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| Service Times |
Contact |
| Sunday Service and Kid Zone 11am |
abunantgp@live.ca |
| Sunday Evening 6 pm |
Office: 780-532-0649 |
| Wednesday Bible Study 7 pm |
Fax: 780-538-4444 |
| Friday Youth Night 7 pm |
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Caroline's Story

My name is Caroline.I have 4 children:Heather, Chippy, Daina and Margaret.I moved to Grande Prairie late December and I believe with all my heart that God brought me here to save me.
One night in November 2004, as I sat on my living room couch in Yellowknife, I opened my Bible and started reading it.I cried to God, "God help me I am so unhappy!I want to live for you-show me the way!"I felt something touch my heart.I phoned my sister Rachel, who was in the Church of the truth in Grande Prairie. As I told her what had happened, she became excited and gave me her pastor's phone number.
I phoned Rachel's pastor and he prayed with me over the phone, telling me not to let go of my experience.My life began to change as I became hungry for God and hungry for the truth. Soon I made a decision to leave my destructive lifestyle behind. I left everything-booze, drugs, cigarettes, unwholesome TV and worldly music.
I saw things from a clear perspective. I saw people living in the darkness that comes with lies, fornication, sexual abuse and the resulting overwhelming hurt. This pain does not come from God. God provides the fruit of the Spirit:Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, kindness, goodness and faith (Galatians 5:22).
To get out of the bondage of this world I followed the word of God: I was baptized in Jesus name on January 1, 2005 and received the gift of the Holy Ghost on April 10, 2005 (Acts 2:38, John 3:5).I now feel peace and joy through the Holy Spirit. I no longer live in darkness and hurt.
The gospel is hid to those who are lost (II Corinthians 4:3) but God wants to save people who are in bondage.I give God thanks for all the things he's done, saving me from the worldly life of sin and pain.Jesus Christ has freed me from the things that had me bound.
When I read my favorite verse, I can identify with the Psalmist who says, "Thou has turned for me my mourning into dancing:thou has put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness!"
I pray that this testimony touch your heart with an example of the love that Jesus showed by releasing me from sin's grip. God Bless you in Jesus name. There can be hope for you!
As a visitor

After Obeying Acts 2:38

Sis Caroline & Family
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Mildred's Story
How God Brought Me Out
My name is Mildred, originally from Yellowknife, N.W.T.I moved to Grande Prairie September 14, 2004 to give my life to God and begin a new life.I was baptized in Jesus' Name at 1st Apostolic Church of Grande Prairie and now am a born again Christian.Before getting baptized and giving my life to God my life was totally upside down.I grew up knowing I would be an alcoholic because that's how I was raised, but I always knew that God was real.Even though there were many problems growing up we were all taught about God and prayed from an early age.I prayed to God because I was afraid of my life.I hated my life of gambling, drinking, drugging, fornicating, and things which caused me pain and no control to stop.
I knew God was watching me and I always felt so ashamed of myself because of the negative life I was living.I would cry most nights because I was so hurt and lost, and wandering around in circles trying to find something or someone to fix my problems.I went to treatment centers and other healing programs because I had such low self-esteem.I even gave up drinking a few years ago and turned to using marijuana, and smoking cigarettes.I did this to fit in and not feel left out from everyone that was into all of these bad habits.
All my life I was searching for truth and the meaning of life.That's when I heard truth, all the way from Grande Prairie to Yellowknife.My two sisters Rachel and Sharon came to Grande Prairie to go to college.My sister Rachel came to Church first followed soon after by my other sister Sharon.I would call Rachel from Yellowknife almost everyday because I was so unhappy, hurt and confused.Quite often, Rachel would pick up the phone and I would be crying and she would tell me about the Bible and something new she had learned in Church.So the more I called her, the more Bible studies she would give me.I started to believe as she talked about God and how good her pastor preached about truth.Everything she told me all made so much sense.One time I called and I was crying again and she just told me to give my life to Jesus and he will make you happy, you'll see.She introduced me to pastor Brown, over the phone, and he talked about God and why I was not happy without God in my life.
One night I was home alone, I started praying to God and I was crying.I was crying in tears, in lots of tears, and I asked him to help me, I cried, "show me the way God!" And he sure did, he brought me to a real true Church that speaks truth and nothing but the truth.You know, without God we are nothing and have no hope. We are either serving God or Satan.The Bible is truth and God is real.If this isn't true then the Bible would lie and the Bible says "all liars have their part in the Lake of Fire."I honestly have never felt so free until I was born again.I feel so happy and so much peace than ever before.I can actually cry out to him everyday and tell him how much I love him and how thankful that he brought me out.I no longer need to search anymore because the tiredness of going in circles is gone from me.Life is not about going in circles, it's all about serving God.I give God all my heart, all my mind, and all my soul.
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Sally's Story

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How God Brought Me Out
My name is Sally, originally from Gameti, N.W.T. I am a happily married woman. My husband and I love to praise Jesus, because Jesus blessed us with the true gospel to set us free from the destructive world.
John 8:32 "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Romans 6:18 "Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." Romans 8:2 "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
I went to Grande Prairie September 1, 2005 to give my life to Jesus. I was baptized in the name of Jesus at 1st Apostolic Church of Grande Prairie and now I am a born again Christian. Before being baptized and giving my life to God my life was influenced by a destructive world. I was born in a non-Christian family. In my childhood, I used to worship gods and my traditional and culture the way of life of the Dogrib people, I am a Dogrib person. Different festivities in all seasons of the year, during new year days and certain religious festival occasions. When I was young I grew up going to a Catholic Church. I went to Church like everyone else, thinking that I was Christian and I had no sins in me. Thinking that I will go to Heaven, because I was perfect and going to Church. But deep in my heart I knew was wrong to. I was like everybody else, right after church I talk about people and gossip, criticize people.
Nothing changed while I was going to Catholic Church. In my early young teen years I did lot of crazy things, like anger and no forgiveness, hate, alcoholism, judging others, tough love, adultery. I was raped and mistreated lots and got a lot of punishment for things that I didn't do .The only way to cover up the past was through laughter and smiles. I did not care who I hurt because I had been hurt in the past. So that was tool to get back at people by hurting them and took revenge. I was very ashamed of myself, so I covered up lot of things, hiding my true feeling of past hurt. So I started to have relationship with guys, so I could cover up the hole in my life. I used the guys to cover up the hurt and used them to get my own way; I would walk from them because I thought that was tough love for them.
I used to deny a lot of things like the rape and get into bad relationships. I used to get into emotional doldrums and carry the burden from the past, and my family gave me a hard time. I used to try to please my family because I wanted them to like me, but they were in control of my life, by my fear of them. There was a lack of communication through my family because I was scared to say anything to them. All my life I was afraid and scared of my family, because I was ashamed of what happened to me. I used to criticize people who followed Jesus and make fun of them because I was into the world. Some people come up to me and talk about Jesus, get away from me. I used to say my life is good, but deep inside I was hurting and carried a burden around with me.One day I moved away from Gameti with the job into Rae.
I was happy to moved to Rae and lived with my grandmother. And I started to date Bobby Gon and my parents did not like that idea of me dating him. But we continued to date each other, till we moved in together and started living together in fornication, nobody told us that was wrong. Not even the Church we went to, Galations 5:19 They never said anything about the fornication. Through the years we have had to work on a lot of things and some times there was a lack of communication. So one day I told him about my life story about what happened to me, and he understood and he supported me through it. Later on, we started to go to Bible Study, because I wanted to better my life. Then I had a miscarriage and hurt inside and started denying that I was ok. I did not want people to know happened to me about my miscarriage or my family to know about it. I used to say God why did this happen to me. But I was still searching for Jesus to rescue me from the world.
We were going to Bible Study with this guy, who was into the occult, (WITCHCRAFT )also a hypocrite. Misleading us with false teachings. Feeling bad all the time. Now we have proper Bible studies and feeling a lot happier reading the word and hearing the word as it is written in the Bible, nothing added or omitted.
Jesus, Repentance, Salvation. Acts 2:38
Repentance, Proper Baptism, and Holy Ghost
Now I'm much happier and living for God!
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Brittany's Story
I am so thankful that the Lord brought me out of this Dark world at the right age. I love God so much, and I appreciate him. I got baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ on November 13/05 and received the Holy Ghost the same night.
I wanted more than Baptism, I wanted the Holy Ghost and the Gifts of the Almighty Lord.
Jesus sure blessed me, now it is my turn to please him and earn gifts from Heaven.
My life was so dull; I practically depended on the next day. As myself in the world I wore funny clothes to try to fit in, I used make up, and played sports like the rest of the girls. I wasn't really being myself (when you are in God's hands you are the way he created you to be). My parents bought me whatever I wanted. I had good friends and nice parents, money and a big house, but I lusted after the pleasures of this gloomy world, but knew I wasn't going to get them. I tended not to focus on my problems because it had already happened. I thought I was so free and glad, but I wasn't. Everything was going downhill in my life, I tumbled and rumbled, and wasn't getting anywhere. I had shattered dreams that I thought I was going to achieve in this dark world, but now I'm under God's plan and he has real blessings and dreams for me. You can't get anywhere if you don't have Jesus in your life. Jesus is the great provider, and without him we are nothing. Praise God
The greatest thing you can do for yourself is to get to really know Jesus.
My walk with God has only just begun.
Jesus has so much in store for me it's hard to wait!! All we have to do is be Faithful, Trusting, and have a Joyous Spirit. NO MATTER HOW BUMPY AND STORMY THE ROAD GETS I AM GOING TO LIVE FOR GOD WITH ALL MY HEART AND SERVEHIM TILL THE END. I never want to give up on Jesus!!
God will make a way, so don't worry about anything! I want my spirit to be on FIRE for God.
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Carmen's Story
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. Psalms 61
My name is Carmen, I have three brothers and one sister. Among the many places that we lived we spent most of our years growing up on a farm in Niton. At the age of eight my parents separated and I alone went to live with my dad in Courtenay B.C. We were not financially stable and often times we would be roaming the streets seeking help and looking far a place to stay. But if this had not been the case, we would not have ran into a small one God church. Shortly after attending this church for a while my dad got baptized in Jesus name. Usually
Being a sad and depressed man, I had witnessed a drastic change in my dad's life. Never before have I seen my dad so happy. But he soon forgot what God had done for us, and we were back to our old sinful ways. My dad being more down and depressed than before.
Though I was pulled out of the church at a young age, I would soon find out that the call of God was still upon my life. The word of God was planted in my heart and I would never be the same.
Later in my teens I moved back with my mom and soon forgot about the church. But deep down I had a strong love for God. I did my best to live a pure and clean life. Over the years I soon found myself getting involved with other churches, hardly remembering what I was taught at a young age. At the age of 17 I had made I had made a decision to live with my uncle in Bolivia, then later to Brazil. I was to go help in the missionary field. With less than a month to go, I was packed and ready to leave. But just when I thought I was doing the will of God in my life, I happened to tag along with my brother to church one night.
After attending services I realized that I needed to obey Acts 2:38 to be saved. I was torn between going to Brazil or staying and learning more about the truth of God. I knew I had to make a decision fast, for the time was running short. I struggled with this decision. In my carnality I thought I could go to Brazil and start attending the same type of church over there. I thought to myself, its not everyday you have an opportunity like this. But after more preaching and bible studies I knew it was the will of God to stay in Grande Prairie. I obeyed Acts 2:38 and started a new page in my life. I got in the church at the age of 17 and to this day have no regrets. I love truth and I love living for God. I've never been more complete and I have high hopes for the future. I believe the promises of God and serve him all my life.
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Barb's Story
Hello, my name is Barb, and this is my testimony of the good news of Jesus Christ and what he has done for me Hallelujah!
When I was very young, my parents had me baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Around that same time, I was sexually abused. As I grew into a teenager, I became rebellious. Church was boring, my family was dysfunctional and I decided to turn my back on God. I learned that there was a God and there was a devil.
About the age of 16, I was drinking alcohol, doing drugs and skipping school. Eventually I dropped out of school and had an abortion. My life was spiraling downward as I went from relationship to relationship and had two children out of wedlock by two different dads.
Nine years ago, I got sick and tired of being sick and tired and I cried out to God by saying a simple prayer of faith. I asked God to forgive me for turning my back on Him. God began to change me; He took away my desire to do drugs and go to the bar. I was convicted and asked the man I was living with to move out because I knew I was living in sin before God. I also stopped wearing makeup, started to wear dresses and grew my hair long- no one told me to do these things, it just felt right.
I went from church to church and even got baptized for a second time. Sadly, I only remember the pastor putting me under the water something didn't seem right. I struggled with loneliness, depression and anger. Year by year, I became unhappy and unsatisfied. Praise God that I had enough of His word in me that I knew something was missing. That something was the Holy Ghost!
Again, I began to cry out to God, Lord, I want to be born again (John 3:7), Lord, I want love, joy and peace in the Holy Ghost (Galatians 5:22).
In May 2006, with little faith, I went back to the church that the Lord led me to six years earlier � 1st Apostolic Church of Grande Prairie. Here, I received the word of truth by my pastor JESUS IS GOD! (John 1:4) and, there is no such thing as the trinity (Deuteronomy 6:4).The Word also says, How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? (Romans 10:14).
On May 28, 2006 I got baptized for the third time in the name of Jesus Christ, Then Peter said unto them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and unto your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call (Acts 2: 38-39).
While seeking God on August 08, 2006, I felt the power of God go through my body, And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13).
On August 9, 2006, I received the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, (Acts 2:4).
Today, I genuinely have love, joy and peace in the Holy Ghost. I have what the scripture declares, � To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:(Colossians 1:27).
It is my prayer that you too will receive the good news of Jesus Christ, for the Apostle Peter knew the Christ and his passion when he said, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9),
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Harriet's Story
“A Leap of Faith”
On October 15, 2001 I had just come out of church service feeling there was a lot more to know about God: What he wanted me to do and be was on my mind. I was tired of feeling empty, dark, and lonely. I stopped on the sidewalk and I cried out to God, “Please help me, take me to the church of your choice with a preacher man who preaches the whole truth, lives, breathes walks the truth.” I asked God for a pastor who would be on fire in his walk with God.
On October 20th, a friend came to me with a message telling me there was a guest speaker coming to a church in town on the weekend. She said he had been pasturing for sixty years. I got all excited. I knew God had heard my prayer. On the way home I bought a newspaper and turned to the church bulletin. There was the picture and name of the speaker and where he was appearing. I could not recall seeing a church at that address; but, it was as if God spoke to me and told me to go.
With address in hand, I went in search of the church. When I came to the place two men were standing out front. I asked if this was where the guest speaker was appearing. They asked me if I wanted to come hear the speaker and my reply was that I planned to do so!
I was very excited and nervous when I entered the little storefront building. I was greeted by a small group of very friendly people. The pastor of the church was Pastor Ken Brown. He spoke for a few minutes then introduced the guest speaker: Ralph Reynolds.
As he preached, I heard I needed to repent of my sins and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. I learned I could be filled with the Holy Ghost. I was very excited and now I knew without a doubt that God had heard my original prayer.
On October 22, 2001, after the Sunday Evening service I repented of all my sins and was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Oh what peace, joy and lightness! I felt like a newborn.
On October 29, 2001, I was blessed with the infilling of the Holy Ghost and spake with tongues. Wow I’m so glad Jesus lifted me out of the pit of sin and corruption of this dark world we live in.
I was delivered from fornication, idolatry, addiction to Soap Operas, dancing in night clubs, bitterness, anger, low self-esteem, worry and chasing after things to satisfy my flesh. I am free from all the sin that I carried since I was a young child.
All because I obeyed Acts 2 verse 38….I’m born again, set free and finally forgiven. I give God all the glory honor and praise. I took off the old robe and put on the new. What a leap of faith!
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Tammy's Story
In 2001, my parents had been split up for a while, about 2 years. I had been taking care of my three younger brothers for some time. My friends were getting older, and we all wanted to party.
My mother drank most of the time, so it’s not like I never got drunk before. So, I started to try other things. I tried stuff I’m not proud of at all. Then I wanted a boyfriend. One of my friends had a bad boy brother.
I went to go visit her one day and by chance, he was there. My friend told me not to go out with him; she said he was not nice at all. I just told her I could handle it. What a mistake. He was 6 ½ years older than I. I was extremely naïve. I lied about my age and we stayed together even when the truth came out.
He was moving back to where he came from and I wanted to go with him no matter what. I thought I was so grown-up, yeah right! He worked for a little while, but my loving dad supported my boyfriend and me for a period of 5 years. The third year in, I became pregnant. My dad gave him many chances to work and support me, but in the end it was all thrown back in his face. My second son was born 10 ½ months later.
Now, I realize that I was not an angel in these situations. I did and said many things I regret. So many things happened! I was drowning in my own mistakes. Things got worse between my boyfriend and I after the baby.
I took a good look at my life and it disgusted me. One of my boyfriend’s cousins lived walking distance from us and I visited her quite a bit. She went to church and I always wanted to be around her. I always asked her questions and she was a good friend. I told her about all the things I was going through and after having talked to her I left him…but he followed me.
I ended up living with my Dad, but my family seemed disappointed in me. Everyone seemed to doubt me; I even doubted myself. I was broken. I had run, but my problems seemed to follow me. I was stuck in a rut-always fighting no matter what. One of my brothers was going to this church where there were some Natives. My uncle told me that it would be a good experience for me. I kept it in mind.
When Christmas came around, I made up my mind. I looked deep within myself and broke the biggest tie. I left my boys’ father, mentally and emotionally. I gave him no more control. He tried hard to get me to crumble.
I met this lady in Zellers during the Christmas rush. It was kind of late and I was trying to finish my shopping. Standing in line we started to talk. She asked me if I was walking and I said yes-I had my trusty double stroller. She offered me a ride. Let me tell you, that blew my mind! A perfect stranger was going to take me home. On the way home she gave me an invitation to church and asked if I was getting a food hamper. She offered me a ride to get it. I couldn’t even believe what I was hearing. She didn’t even know me!
I asked her, “What’s the catch?” She laughed and said “come to church”. A few months later I saw the same lady and she invited me to go to some special services. In the back of my mind, I was thinking this lady was too nice. She helped me out and all I had to do was go to church once.
I desperately wanted to walk a different path, to change all my ways. I was baptized in December. I made a brand-new start in my life. I get along with my family now. I’ve quit drinking, smoking, and drugs. I’m getting to know my real self now- and you know- I’m not that bad of a person! I just made bad decisions. From here forward I’m going to make the right ones!
I’m not just doing this for me it’s for my sons, too. I want to give them a good start. A life we all could be proud of. No more regrets. No more heavy burdens. No more empty promises. I guess you would say a head start for a great future.
I don’t know what you see while you read this, but myself, I see hope.
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Ted's Story

Let me introduce myself, my name is Ted and what I am about to tell you can truly change your life and lead you on to a new walk and a new life.
I was born in Grande Prairie in the 70's but grew up on a farm about 40 miles north of the city. Life on the farm was tough and not always what I would have called “ideal”. I grew up in the Woking area and attended school in Rycroft and Spirit River. My parents raised me and my siblings in a good home but not really what you would call a “Christian” life. We tried going to a Jehovah Witness church for a while, but that didn’t work out. We tried going to a non-denominational church in a small hamlet called Wanham, but we found nothing there either. We were searching for something , but we never could find something to fill that empty space in our lives.
By 1991 I had moved to Grande Prairie to find a place to live and a job, time to strike out on my own! The thought of finding that “something” was always at the back of my mind and I never stopped looking for that missing piece to that puzzle called my life.
1995- I had now been in the Big City for a few years and things were starting to fall apart all around me. I had moved from job to job, had lived with some of my relatives, my friends, and it had finally come down to me living in a tent in the middle of someone’s living room in their apartment. I had very little or no privacy at all and every morning I would get up, fold up my “bedroom” and put it way for the day. I spent my days watching television, working and going to the bars and the movies. At night I would lie there in my little room and think to myself “there has to be something better than this!”
God has a interesting way of working in a person’s life, and every time that I had cried out loud or in my heart, He heard every word and set things in motion for me to meet Him. On a warm autumn evening as I was coming home from work I had decided that I would stop at a Mac’s store for something to eat and drink, little did I know that this would a turning point in my life.
I walked into the store and was surprised to see a modestly dressed group of people in dresses and suits. I started talking to them and found out that they had come from church earlier and they were there to visit with one of the people that worked at the store. After they had left I stayed behind and started to talk to that lady that worked at that store. “Who were those people?’ I asked. She told me that they were her church family. I asked her about a red and white van with the sign ACTS 2:38 EXPRESS written on the side. “That’s our church van,” she said.”
“What is ACTS 2:38?” I asked.
That was the start of my new life! While she worked I followed her around the store and she gave me my first real bible study that I had ever heard. After she invited me to come to church and the following Wednesday night I found myself sitting in a rented room in the college listening to a loud-mouthed preacher yelling and hollering about ONE GOD, JESUS NAME BAPTISM, and ACTS 2:38! I new I had found what I was looking for! This right.
I continued to attend that church, got baptized in Jesus Name and on December 24 in the presence of my new family and friends I was filled with the awesome power of the Holy Ghost! I had never felt anything like it before, what joy filled my heart and soul, and for the first time in my life I felt truly happy and “complete “ in mind, body, and soul. That lady who worked at that store where it all began…I married her and with her we had a lovely child who we named Jonathan. We both continued to serve The Lord for six years until June 13, after being diagnosed with cancer, she went home to be with God while I stayed behind to carry on the work.
I still live for God as of this day, I have a wonderful church family that truly loves me for who I am, I have a wonderful couple of friends in the church that have gladly helped me and have taken on the task of helping me raise my son. I’m so glad I have the love and support of God, the church and the knowledge that this thing is true, real and right. I can honestly say that this the only life for me; God’s been there for me through it all!
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Ramona's Story
My name is Ramona Sanderson and this is my testimony of how Jesus Christ saved my life! I was born in the late 70's, my father is Lawrence Catholique and my mother was Florence Sanderson. My mom had me in the city Yellowknife N.W.T and I was her one and only child.
A lot of people remembered my late mom because of her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, she got baptized in Jesus name and dedicated her life to God trying to help a lot of people out, including her family. When I was at the age of three years old in 1981, she suddenly died in a tragic plane crash. She was on her way to Lac La Biche’s Bible College. There were two other people that was in this terrible plane crash the pilot and another women.
From what I’ve learned was that my mom, until her last breath asked her pilot if he believed in Jesus Christ, sadly his answer was no and they both died shortly after the plane crash. The other woman is still alive today somewhere from this tragedy. I hardly remember the funeral that took place in the city of Yellowknife at a church called the Pentecostal. The church was packed full of people that was touched by my late mom’s loving kindness from Jesus Christ our Lord God Almighty!
The Feil family was really close to my late mother and they tried to adopt me! By rights I got adopted to my grandparents because of biological issues and family standards. My grandparents, uncles and aunts took this tragedy very hard! My grandparents or my mom and dad turned to alcohol to numb the great pain from this tragedy. The fourteen of us brother’s and sister’s had to deal with alcoholic parents in a small town called Ft. Resolution in N.W.T.
We were all abused, physically, emotionally, mentally spiritually and neglected from alcohol; I was punished for crying because they couldn’t stand to see me cry because it hurt them to much! One of my older sisters took me back to the city of Yellowknife the N.W.T to come and stay with her, until she started drinking and got abusive herself. So at the age if eight years old I ran away making my way back to the Feils that was my late moms best friends, they took me in without any financial help from anyone but the grace of God in their hearts.
As a child I started to rebel against them and their rules, not understanding what they were doing was a blessing. For four years I was out of control and too hard for them to handle, so they had to send me back to my grandparents. By this time my grandparents had moved to another small community called Lutsel k’e, about forty five minutes from Yellowknife by airplane. This was a very different and new experience from a Pentecostal Christian home to a Catholic home. I was about twelve years old by this and I decided to get into smoking cigarettes, drugs, alcohol, cursing, disobeying my grandparents, lying, stealing and fornication.
By this time I had been very rebellious, suicidal and felt very out of place. There were times I tried hard to fit in with the rest of the teenagers and I only got to feeling more sorry for myself which got myself into fights of being offended and frustrated.
When I turned nineteen years old in the small of Lutsel k’e I sat on this board that had to deal with a lot of travelling to Yellowknife for meetings. After these meetings were done I would go out bar hopping, drinking until I’d blackout. One night in Yellowknife I met this guy and I gave him my hotel room number and decided to hook up with him after bar closing. I decided to get pregnant from him because I thought that a baby was an answer to my emptiness and loneliness that I was feeling that I was feeling inside my heart. I wanted to give all my love to and for someone to love me back.
Well I sure got blessed with a brand new baby girl named Wendy in 1999. I couldn’t wait to have this brand new life with her thinking that this was answer to all my problems. A year later I was back to drinking and with a empty burden in my heart again, even though I loved this baby with all my heart, I was still missing something. By this time I met a guy that said he would love me and my baby girl, he said he would take care of the both of us. Of course we met in a bar and he said this while we were both under the influence. So we decided to stick it out together. I got pregnant not too long after meeting him, in 2001. I was very blessed another baby and this time the baby was a boy named Brendan.
By this time my boyfriend and I had moved in to an apartment with our two kids. One of my aunts got him a job in the diamond mines. This job was a shift of three weeks in the mines and then one week back with us, and then he would go back out for three more weeks and come back for two weeks then back out starting at three weeks again. This was really hard for myself and the kids and especially on him too of course. We both kept telling ourselves that the money was good rather then looking at how our family was falling apart!
We had it made buying anything and everything the world could offer, of course that wasn’t good enough so we both started to drink a little too much on his time off. We both started to drink more and we would get into arguments, until one night I got introduced to crack cocaine! Our relationship was falling apart dramatically; I was getting way to jealous of him even looking at another girl.
I started telling him that I wasn’t good enough for him and we started fighting and yelling right in front our kids. We both stared using drugs more and drinking more often then we should have been! Every time he would leave me alone with the kids I would cry for him and the kids ended up seeing their mom very sad, unhappy, lonely and angry. I loved him so much I gave him my whole world, I wanted to marry him and I couldn’t live without him and I couldn’t bear the thought of him being with another women! When he was at work I started using drugs by myself with other dealers and drug addicts. I was very good at lying to my family, friends and especially myself!
I tried drug treatment centres about three times in my whole life nothing could help me by this time. A lot of my friends thought that I was a fit mother, but really behind closed doors I was an alcoholic and a drug addict with a very heavy burden! On September 2/05 my adopted baby brother Darren Lee Sanderson took his own life right out side my town home! I was the last one to see him, he told me that he was going home and waved at me in the early morning sun. That was the last I ever saw him!
Right after my family and I had buried him back in Lutsel K’e, I went back to Yellowknife with a big self-blamed burden, trying hard to adjust to this difficult time in life! My boyfriend and my two babies moved to a new place because of the tragedy that took place at the old one! I had put my kids into school and I started nursing at the College in Yellowknife while my boyfriend still worked at the mines. We managed to keep ourselves busy; I was really doing well in my education until the Christmas of 2005!
During the holidays my family had come to the city for the holiday shopping and most of them stayed with me. It was at this point of time that I had finally broken down and started drinking and smoking crack cocaine again. This one night not to long after the holidays my kids got taken away from me by Social Services. After my kids were taken away from me I started using crack cocaine hard! My boyfriend had enough and left me too. I was then left with no kids, no man that loved me for five years and a dead brother! I had nothing except my cigarettes, booze, crack cocaine and all sorts of friends that used with me! I still had my big three bedroom place; it was a nothing but a big party house! A lot of friends thought I had it made, I was young, pretty and very gangtsa! Boy did I fool a lot of friends of mine underneath all that makeup, drugs and alcohol! Inside I was screaming out to God to save me from the spirit of suicide!
Satan had total control over my life for one and a half years. In the fall of 2006 I met another guy who was in the same situation that I was going through. We thought that we needed each other, we met in the same bar where I had met my kid’s dad! He had just broken up with his girlfriend; he told me and taught me a lot of new things. He cried and laughed with me, his family grew up with my family! My grandpa and grandma new his parents really well when his parents were alive. We where both missing our children, he saw me through treatment and stood by me. He wanted to see me get my kids back and he said he loved me! We supported each other and I thought I fell madly in love with him, giving him my heart! He wouldn’t love me back the way I wanted him too, he wouldn’t hold me or my hand in public only around his family or on his own convenient time! We would argue about this of not going out in public. We had the spirit of shame and guilt of neglecting our kids upon us. We thought we loved each other but it was one big lie! I would cry for him because I was too scared of being alone even though he was lusting after my friends and making a fool of himself under the influence of alcohol! I thought I needed him and couldn’t live without him, I gave him all I had my love and sobriety.
We had both moved to Lutsel k’e and I landed a job as an Executive Assistant while he worked in and out of town! During these last two years of what I was going through, my seven sisters were praying hard to God and begging me to just leave it all and move to Grande Prairie, Alberta! They waited upon the Lord and had tremendous faith on the Lord! I always told them I would move, but I would make excuses. “I have to keep my job”, or “What about my kids?” or “I don’t have enough money” or “I’m waiting for my boyfriend” or “I can’t leave without him” or “Where would I stay?” This continued until one day I ran out of excuses and got sick and tired of being sick and tired. Especially really exhausted from all my sins right down of hitting rock bottom of no hope!
Prayers are very powerful! God is very powerful and merciful! I went through a tremendous life changing experience! On March 23, 2007 I had decided enough was enough, I told myself what more can I loose? I hadn’t seen my sisters for a very long time so I decided to make a move! Well boy was I in for a shock stepping foot off that bus in Grande Prairie, Alberta! I had about five sisters surprised me at the bus station, they were all crying and saying “Welcome home!” I was thinking “Home? But I don’t have a home”. Right away they grabbed my bags and we went to a restaurant to eat. All this time I was so amazed at how each and one of them had changed so much! They looked so peaceful, happy and they where all glowing they had nothing but love to give me.
I was thinking, “Hey I want some of what they have!” After we finished eating I had my last cigarette. I was very nervous and all I kept thinking about was my kids, my boyfriend and what I had just went through on my own, I just wanted to jump back on that bus and go back to Yellowknife! I wanted to see and talk to my kids and Justin! I wanted Justin to hold me so much, I really was screaming for him inside! I just thought that no one knew what I was going through, all I wanted to do was cry and cry, but I just held it in. My sisters had taken me to one of their places, and they all were excited. They were trying to surprise one of them that I hadn’t seen and really missed!
When she walked in that door and saw me, I finally broke down I cried and I cried in her arms, I wanted to cry more but I just held it in. I was so amazed at how much all my sister’s children had grown up so much! That first night I was thinking, worrying and crying about everything! I needed too and wanted to talk Justin so bad! The next day was a Saturday and all my sister’s took me out shopping! They kept putting all these skirts and in my cart! I shopped and kept so busy that whole day I finally had a chance to talk to my boyfriend, I was finally satisfied that I got to talk to him! I missed him and my kids so much!
The next day was Sunday everyone was getting all dressed up! I was like, “Am I supposed to dress up too?” My sister Sharon was like, “Come as you are." So I did, I was really nervous and felt a tremendously low level of self-esteem, guilt, shame, pain, loneliness, hurt, anger, bitterness, depression and was very ashamed of myself. I felt too proud to let go of some things that first Sunday.
Finally on Palm Sunday April 1, 2007 Pastor Robe-From asked me “So Ramona are you ready to get baptized next Sunday?” My answer was “I don’t know.” Pastor Robe-From answered saying “Why wouldn’t you want to be ready for the Kingdom of Heaven to live and stand for God?” This took me of guard so right away I said “Okay, yes I’m ready!” A week went by quickly and soon it was Easter Sunday April 8, 2007 my baptism day! As I was getting ready to be baptized in Jesus Name, all I could think of was my kids and then how I had to let go of my boyfriend and everything else that involved sin!
I stood in the baptistry feeling very nervous and I was crying just from everything that was going to change the rest of my life! My pastor took me and said “Ramona I now baptize you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins!” In the water I went, and after I came out I was a brand new person!
All my twenty-eight years of sinning went to the North, to the West, to the South, to East to the four corners of the earth and was forgiven in the Name of Jesus Christ Our Lord Heavenly Father! He loved this World so much he gave his only Begotten Son to give us a second chance to get to the Kingdom of Heaven To Praise and Worship him.
“Then Peter said into them, “Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38
Well on May 19, 2007 I did receive the gift of the Holy Ghost on a ladies retreat in Hope B.C.! Now I’m in the process of getting my children back after two years, I have a good job as a Family Support Worker and happily living in Grande Prairie, Alberta! Every day is a brand new day and I live and dedicate my life to our Lord Jesus Christ! He is coming soon in a twinkling of an eye; this is a time where we have to be ready for him! Because we only have so little time to keep making excuses to keep living in sin, we live in dispair. Well I’m living and standing for Our True Living God Forever! Are you ready to meet God in heaven or are you getting ready? God Bless Every one of You! In The Name of Jesus Christ our Lord, That was, That is and is Yet To Come! Amen!
For They That Wait Upon The Lord Shall Renew Their Strength They Shall Mount Up With Wings As Eagles They Shall Run and Not Be Weary They Shall Walk and Not Faint! Teach Me Lord Teach Me Lord How To Wait!
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