Yumiko describes being very troubled on the inside. She thought she was worthless, she felt very alone and hopeless, and she had suicidal thoughts. Yumiko decided to try going to church. At first, she found it hard to hear that God loved her. Yumiko describes encountering Jesus and learning how He bore her sins and pain. She has found true hope and joy in Him.
This story was produced by MovingWorks, Austen, Texas, USA.
Scott describes how God drew him into a relationship with Him as a kid. He also shares how he developed an addiction to pornography that was destroying his life and his marriage. Scott’s wife got sick with breast cancer. Scott also had two affairs and was suicidal. God intervened in Scott’s life and reminded Scott that he belonged to Him and that He loved him. Scott has received the biblical counseling he needs to be set free from his addiction, and to restore his marriage.
This story was produced by Saylorville Church, Des Moines, Iowa, USA.
Nedelka grew up in Nicaragua where she experienced sexual abuse by a trusted employee of her family. She describes how this experience colored her thinking about men, children, and her own body. Nedelka and her family moved to Canada, where Nedelka’s emotional pain led her to punish her body through anorexia. She tried to commit suicide several times, including by starvation. She describes sensing God speak to her while she was wasting away and urging her to return to Nicaragua. She went back to her home country, to her mom, who had become a Christian. She shares how she encountered Christ and how she learned all about the gospel.
As soon as Nedelka trusted in Christ, her relationship with food changed. God used the teachings from a women’s ministry – Revive our Hearts – to give Nedelka a Biblical understanding of womanhood, marriage, and children. God transformed Nedelka’s wrong thinking about children – and she and her husband now have adopted several children.
Nedelka’s story was produced by Revive Our Hearts, Niles, Michigan, USA.
Ritsuko felt unloved as a child and she was a very unhappy adult. All she wanted was love and acceptance. She talks about her eating disorder, drinking, and promiscuity. She wondered if Jesus could be God, especially as there were other gods worshipped in Japan. Nevertheless, she went to church, sang gospel songs and placed her faith in Jesus. She talks about the joy of knowing that God loves her. She has a genuine smile now and desires to show Christ’s love to others.
Ritsuko’s story was produced by Moving Works, Austin, Texas, USA.
Tomasz describes the devastating toll that his alcohol addiction took on his life: he lost several jobs, his marriage fell apart, he became homeless. Tomasz had moved from his native Poland to England. In desperation and hopelessness – he tried to kill himself several times. He had been brought up in a Communist country and had been an atheist all his life. Tomasz was homeless and found hospitality and a welcome at a church. He began to read about Jesus Christ and responded in belief to what Christ had done for him. He now has the joy of being a follower of Christ and is set free from his old ways.
Tomasz’ story was produced by Westminster Chapel, London, UK.
Chris describes how he made a profession of faith as a kid, mainly because he was afraid of hell. He became angry with God following the death of his grandparents. Chris describes getting heavily dependent on alcohol and drugs, in an effort to deal with depression. He became suicidal and got help through Biblical counseling. Guilt over his own actions threw him into more depression and he attempted suicide. Following his hospitalization and rehab, Chris had a lot of thinking time in which he placed his faith in Christ. He talks about how his depression is still part of his life, but now he can share his burdens and anxieties with Jesus. He doesn’t feel alone.
Chris’ story was produced by Soteria Church, Des Moines, Iowa.