I was not raised in a Christian home, neither of my parents were Christians. The way I got to church was when neighbors took me. As a child I attended a Nazarene Church, and later, when I was a teenager, I attended the Nazarene Church on Cherry Street. As a teenager I gave my heart to the Lord and it was an awesome feeling. I felt so good and close to God that I wanted my family to get saved. This did not happen, and without Christian support in my life, it wasn't long before I strayed away from the Lord.
Later in life, when I was married to Dick, after being previouly divorced, I was ashamed to go to the Nazarene Church. I felt like I would not be accepted, so I went church hopping and shopping, never finding a church home.
When my sister in Texas got sick with cancer she came to Bluffton and spent her last days with me. During this time, Pastor Dan White and Ralph Beals came to visit. It was during this visit, Pastor Dan asked me if I was ready to accept the Lord as my Savior. I prayed, and this is when I started my new life in Him. There were no fireworks, so I was concerned, but I knew something had happened in me.
I was afraid to attend church, remembering how the church used to be, not allowing make-up, jewelry, no slacks for ladies etc... but I found that the Bluffton Nazarene Church was very accepting. I learned that God wants us there no matter what we wear.
God has changed me and I have a desire to serve Him. I remember the first time I was nominated to District Assembly. It was such an honor. To me it was God's assurance that He loved me and that I was His and that He would use me. There has been lots of valleys in my life, but I know that I am not alone, He is with me. I was given a CD of God's Bible College and there is a song on it that I like. I believe the words, God says you're going to make it.
I feel that I need to do more for God, and that I am not doing enough. It is my desire to retire early so that I have more time to do God's work.
