Testimonies
Testimony- A written or spoken statement giving evidence or proof of something—a public recounting of a spiritual experience.
They overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. (Revelation 12:11)
Hello! My name is Dennis,
I am 53 years old and I would like to share with you some of my life experiences that led me to a personal relationship with God and how it totally changed my life. I was a very shy kid and we moved around a lot, so I was always the new kid almost every year, sometimes twice a year. One year I was not happy at all about having to move because I had finally lived in a place where I had the best friends in the world. Needless to say I was full of resentment and didn’t understand why we always had to be moving. My attitude was such that the new friends I made were the ones who did a lot of the wrong things, like smoking weed and drinking a lot, popping pills and skipping school. In a few years this all led to using cocaine and other drugs and life really got crazy. I started losing everything that was dear to me. my family, my friends. my reason for living. I tried to quit but I soon realized that I couldn’t no matter what I did. As my life spiraled out of control to the point of giving up and taking my life, I fell to my knees and cried out to God for help. God is always there just waiting for a moment like this to come in to our life and change it for something so much better. It’s been an amazing journey as I began letting God in my life. Nineteen years ago I first came to the Manna House and started working their program of recovery focusing on developing a personal relationship with God. There were attempts to try things my way again, only to find out once again that my way just didn’t work. Finally in 2005, I graduated the one year long recovery and restoration program at the Manna House. It has been one of the biggest highlites in my life. Even at that, I still had a lot to learn about living that God wanted to teach me. He used every one of those good times and the not so good times to teach me to depend upon Him all the time and not just some of the time. A little over a year ago, I was given the honor to come on staff at the Manna House and God has used that opportunity to teach me so many things through His Word, His Spirit in our devotion time at the Manna House, in our classes, in our church services and in our everyday life here. The only way I can explain the change and transformation that has taken place in my life is that, IT’S A MIRACLE, something that only God can do. I am very greatful for all that God has done and I would encourage anyone looking for change or needing a miracle like I did , to reach out and seek help at the Manna House. You could be just one choice away from your miracle.
My name is Larry,
I grew up in a small town in Oklahoma in the 60’s, raised by two great parents who taught me the value of hard work. Summers were spent mowing lawns and playing Little League baseball. Mom made sure we were all in church on Sundays, Wednesday nights, and Vacation Bible Shool every summer, I also sang in the choir. A typical Southern Baptist upbringing. After high school , I went off to college where I endulged too much in the drugs, alcohol, and partying. I quit school, moved to the big city, and got a job. I held that job for twenty six years. I bought a house and life was great until my drinking became an overwhelming problem. I quit my job, went to rehab for a week, sold my house, and moved to Texas to live with my sister and brother-in-law. They gave me a job in their business and life was good again until my drinking caught up with me again along with my spending every week-end at the casinos in Louisana. I wore out my welcome and they let me go from my job. My plan was to head back to Oklahoma, but God had a different plan. My two sisters took me to the Manna House and dropped me off there to work the recovery program. I was not happy! But over time I came to realize this is where I was meant to be. Living in a house full of men is not easy. I started attending AA meetings, going to church on Sundays, fellowshipping with others who were going through the same things I was. Life became good again. I was given a job in the Awakening Coffee Shop as part of the ministry at the Manna House. Twelve years later I’m still there. It’s a great place to get one’s life straightened out, tell others about the Manna House and what God has done in my life. I am really thankful that I came here. I thank God for the relationships I have, the teachers and volunteers that give of their time so unselfishly, and having that relationship with God again. I am content with where I am in my life and I realize what is really important.