrelated and insignificant details- to better equip me,  glorify his name, and bless a few of his people. After re reading several sections of that book, praying and asking God for guidance, I wrote a letter to this little girl. I also spoke to her mom and together we planned for me to email the letter and then for her to read it to both of her daughters before bed that night. The whole experience turned out to be a great opportunity for me to see God work in and through my life, be a part of God’s work in the heart of a little girl, and also to partner with her family to better teach her. I have the letter that I wrote with me, but it is actually two pages long- too long to read here, but I will close with a few opening and closing words from that letter. 

Dear ______,

Mr. B and I were so blessed last week during Sunday school by your earnest questions and desire to know better what it means to be a Christ follower. It is such a joy to be teachers to students who are eager to learn and know about the most important things–like what it means to love God and how!  We are so happy you are in our small group. I am especially blessed also to think that so long ago, your mother and I spent many hours talking and learning about those very things back when we were in school together! She is a very wise woman, who often helped to explain things to me, and I am sure also, she is happy to talk with you about these same questions. It is beautiful to watch how God has woven our lives together.

I have been thinking and praying about your questions from class, and wanted to write you a little note to encourage you to keep seeking  answers–because God WILL hear and answer you!  (James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you”–another great promise from God in the Bible!) You asked such great questions during our discussion time and I wanted to make sure that we answered you well, and also give you something (this note) to read over (maybe even more than once) perhaps with your mom and dad. My hope is this will give you more time to think over these things and talk about them with your parents who also love you and care so much about your faith in God.

You asked in class about how to know if you love God. That is a wonderful question to ask, and though I cannot actually see into your heart and tell positively whether there is love to God there or not, I would like to help you to find out. There are a few places where the Bible talks about how to tell if we love Him. And I may be able to think of a few things I have learned during the years that I have followed Jesus. 

First, I would say that often we think that we love someone because we feel love for them. I think it is wonderful to feel love for God. If I asked you if you loved your sister for instance and also asked you how do you know that you love her, how would you answer?  Perhaps you would say that you feel love for her. I wonder if you may ask yourself if you ever feel love for God. It can be like a happy thankfulness for who He is and what He has done for you. I have noticed that the more I think about and learn about how great and wonderful God is, the easier it is for me to feel love for Him. (1 John 4:19) But it is important also to know that the feelings we have change from moment to moment, and because of this, we cannot look only at our feelings to know if we love God at any given time.

Another maybe more reliable or sure way to tell if we love someone (or in this case, God) is to ask if we enjoy being with them? I love my husband, Mr. B very much. I know that I love him partly because I love to be with him. Most days I would rather be with him than anyone else. I love to talk to him; I love to go places with him. I love many things about him, and I just love to be with him doing almost anything. Now, I wonder if there is someone you love to be with?  Someone you love?  And I wonder if similarly, you ever love to be with God?

It seems to me another wonderful question you asked in class, was how DO we “be with God”?  And I would answer that God is everywhere, but learning how to live our life with God is something all Christians spend time learning about how to do as they grow in their faith. You will learn this in time. It is something I am still learning how to do. But I would also say that I have learned that we can be with God by praying to Him (sometimes when we are just alone and quiet, but also while we are doing other things too–at the same time). I said in class that I try to pray even while I am making the bed, or brushing my teeth, or doing the dishes, or driving in the car. But also we can be with God as we ask for his help when we are having trouble with something or not getting along with someone. And since God knows our thoughts, we can talk to him in prayer even silently, in our minds. We can be with God as we try to do our work and remember that He sees us always and try to do a good job on whatever we are doing…for Him. We can praise and thank Him when we are happy or when we see something He has created that is beautiful, or whenever we have something to be thankful for (which is very often if we only can realize it). We also talked about the importance of reading God’s word to learn these things, and also to memorize His word, so we can remember it and have it with us always, wherever we are–and even if we can’t yet read on our own! Of course none of us does all this as well as we ought to, but we are all hopefully  (with God’s help), learning how to live for Him and be with Him more and more, especially  as we read the Bible and grow as Christians to be more like Jesus. 

A final question I can think of to help you to see if you love God or not is to ask if you enjoy doing things that please him, or make him happy. I have nine children who I love very much! I know I love them because I love to see them smile and laugh and I try and want to do things that will please them and make them happy and healthy. I read them stories, I make meals for them, I teach them about God, I discipline them when they are naughty, I change messy diapers for them, I make sure they are clean and have clean clothes, and a good many other things I may or may not like to do. I do not really like to do laundry, and I do not always enjoy cooking or helping with schoolwork or disciplining them, but I do those things because I love my family so much and want them to be happy and healthy. For you then, I wonder, if you ask yourself if you ever try to do things to please God?  And if you do, is it because those things are easy?  Probably not. Obeying God can be difficult–doing things like forgiving others, sharing, obeying our parents, or being kind to others can be hard. Is it because you like to do what God likes rather than what you like yourself?  I think not, at least not always. You cannot prove to yourself that you love God by looking only at your feelings because they change. (I do always love my children, but some days I am irritable and tired and not feeling very loving, but still I Do love them)  But just as far as you obey God, and do what He pleases-I think the Bible is quite clear that you can depend upon that to clearly show your love for him is there. (See John 15:9–14) I do not think you can obey God and do what He pleases instead of pleasing yourself, without love for God. You may perhaps obey God for a short time out of fear or something, but I do not think it would be lasting. But if you do really love God, your desire to obey and please him will grow!  Though your love for God may begin very small, and grow slowly, if it is there, your love for him and your desire to obey and please Him will grow. So one way you can tell that you love God, is if you are trying to obey and please Him and if that desire is growing in you.

I think from our discussion in class, that God is very much at work in your life, and that is very exciting!  You are a precious girl, and quite a blessing!  Keep asking God to help you to understand these things!    I think now, this note is too long!!  Still, I hope it has been helpful. I will continue to pray for you. God bless you, and I look forward to learning along with you about God’s wonderful promises in the year ahead. 

Much love,
Mrs. B

Testimony 4– Matt S (S) – Parent

Hello. I’m Matt. And I really like this verse what is impossible with man is possible with God (Luke 18:27). I remember how many times I’ve heard that and knew of its power and never really believed it. I’m just here to share as a parent and to encourage all people who have squirrelly little kids, or kids with disabilities, or little doodlers, that you are making a difference if you believe and you preach and you read from the Word because my daughter, Kat, gave plenty of opportunities for me to experience grace before Sunday services because of extreme frustration with her attitude and it was really discouraging many times to come to church and think Oh no, I’m going to hand her off to the small group leader and I wonder how she’s going to be, until last year I got a letter in the mail about my daughter saying I love Jesus, I was amazed. And then to see that these people care so much to extend in mentorship to come with me and walk along side me and pray with her. So when I was thinking about this the Lord came in Titus 3 verse 5 where it says he saved us, not by works done by us in righteousness, but according to his mercy. And I’m so thankful to all the small group leaders and to all the teachers who keep going each and every week. So much so that I now am a small group leader for young boys trying to…I get challenged every week because they are so squirrelly, but I truck on knowing that if I just trust in the Lord and just love him with the same passion that this small group leader loved my daughter, that our Lord is worth it. So praise Jesus for all that you guys are doing. Thank you.