By Teena Myers

“I was a young single mother trying to make a living as a waitress, said Pamela. “One of my coworkers always talked about Jesus and the love of God. I didn’t want her to preach to me, but I eavesdropped on her conversations. My parents and eight siblings were devout Catholics. I’d never heard that we could be forgiven without confessing our sins to a priest or that we could have a personal relationship with God. I was going through a very difficult time, and Michelle always seemed so happy. I wanted to know why, so I asked her to tell me about Jesus. She took me in the bathroom to explain the gospel message, and I prayed for salvation.” 

Pamela’s salvation experience left her on the fringe of her family. She was, according to her mother, the worst of her eight siblings and now a traitor to the Catholic faith. Her parents were not pleased, and her siblings mocked her. Their attitude changed when they saw Pamela’s behavior change dramatically. When her parents learned through a friend that Pamela planned to be baptized by immersion, they attended the baptism service. Pamela was surprised and pleased to see them in the congregation. After the service, they prayed to accept Christ as Pamela had but chose to remain in the Catholic Church. 

“I ended up helping Michelle as much as she helped me,” Pamela continued. “She was amazed how quickly God answered my prayers. Michelle decided she lacked the childlike faith that I found so easy to embrace. The church we attended taught God is a father who loves us, and I believed it. I know if it’s something good for me and I ask nicely, God will say yes. If I’m not supposed to have what I ask for, he will say no. I trust God to do what is best for me, and that sums up my walk with God.”