My personal Testimony

I have basically been raised in the Salvation Army. As a child we went to almost every activity that I can think of. Church every Sunday and youth activates every Wednesday. And as soon as I could go I was sent off to Camp Kuratli, probably even sooner since my mom was a leader. As a kid I knew all the bible stories, I knew that Jesus was God’s son. I knew that God loved me so much that he sent his son to die on a cross for me. I don’t have a story to share with you about how God saved me from drugs or alcohol, or how he saved me from a horrible home situation but he did save me from my sin, and in his eyes that is just the same.

I do remember vividly the first time God spoke to me. I was at camp, at Youth councils. I was sitting with all my friends. I even remember I was in the middle of the second row. It was the evening service on Saturday. Every year they have a service where young people have the opportunity to ask God into your heart, or to just pray to ask God to help you in your life. It’s often a very emotional time. There are so many young people who are feeling God for the first time or feeling something they may have never felt before and many of them cry. I can honestly say that most years I am one of those kids. There is just something special about camp and I feel even more close to my God there. Plus I am just a crier. I see someone cry, I cry.

But this year I told myself it would be different. I wasn’t going to cry and I wasn’t going up front! But, as I sat there in my seat I heard a voice. Not the still quiet voice that you hear about, it was a loud command, “Go Betsy.” And you know what I did? I sat there and argued. I did not want to go. But that voice was still the same, “Go Betsy.” And it was almost as if there was a hand pushing me to go. Finally I gave in and listened. I don’t remember the words I prayed that night, but I do know that I prayed I would never try and argue with God again. He knows what is best for me. That evening the officer asked a question that is common at youth events. He asked if anyone felt called to be an officer. In my heart and in my head at that time, I didn’t feel a calling, so I remained comfortably in my seat. But the officer asked another question that did surprise me. He asked “If you felt God calling you to officer-ship, would you go?” I thought about it a minute, and decided that yes, if that was what God wanted of me, I would go. But I never really expected to have to answer that call.

A few months ago, I don’t even remember exactly when, but I started feeling like God wanted something more of my life. I started off my search on the internet. I found myself typing in the search engine “Crestmont College” which is the school for officers training. I remember thinking to myself, what am I doing? I have never ever thought I would be called to officer-ship! But my heart was changing. I also began asking some of the officers I know about their experience with training and as an officer. I was even asking some officer’s children how they liked being a part of the army. I could really feel the spirit opening my heart to the idea of officer-ship. I can also tell you honestly that I never in a million years thought I would be standing here today telling you my story. But I do know that whatever God has planned for me is good. Jeremiah 29:11 tells me “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I know that God’s plans may not be what I envisioned, but I do know that he plans to prosper me. I have just one more verse God has given me to stand upon and that is Isaiah 43:1b-4 “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you.