Sharing my Testimony
Cynthia Hazel, M.A.
Raised in a Christian household, my mother took me and my siblings to church every Sunday along with my grandparents. My grandmother, the town's piano teacher played for church services, while mother taught Sunday School, and grandfather served as the church treasurer. My dad didn't always attend as he drove a bus for a living, and his schedules didn't always jive with church service times. I didn't know it at the time, but later found out that he was an unbeliever.
My father was an alcoholic who viewed the world as a dicey game because he was convinced that he had bad luck. He spent his life blaming others for all the hard blows he was dealt early in life. As his first child, born premature and early in my parents’ marriage, my father never accepted me as his own; instead, he viewed me as some other man’s child he was forced to raise. I discovered later what a profound effect he would have on my life.
It was like I lived in two separate worlds, because of my mom's and grandparents' influence, I became a Christian at 7 years of age. Just looking in her eyes told me I was important and deeply loved. That is something I did not get from my dad. Grandmother taught my siblings and I Bible verses, taught us how to cook, and played with us. She also told us that Jesus loved us and would always listen when we prayed. Because she demonstrated God's love to me so beautifully, I could not help but accept Jesus as my Savior.
When it was my turn to be baptized, she and Mother helped me get ready for church. I was so happy as I put on my new yellow dress, in preparation for Sunday evening church. Grandmother commented as I returned to the living room.
“Pretty is as pretty does.”
I didn’t understand what she meant; I was too focused on what lie ahead. After carefully climbing the steps into the baptismal area that night, my heart raced as I stood, waist deep in the water with Pastor Reynolds. I made the decision to keep my eyes open during the entire experience. And even though my eyes hurt after he lowered my body into the water, I did not flinch because I wanted to show Jesus how excited I was to accept Him as my Savior.
Growing up, my grandparents' kitchen was a gathering place with smells of homemade bread and desserts while Bible games extended our mealtimes. Along with attending school, vacation bible school, and church services filled my days. At 13 years of age, I rededicated my life to Jesus Christ and was involved with church and school activities. Unfortunately, my parents divorced a couple of years later as their differences became too impossible to reconcile.
At age 21, and a single-parent, I attended a Campus Crusade for Christ Conference with one of my closest friends and had a life-changing time. I still remember how it felt to become a spirit-filled Christian. As a young adult, I better understood what is meant for Christ to die on the cross for my sins, but also to rise again and conquer death, hell and the grave.
I wandered away from God for a while, tried different denominations, paths, and beliefs, but then gladly returned to my faith in my 40's, more committed than ever to serve my Lord Jesus Christ. I now feel closer to Him than ever before. I enjoy reading the Bible and spending time in prayer every day as I learn more about the men and women who sacrificed for their faith and why. Let me close by saying that Christianity is worth it, because Jesus Christ is a wonderful Savior, guide, and friend. And because of my relationship with Jesus, I do not feel empty or lonely anymore. It is my hope that you will come to know and trust, and to accept His salvation offer, for you will never regret it.
If you are ready to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, please go to this webpage: www.compellingtruth.org/personal-savior.html
Please feel free to reach out to me with your questions, I am happy to share my experience with you as making the decision to become a Christian is the most important one you will ever make.
My father was an alcoholic who viewed the world as a dicey game because he was convinced that he had bad luck. He spent his life blaming others for all the hard blows he was dealt early in life. As his first child, born premature and early in my parents’ marriage, my father never accepted me as his own; instead, he viewed me as some other man’s child he was forced to raise. I discovered later what a profound effect he would have on my life.
It was like I lived in two separate worlds, because of my mom's and grandparents' influence, I became a Christian at 7 years of age. Just looking in her eyes told me I was important and deeply loved. That is something I did not get from my dad. Grandmother taught my siblings and I Bible verses, taught us how to cook, and played with us. She also told us that Jesus loved us and would always listen when we prayed. Because she demonstrated God's love to me so beautifully, I could not help but accept Jesus as my Savior.
When it was my turn to be baptized, she and Mother helped me get ready for church. I was so happy as I put on my new yellow dress, in preparation for Sunday evening church. Grandmother commented as I returned to the living room.
“Pretty is as pretty does.”
I didn’t understand what she meant; I was too focused on what lie ahead. After carefully climbing the steps into the baptismal area that night, my heart raced as I stood, waist deep in the water with Pastor Reynolds. I made the decision to keep my eyes open during the entire experience. And even though my eyes hurt after he lowered my body into the water, I did not flinch because I wanted to show Jesus how excited I was to accept Him as my Savior.
Growing up, my grandparents' kitchen was a gathering place with smells of homemade bread and desserts while Bible games extended our mealtimes. Along with attending school, vacation bible school, and church services filled my days. At 13 years of age, I rededicated my life to Jesus Christ and was involved with church and school activities. Unfortunately, my parents divorced a couple of years later as their differences became too impossible to reconcile.
At age 21, and a single-parent, I attended a Campus Crusade for Christ Conference with one of my closest friends and had a life-changing time. I still remember how it felt to become a spirit-filled Christian. As a young adult, I better understood what is meant for Christ to die on the cross for my sins, but also to rise again and conquer death, hell and the grave.
I wandered away from God for a while, tried different denominations, paths, and beliefs, but then gladly returned to my faith in my 40's, more committed than ever to serve my Lord Jesus Christ. I now feel closer to Him than ever before. I enjoy reading the Bible and spending time in prayer every day as I learn more about the men and women who sacrificed for their faith and why. Let me close by saying that Christianity is worth it, because Jesus Christ is a wonderful Savior, guide, and friend. And because of my relationship with Jesus, I do not feel empty or lonely anymore. It is my hope that you will come to know and trust, and to accept His salvation offer, for you will never regret it.
If you are ready to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, please go to this webpage: www.compellingtruth.org/personal-savior.html
Please feel free to reach out to me with your questions, I am happy to share my experience with you as making the decision to become a Christian is the most important one you will ever make.
