Lisa’s testimony

I have been a Christian for Seven years and have been part of Oakham Church since 1999.

I have not always followed God in my life and although I believe I was raised with strong morals and guided extremely well by my parents I didn’t always follow the rules! After leaving school I did what most teenagers did, went clubbing, got drunk, partied hard and lived my life to the full or so I thought.

In 1998 I met my husband Matt. When we dated I remember thinking he seemed different to other men, he just seemed to have something about him that really attracted me. He made me feel special again.

After a month or so he told me he was a Christian and went to church. I wasn’t surprised at all, I thought it was lovely. He visited church on his own most weeks but one week he asked me if I wanted to go too. I jumped at the chance, I wanted to know where he went and what the people were like, and who was this God?

After a while I was going every week. The people were really loving and the atmosphere was electric but I was still unsure. I didn’t understand quite what it was all about. Over the months that followed I heard more and more about God and began to question a lot of things.

One weekend there was a lady’s day at our church, a whole day of fellowship and a guest speaker. I remember sitting next to one lady and dreading her talking to me incase she asked me if I was a Christian. We got chatting and she made me feel so relaxed.

In the meeting time, there was lots of singing and I remember just feeling really overwhelmed, like my heart was about to pop right out of my mouth! I began to cry, and at that point I knew God was calling me.

I went forward to the speaker and she held me and whispered in my ear, “I’ve been waiting for you, close your eyes and imagine your father embracing you. I did as she said and I was instantly received by God. This experience will never leave me, I know God choose this to be the way for me. I have been tested in my faith but I hold dear to that day where I felt him wrap his arms around me and call me home.

Since that day God has never left me. There have been days where I have needed him so much and felt his overwhelming love for me, but there have also been days where I have struggled and pushed him away and tried to live by my own strength, but God has never left me.

My life has changed. It’s not always been easy being a Christian, but I know that God is changing me within.

I am part of the worship team, and love singing for God.

Do I still love God eight years on? Yes! I’m so blessed that God choose me!