Maria’s Testimony

I’ve been through so many phases in my life that I usually give my testimony according to the needs of the listener and when someone asks me to share my testimony, I ask: Which one? My conversion, living with a non-Christian for 15 years, trauma suffered during the adolescent years of a son, healing from cancer, my development in the different ministries which the Lord was pleased to equip me, my life as a professional reconciled with my life as a Christian, the mid-life years and how I overcame, or what I’m overcoming now?

I will narrate the first one: My Conversion

In January 1980, my father had a stroke and was hospitalized. It was 15 days of inner-turmoil where I questioned God.

After three or four days of my earthly father being hospitalized, my brother’s pastors arrived to pray for him. When they finished they informed the family that my father had accepted the Lord. They asked us to get into a circle in order to pray for strength for our family and at that moment I made the prayer of faith. There weren’t any tears or repentance, simply a strong security that I was making a covenant; one that I shouldn’t break.

Precisely midway through that year, my father’s dream that I graduate with a degree from a university was fulfilled.

I had married against his will (but with his support) at the age of 19. He made me promise that I would finish my studies, which I began seven years later, and that year I would finally give him the satisfaction of attending my graduation. However, God had other plans. My father passed away and the Lord comforted me by giving me a vision of my dad walking in heavenly places with Jesus.

I was very proud of my achievements, but my inner life was a disaster. I had violated the commandment to “honor your father and mother that it may go well with you all the days of your life.” I was reaping the fruits of my disobedience. I had a seven year old son and I was considering getting a divorce. Until one day, Christ came and revolutionized my mind and my heart and showed me His desire that all men be saved. I began to seek His presence, reading His Word became my passion, and discovering the love of my God filled me completely. Through these experiences, I repented of my sins and affirmed myself in my faith. As the years passed I was baptized in water and I received the Holy Spirit when I rose from the waters. In 1995 I witnessed my husband’s conversion. My son, having been instructed in the ways of the Lord, has remained faithful in his walk with Christ. His wife was also baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

God has been good; He has given me the grace to remain in His ways for 30 years and in the same fellowship which brought me into salvation. I have been a witness to healings in my life and I continue enjoying His love, His grace and His mercy towards me and my family. I have seen each of His promises fulfilled.

“I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of God in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13