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I was born in Vancouver, to British-born parents, and was baptized as an infant in the Roman Catholic Church. I grew up in a home with Christian influences and morals. My dad was a Roman Catholic, and my mom an Anglican, although we did not go to church every Sunday. Between the ages of six and 12, I attended two different Protestant churches, with friends from school, on a regular basis. During this time I joined a church girls club called Pioneer Girls. I remember hearing Bible stories, memorizing Bible verses and singing Christian songs. I even helped teach the little children in Sunday school.
At that time, I felt that I had given my life to Jesus. However, even though seeds had been sown in my heart, they did not take root. I was young and foolish, and what I learned in my elementary school years I turned away from and ignored in my high school years. I began to turn to self-help books, and adopted pieces of different religions to suit myself. I thought I had it all figured out – but I was wrong.
Between the ages of 13 and 40, I did not lead a Christian life. In 1994 I met my husband Brian, and in 1996 we moved in together. I think, even then, I started to feel that how we were living was wrong, but I pushed it away. Everyone was doing it, so it must be OK, right?
On October 12, 1997, I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy named Ryan. After our baby was born, I felt that Brian and I should be married, and I felt empty, like something very important was missing from my life. I believe God was starting to open my heart and eyes to Him.
In June 1998, I got very sick. I went through a postpartum depression, and was hospitalized. While in hospital, I was diagnosed with manic-depressive illness. This was a very dark and scary time in my life. I remember reaching for my old King James Bible, the one I had been given as a child, turning to the 23rd Psalm and reading it over and over again. This helped to comfort me, even though my fear was still overwhelming.
After a year, my depression lifted, and I started to question the meaning of life. Who am I? Why am I here? Is there a God? Who is God? God put just the right people into my life to answer these questions.
In 1999, I met a Christian woman, Marcia Froese, at my workplace, and we became friends. We shared many wonderful conversations, and some of my questions were answered. Marcia invited Brian and me to her church for a Christmas dessert theatre, and I remember a beautiful, warm feeling enveloping me.
During the spring of 2000, Brian became very sick and ended up in hospital. Brian’s illness created financial difficulties. I was very worried and shared my concerns with Marcia. Marcia told her mom, Lorraine Wiebe, and Lorraine promptly gave Marcia a New Testament to give to me. I accepted the Bible and showed it to Brian. A short time later, Marcia asked us if she and her husband Kevin could drop by with a “care package” that their church “care group” had put together for us. I said OK, thinking it would be a little basket of goodies. When Marcia and Kevin came over, they brought bags and boxes of groceries. There was so much, it was wonderful. After they left, I burst into tears, wondering how people could be so caring to people they didn’t even know. I knew then that that love came from God, but I kept on questioning.
In summer of 2000, I went through another bout of depression. During this time, Marcia and my supervisor at work, Tracy French-Russell, were very concerned for me, and they encouraged me to share my feelings and experiences of my illness with them. God put both Tracy and Marcia there to help me through this very difficult time. One August morning, over the phone, Marcia asked if I would like to pray. First she prayed; then I prayed, asking Jesus to come into my life. Marcia then asked if I would meet with Tracy and her for a Bible study, as Marcia was not sure if I had fully understood what I had just done. So I went to Tracy’s, and we looked up Bible verses about sin, repentance and salvation. We held hands and prayed from our hearts, and tears were shed as we talked with each other. Afterwards, I felt a great weight lift and a calmness settle upon me. The fear of my illness was almost gone, and I knew that with God’s help I would be able to deal with it. From that day on, God was in control of my life as I started my slow and steady walk in the Christian faith.
God continued our spiritual growth by working through Lorraine Wiebe, Marcia’s mother. Lorraine called Brian and me and invited us to an “Alpha” program at her church. Brian and I attended the course and loved every minute of it. Alpha offers a very safe, friendly and non-threatening environment. In Alpha, you never feel scared or silly for asking a question; all questions are considered relevant. It was through Alpha that my husband Brian became a Christian.
In November 2000, Brian and I started to attend Bakerview Mennonite Brethren Church in Abbotsford, B.C. on a regular basis. We joined a “care group” and made new friends and continued our spiritual growth through Bible studies. I discovered that Christians actually have a lot of fun! The more we learned, I also realized how little we actually knew and how much more there is to learn.
God has continued to guide us towards Him. God has helped me so much in managing my illness and working through women in our church to start a support group for women living with depression.
God has been so good to us. On August 4, 2001, Brian and I were married at Bakerview Church, and on September 16, 2001, we dedicated our son Ryan to God. Then, on November 25, 2001, Brian and I were baptized and became members of Bakerview Church. That was so awesome, we both had our heads in the clouds for weeks. God has led us both to help with the Alpha program, and God led me to help with the children’s programs at the church. I love working with children and seeing new people come to faith in Jesus.
I am so excited to have finally found what had been missing in my life all those years. I have discovered the love of God, and realized that He is a living God who answers our prayers. I thank Him for giving me so much peace and happiness in my life.
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Sharon, Brian and Ryan live in Abbotsford, B.C. |
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