I HAVE
been a Christian of three years now. Twelve years prior to that
I was a Jehovah's Witness.
My sister, who is a year older than me, became involved with
the Witnesses first, and I just followed her.
We were very close, we were each other's best friend. During
those years I was reasonably happy, although having the "fear of Jehovah" on
your shoulders takes a lot of joy out of life. I never questioned the organisation
with the elders, even though sometimes I had doubts.
One day I was reading a newspaper about the situation in Wa
co, Texas, and I wondered; "How could anyone believe such a lie, to follow
a man like David Koresh, who claimed to be Christ?"
I asked myself; "What if I'm being lied to, also, what
if Jehovah's Witnesses are a cult like people say, what shall I do, who can I
ask?"
There, at the end of the article, was a telephone number, a "Helpline",
praise God!
I didn't ring it straight away, because I was afraid. Sometime
later I found the courage to ring. I spoke to Doug Harris of Reachout Trust in
London.
Doug sent Janet (an ex-JW) to speak to me. She pointed out
the lies and deception of the Watch Tower Society and gave me her testimony.
I must admit, after she left, I was afraid again, as I had
never heard anyone talk so much about Jesus and I was afraid of what Jehovah
would think of me.
I asked my sister about Jesus and she quickly got the elders
on to me. Luckily I escaped with no punishment.
Later that weekend I returned everything Janet had given me
to her friend in Alveston, Derby.
I sighed a sigh of relief. Never again, I thought.
Unfortunately (or should I say fortunately) the seed of Jesus
had been planted in my heart and I rang Janet's friend and told her that I wanted
to know more.
On July 11th 1993 I went to my first Christian meeting at the
Assembly Rooms in Derby, where I asked Jesus to come into my life.
During my three year journey with Christ, I have made several
attempts to go back to the Witnesses.
Not because I believed they were true, but because the cutting
off from my sister and family has worn me down.
Their constant shunning, every day, has been too much to bear
at times. Also the same treatment from my Witness friends.
It's hard to describe the mental torment this causes.
Janet said it was as if I was on a piece of elastic and she
never knew, from one week to the next, if I was in or out. However,
I know that the love I have for Jesus; the Eternal Light He has placed in my
heart; and knowing He is with me in the darkness, is what brings me safely home
again.
It's been hard and painful, but it's also brought me closer
to God.
One night, through tears, I asked the Lord; "Why didn't
you bring my sister out first, I would have followed her?"
Jesus said; "Because I wanted you to follow me."
God has given me new friends, He's given me so much joy and
happiness. He has given my hope. He has given me my own personality.
He has given me a husband who is a tower of strength, whose love has overwhelmed
me at times.
God gave His own Son, Jesus Christ, to die for me, and all
he asks of me is that I believe and be baptised.
