My Testimony...(Elizabeth Blackwell)
I grew up in a 'Christian' school - read the bible all the way
through in year 3 and could find my way around it faster than
anyone else at school. But I never really got it. It was just words.
Fast forward to high school.
During year 8, we had the yearly assembly by the Gideons and all
year 8s received a pocket New Testament, psalms & proverbs.
And a sermon - on Psalm 1 that stuck with me - with its start,
blessed be.. what's that on about.
My bus got me to school at 7.15 every day. So I had a lot of
thinking time because of that. And that pocket Testament got read
- a lot - in those quiet early mornings, alone at school.
And God made those words real. Not just the words I l'd read to
brag that I'd read the biggest book in the classroom!
Coming from an unchurched background - once I'd decided to
follow Christ, I had no idea what to do with it?
So what did I do? I hid from my friends one lunch hour and went
to the school ISCF club. Eventually I told my friends where I
disappeared each week, and they came too.
But I didn't get to church til I was an adult. My family didn't go to
church. But when I became independent I found a church home,
got involved in the music and with scripture union camps as a
leader and even directed one.
When I got ill, the church was there for me. But I must admit
moving to Canberra was a big change. And I must say thank you
to all who've befriended me. When I was well, I was with all the
young adults, leading a young adult homegroup, etc but since I've
been unwell, it's the older folk who have been there for me
always.