Thank
You Jesus! My name is Sonia and I just want to give God all the glory
and the honor for allowing me to be a part of this YC 34th anniversary
celebration. I went through Youth Challenge in 1987. I have to say that
the Lord’s been so good to me! When I walked into YC, I was a woman
with no hope, no future. I was using drugs, my life was a mess, but the
Lord opened the doors of YC. I have to thank my sister, Miriam, because
if it wasn’t for her sharing with me and witnessing to me, I wouldn’t
be here today. I want to say thank you, Miriam and [your husband] Rev.
Victor, for just allowing the Lord to use you so he could bring me into
the fold. And I want to say thank you to Bishop and Lady Willie for their
vision. If the Lord had not given that vision, YC wouldn’t be here
today. I want to acknowledge my wonderful husband, David. The Lord has
allowed us to be together, 11 years in March. That alone is a testimony,
because at one time in my life I was never committed to anything. I would
pick up and go, I would just run because I didn’t want to deal with
anything, but here I am today! I have been praying for years for my son,
Eric, and now he’s in the Men’s home! My other son Carlos
was taken from me when he was just a baby and I got him back when he was
7 years old — now he is serving the Lord! My God is an awesome God!
He’s awesome and I am so grateful. I would like to acknowledge The
Rev. Marva Downes, who said “Yes, Lord I’ll go”, becoming
the Director of the Women’s Home. I wouldn’t be here today
if she didn’t say “Yes”. I’m so grateful and I’m
so thankful just to be a part of this ministry. God bless You. Thank you
again for supporting this great ministry. The Lord Jesus Christ answers
prayers!
God
Bless you, everybody! My name is Jessie. Five years ago, I met the President
of the YC Alumni Association who let me know that there was hope for me.
He shared about YC and what it did for him. From a very young age, I was
bitter, angry, full of malice and strife. When I was young, one night
I was awakened and I saw my father crushing my mother in the head. The
next time I saw my mother, she was in a coffin. That experience haunted
me for many years. I used to wake up crying and angry and bitter. I swore
that I would get back at him and asked God, “Why did this happen?”.
Then things began to get even worse in my life. I started to get into
drugs. My brother died and I felt responsible because I introduced him
to cocaine and selling drugs. He got stabbed 78 times . Situations in
my life just kept escalating and my involvement with drugs kept on escalating
as well. Along with all the bitterness that was growing inside of me and
because of the drugs, I lost my family, and lost my job. I started again
from the bottom of the pile, I worked my way up. I was on my way to buy
a truck to start a business, but I got caught selling drugs and that turned
everything around again for the worse. I really got more bitter and tried
to take myself out with drugs. But the Lord didn’t let that happen.
One day I got tired, sick and tired. I cried out to the Lord and I came
to Youth Challenge. I’m grateful for YC. Now there’s a place
I can tell people about where I know they can find hope as I did! God
worked through this ministry to release the anger and the bitterness and
the hate I felt and put love and joy and peace inside my heart so that
I can love other people. It’s all about loving others, doing for
others. Right now I’m at the Bible Training Center. When I was younger,
I learned to be a cook. I didn’t stay with it then due to drugs
and other problems in my life. But today there is a passion to cook and
a desire in my heart to serve people, — I’m just thankful
for this ministry. I know there are others who are living like I was living
and need Jesus! We can help them! Thank you for your support! Please pray
for Youth Challenge to continue the good work in “Helping the Hurting”.
The Lord Jesus Christ heals, trust Him..!