Rachel’s Testimony
by:Rachel
I have been greatly blessed by being raised in a home with a family that are lovers of God and follow the way of Jesus Christ. I can now look back and see how blessed I was to have parents who were committed to sharing that truth with me. I gave my life to Christ at an early age and have been continually growing in the knowledge of who He is ever since. There have been times when I’ve wondered if I am growing at all, times when I feel that I’ve come to a place of stagnancy. But through it all I have discovered that there is one thing for certain–God is faithful to me even when I prove over and over again my lack of consistency and my failures. Sometimes I find it hard to accept His grace. I find myself trying hard to do things right… to earn His favour. But time after time I find myself in a place of brokenness, ensnared by my own sins and having to once again choose to accept that Christ paid the price for my freedom and that it is by God’s grace alone that I can walk in that freedom. May I never cease to marvel at His mercy!
My family and I have been involved in ministry for most of my life. For my first fourteen years my parents were involved in church life and pastoring in B.C., Canada. Then in 1997 they moved down to Mexico along with my sister, brother, and I to become involved in serving the Mexican people. Four years later I moved to Minneapolis, MN to go to a missions college–Bethany College of Missions, where I later met my husband, John. During my four years there I was able to spend time serving in other countries and getting exposed to different cultures. I spent three weeks in France with a group of young people where we were able to serve in practical ways, as well as perform in a cultural art festival. Then I spent nine months with a college friend in Italy, where we taught English, developed friendships, and learned about the Italian culture. I believe that these were priceless experiences to prepare me for the calling God has placed on my life. A month after my graduation from college found John and I in San Francisco, serving in the ministry of Prodigal Project. This experience was as cross-cultural for me as the time I spent in France and Italy. I had never had any exposure to the hippie sub-culture or the travelling lifestyle before and experienced many challenges. I found myself constantly falling back on God’s grace for the strength to be stretched… and to be taken out of the box of my own comfort zone. I find that every place this winding path of my life takes me, it is impossible to place one foot in front of the other if I am not in a place of faith and trusting. I fail, yes, but the One who is greater than I is bigger than all my failings.