A
adamrobertk
Guest
Just thought i'd share this as my journey was long and twisted
Born and raised in a non-Christian family, first came into contact with the church at 13. We went to a Christian youth club on a Thursday night to basically play football (soccer to you americans), so because of this I went to a Christian camp. We originally went because it offered 7 days of football and a trip to a theme park for quite cheap, the 1 hour bible study each day was a bareable price to pay for me. The first year I went I began getting the thoughts of Christianity in my head, but didn't commit. I basically had a crush on a committed Christian girl and like all young guys I thought if I said I was I may be able to get closer. The camp was one of the best experiences of my life and I did not get closer though she became a good friend for a year. Went again the second year and had another blast but at this camp I met the girl who would ultimately change my life.
That year I met a girl and we had instant connection. We stayed in touch and began dating (at 14, was so cute looking back) though then things got serious. She opened up to me with the things that were going on in her life. The issues were deep and because of my emotional connection I could not give the correct advice or the correct help (something I became abundantly aware of within days). So we talked and we broke it off, then became very good friends. From then on whenever she needed help with her self harm or eating disorders I got a call. This went on for 6 years. She would call me any time of day and we would get through it. OF course this led to some inconvenient calls (I lost countless girlfriends over my commitment to this). One thing she did not stop was nagging me to go to church.
Then I began to have issues. I fell into a rut, a mix of alcohol and depression. At one point I was drinking 5 beers and a combination of shots each night, never feeling better always worse. At one point I got so pent up, I reached for a blade and slit my arm. The release was unreal. For the next 3 months my nights would go the same, drink, get depressed, cut, feel relieved. At one point, while drunk I got that annoyed at my friend nagging me to go to church I made a deal, I would go once if she promised to never mention it again. So one evening i'm heading to a bar and see a sign for an evening church service, something drew me in. Went, hated it, wanted to punch 95% of the people in there and wanted beer. However I got chatting to 1 man who really connected with me. I got saved that night and have been going for 7 years now. I stopped the blading instantaneously and the heavy drinking within the next month. Now I've seen my friend get healed (thanks to Mercy Ministries), seen her meet her soulmate (I had the privilege of meeting him at a mercy ministries conference and knew then my job was over and he could take care of her now). The next day I met the woman i'm now married to.
Born and raised in a non-Christian family, first came into contact with the church at 13. We went to a Christian youth club on a Thursday night to basically play football (soccer to you americans), so because of this I went to a Christian camp. We originally went because it offered 7 days of football and a trip to a theme park for quite cheap, the 1 hour bible study each day was a bareable price to pay for me. The first year I went I began getting the thoughts of Christianity in my head, but didn't commit. I basically had a crush on a committed Christian girl and like all young guys I thought if I said I was I may be able to get closer. The camp was one of the best experiences of my life and I did not get closer though she became a good friend for a year. Went again the second year and had another blast but at this camp I met the girl who would ultimately change my life.
That year I met a girl and we had instant connection. We stayed in touch and began dating (at 14, was so cute looking back) though then things got serious. She opened up to me with the things that were going on in her life. The issues were deep and because of my emotional connection I could not give the correct advice or the correct help (something I became abundantly aware of within days). So we talked and we broke it off, then became very good friends. From then on whenever she needed help with her self harm or eating disorders I got a call. This went on for 6 years. She would call me any time of day and we would get through it. OF course this led to some inconvenient calls (I lost countless girlfriends over my commitment to this). One thing she did not stop was nagging me to go to church.
Then I began to have issues. I fell into a rut, a mix of alcohol and depression. At one point I was drinking 5 beers and a combination of shots each night, never feeling better always worse. At one point I got so pent up, I reached for a blade and slit my arm. The release was unreal. For the next 3 months my nights would go the same, drink, get depressed, cut, feel relieved. At one point, while drunk I got that annoyed at my friend nagging me to go to church I made a deal, I would go once if she promised to never mention it again. So one evening i'm heading to a bar and see a sign for an evening church service, something drew me in. Went, hated it, wanted to punch 95% of the people in there and wanted beer. However I got chatting to 1 man who really connected with me. I got saved that night and have been going for 7 years now. I stopped the blading instantaneously and the heavy drinking within the next month. Now I've seen my friend get healed (thanks to Mercy Ministries), seen her meet her soulmate (I had the privilege of meeting him at a mercy ministries conference and knew then my job was over and he could take care of her now). The next day I met the woman i'm now married to.