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Many
are the plans in a man's heart but it is the Lord's purpose that
prevails. Proverbs 19:21
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| Akia
McFarlane is a member of the St. James Church of the Nazarene and is
at present the President of the NYI at the church. |
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A few years ago the St James Church of the Nazarene held a crusade
at Carenage. I sat in the congregation in awe as the preacher
Reverend George spoke about how great it was to serve the Lord and
what great rewards awaited us in heaven.
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He vividly described how he
would celebrate when he entered heaven's gates, I didn't want to be
left behind. There was an altar call and I stood hesitantly and
walked to the stage. I accepted the Lord that night. After that
encounter anything that had to do with worshiping God really
attracted my attention. I joined the choir, started to go to Sunday
school regularly and I also attended N.Y.I., eagerly wanting to
learn more about God.
The importance of prayer was always stressed in my family and my
mother ensured that my sisters, my brother and I attended Vacation
Bible School and Sunday school when we were younger.
But when I decided to get baptized, it was not a good idea in my parents' opinion. They thought that I was going through a phase and that I would soon grow tired of trying to live a Christian Life style.
My Pastor visited my mother and he tried to convince her that I had made the right decision. It was hard trying to make her understand that it was my decision and this was what I had chosen to do with my life. Family members called me a hypocrite and my friends did not understand why I would want to go to church when I could easily go to parties and according to them, enjoy life. I was even accused of looking for attention.
Doubt started to step in "Was this the right decision?" "Was it worth it?" I asked myself over and over again if this was what I really wanted for my life. Through all the doubts and the fears that had stepped in I knew deep down that God was going to use me in some way and that all I had to do was trust in Him and believe in His promises for my life.
I got baptized at the age of fourteen. It was not an easy period in my life and living in a neighborhood and with family members that are not Christians has proven to be quite a task. There are times when I am chastised, they make little jokes calling me a "church girl" and for some time, my family waited to see when I was going to change my mind.
During the following years as I started to mature spiritually there were obstacles. My health was affected on some occasions and there were times when I had to battle episodes of depression and
self-doubt. I knew God had plans for my life but so did 1. I tried to change the course that I knew my life was heading but I couldn't.
I soon surrendered to His will and allowed Him to take complete control of my life. I stopped doubting my decision and concentrated on learning more about His word. I enjoy the life that I live I would not change anything about it. I know that there will be times when trials come but I am prepared to go through them. I am allowing myself to go where God wants me to go and to do what I know He wants me to do.
Malissa's
Testimony
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