"If I were to have died before I turned 17, I probably wouldn't have entered into the pearly white gates of Heaven. Yes, I had “Christian” labeled across my forehead my entire life, but I was never connected spiritually with Christ until my parents divorced when I was in 10th grade. Up until then, I had always followed the rules and gone to church, but had never had to rely on God for anything. But once the divorce took place, I was immediately thrown into the darkest time of my life, and didn't know what to do. I became extremely depressed and it seemed like no one reached out to help me. This period lasted about four months, until I attended Winter Chill, a high school church retreat at Fellowship Bible Church. There, one of the youth pastors pulled me aside and asked me how I was doing (I guess he had heard about my situation). We sat down and talked for no longer than fifteen minutes, but it was enough to set my life back on course. He was the first person in four months to see if I was alright. However, I still wasn't very close to God, but I was feeling less depressed and lonely over the next year now that I knew somebody actually cared to know how I was feeling. In the summer leading up to my senior year, I attended a mission trip to Guatemala with my church. After exploring the intense poverty of the nation, I had a revelation: my life is nowhere near as bad as the majority of the Guatemalans, who have to live on a concrete slab and eat tiny pieces of spoiled meat just to survive. When I arrived back to the states afterwards, I cracked open my Bible for the first time ever. And I just started reading, and slowly, after several months, began to have an intimate relationship with Christ. My faith grew even stronger my freshman year in college. I had attended Ouachita Baptist my first semester, and was not enjoying it due to the fact that I wasn't making any close friends and I felt like I was missing out on so much. This slipped me into a slight depression (although nothing compared to a few years earlier) and forced me to read my Bible religiously. I ended up transferring to the University of Arkansas, which I am much happier with, but still struggled making any close friends. I continued my Biblical habit to remain close to God. The school year ended, and now I am now less than a week away from heading back up to Fayetteville, and I pray that God allows me to have a better year but still to be just as connected with him as I was freshman year." Age: 19 years old Attends: University of Arkansas Little Rock, Arkansas
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"My name is Devonte Hopkins and I am a young, 19 year old, African-American college student from Shreveport, Louisiana, who is going into his last year of Pulaski Tech will be moving on to a 4 year college that is still undecided. Studying in Criminal Justice I can truthfully say that I'm a blessed young man the wreck I got in changed my life. The doctor's told me they don't know how I made it out the wreck alive "I said by the grace of God I did" I survived a crash that many died in my parents rushed to the hospital crying thinking I was gone I was in a wheelchair neck brace in a hospital bed for a few days the very next days I'm back at home I can honestly say by the grace of god I'm blessed to still be here and not taking anything for granted my man Michael Harrison been with me through the whole process I can say I'm blessed to have him we have been good friends since middle school I thank The Lord I'm still here and will continue to praise him through out my life." Age: 19 years old Graduated: Parkview High School Shreveport, Louisiana (Lived in Arkansas for 7 years) "Ok well I grew up in church, a Christian school and a Christian home! So I had always heard about salvation and wanted to be saved and one night I was laying in bed and I could just feel God pulling at my heart and so I ran and woke my parents up and we talked and I asked Jesus into my heart. Well years passed and I was younger so ya know I had heard to live for Christ but didn't really understand and then like 2 years ago this speaker was in to talk to the youth for a retreat called front liners and since I had been in youth I never went to anything and no one really knew me cause I always had cheer or dance so I started dreading going to church and then that day the speaker was there he talked about living for God and just pursuing Him and after that message I could just feel God like pushing me and I was like "no I'm fine I'm fine" and that night we went to the service and he spoke again and I couldn't hold it in any longer so I rededicated my life and after that the youth pastor asked me if I wanted to do front liners and he'd let me do it even though I missed a few days and I didn't cause I didn't know very many people but I told him I might show up the next day and when I got home someone had posted Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose", and it encouraged me to go. And that was one of the best experiences. And I got to tell others about Christ and I made all sorts of friends from different states. And I mean since I still struggle there have been times it's like everything happens at once and I've struggled with my faith alot. I still do because ill get distracted and not spend time with in His word or just talkin to Him and it comes Sunday and its like oh wow i havent been the best servant of God now have I but He always pulls me right back and just shows me His grace and understanding. And it just amazes me because I'm so undeserving of Him but He still loves me and takes care of me. And the trials He puts us through we might not understand at the time but they only make us stronger. This last school year was the worst year of my life. Tons of drama and losing good friends and sickness and struggling. Like I struggled with bad anxiety last year and had tons of breakdowns and stressed until I made myself sick but then I found the verse Philippians 4:6, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." And it was like wow. What am I doing. God is right there willing to help me and take all of this from me. And it really helped me to grow closer to Him." Age: 16 years old Attends: Arkansas Baptist High School Benton, Arkansas "There have been two very profound life changing moments in my life: one in 2001 and one last month. Many people do not have things like these happen in their lives, but sometimes, that is God’s plan. In 2001, two days after Christmas, I lost my apartment complex to a house fire leaving my family and me homeless for two weeks. It was unfortunate because I had to celebrate my 8th birthday in a hotel, with family relatives I have never met, and not be able to fully enjoy the holiday season. Although I was down and young, my parents told me to keep praying and we will be alright. Surely enough, my school community, Holy Family of Nazareth in Irving, and other family friends heard about this and were quick to help giving us clothes, food, and other donations to help us get back on our feet. Before the break was over, we were able to try to get some of the remaining pieces and memorabilia from our house and move into a new apartment! I was so happy to be in a home. Even though we lost a home, we were able to find another one all before school started up again. Looking back, we could have given up and been moving from hotel to hotel not knowing where we would live. I am thankful God gave my parents the guidance to find us a dwelling place for some time because being homeless was way too scary and unpredictable. Last month (June), my father, Don James Udofia Sr., passed away after having many stomach problems stemming back to 20 years ago. To say I was heartbroken would be an understatement. I can’t and still not can process the fact that my dad, a giving, God-fearing, loving, hardworking man lost his battle. This summer has been close to hell. I cannot exaggerate. I hate the feeling of something missing or missing my dad. Another twist to this though was my dad and I were trying to figure out who would be able to cosign a loan for me so I would be able to go back to school for my sophomore year at Arkansas. We tried and tried but we were unable to get one before he passed. Losing my father and possibly my education in a matter of weeks..? It was hard to find happiness at all in anything because I felt like everything was going wrong and most things people told me were just empty promises. I was deeply depressed; I was lost. No matter what anybody said, I would still feel sad, emotionally weak, drowsy, and flat out down. Fortunately, we received help from our Nigerian foundation in the DFW area, Nto Annang, as well as the Jesuit College Prep community in Dallas led by Susie and John Leinbaugh, and we were not only to find a cosigner for a loan for me to go back to school but we were able to pay off most of the funeral dues and some of the outstanding bills. This really relieved some stress off of me because dealing with my dad’s passing, my education, working, and trying to support my mom and helping my brothers all at once seemed almost unbearable. About a month later, one night when I just couldn’t take all of the stress, I broke down. I prayed after talking to my mom and my friend Xan. I prayed that I could get through this trying time. The next day, I was able to find a cosigner and some of my friends were able to come into work to visit me. It was really the little things and the thought of my friends that helped me feel better. I thanked God that night for putting such wonderful, caring friends. Yes, I received many texts consoling me about everything that happened, but I think actions speak louder than words and if you are not going to put your words to actions then you’re a hypocrite. I’m not going to tell you that I’ve completely changed my ways of living because I haven’t and I can’t say that I am a church freak as well but my faith has definitely grown much stronger than it was before everything started. I have grown in my responsibilities as a child of God to pray to him during the good and during the bad because he is always there, even when you think he is not. I can’t tell you either that I don’t think about my dad anymore, that I don’t wish he was here to be my father and friend, that I am able to sleep easy anymore, that I don’t think about all of the “what if’s”, but I know that God will help me get through this time. He has blessed me with great friends and a family I wouldn’t trade for any amount of good things in this world. I have a deeper appreciation for life and for both of my Fathers upstairs. My family, my friends, and my God are the foundation of my being and I am grateful that God put these things in my life so I can appreciate them and be able to give back. One last thing I would like to say is I am not trying to boost myself or get you to feel sorry for me, but life and time are so precious; do NOT give up and appreciate life. Life is temporary. Mike’s reverend, Reverend King, texts me daily Bible verses and one that that really stood out to me is, “’He who follows righteousness and mercy Finds life, righteousness, and honor’ (Pro. 21:21). Today know that in following him, if you fall down, he is so close he will pick you up”. Most of the time, there are alternatives, they may be setbacks but once you reach your goal, you will look back at those hard times and say that you will never have to be in that position again because you worked at it and made it reality. There’s no need to stress about the little things in life because you ARE LIVING. You have the ability to change it and make your own decisions! Take control of life, keep your family and friends close, and live because some do not get to have the same privilege of good health as you do!" Age: 19 years old Attends: University of Arkansas From: Plano, Texas |
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