Dear in Christ,
I’d like to encourage you with the story of my mother in law. Praise be to God for her new life and true happiness, which I can see everyday.
Andrew’s Signature
I have been hearing about God from the time I remember. I was raised in a family with catholic traditions. My mother used to take me to church every Sunday. When I was a child I remember thinking of God as of my judge. I knew He created the world but I was afraid of Him. When I wasn’t obedient my mother always told me “God will punish you”. This was the God I knew.
When I became adult I lived in an relationship without God’s blessing for 20 years. For 15 years I was totally away from God – I didn’t need Him. When my husband left me I became single mother with 17-year old son and 11-year old daughter. Few years earlier I became sick with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) sickness. It was very difficult time for us.
At that time I wrote on my wall in my sleeping room “God, please take everything: who I am, what has happened to me and where I’m going, under your protection”. I used to read this text many, many times every day. Completely unconsciously I gave my life to God giving Him everything.
Later I started attending catholic church – I liked this ascetic monastery and the songs sung by the monks before the Mass, which were taking me to the spiritual world. I remember listening with all my heart to one of the priests and watching Pope’s – John Paul II visit to Poland.
One day, “by accident” I went to my parish and saw Gospel Joy’s concert. For the first time in my life I heard joyful Christian music. I liked very much the way they have shown their faith and love for God. I could not believe what I saw: Baca, the choir director was dancing like 
crazy in my church! I have never seen something like that before!
Cross Ways Pull QuoteOne year later, at the Gospel Joy workshops in 2005 in Poznan my daughter (Ania) has met Andrew, who now is her husband. Andrew was an amazing person to me because of the way he talked about his faith in Jesus. I listened to him and what stayed in my heart was “I no longer live but Christ lives in me.”
I also knew he regularly read the Bible. It made huge impression on me. Sometimes I think to myself: if our ways would not cross with Gospel Joy’s both Ania and I would still be stuck in our sins, away from God’s acceptance and eternal life…
Because Ania’s and Andrew’s wedding was getting closer they have invited me to 5N Church (later I found out the invitation was done on purpose – to bring me to evangelical church J).
There, I have heard that God loved me, that He was alive, that I could have relationship with him like with my father, that He wanted to bless me – here in this world and most of all, that I could have assurance of my salvation! I have experienced family atmosphere in this church.
I cried often hearing words which were spoken by pastor Piotr straight to my heart! I understood that for all of my life I was searching for the truth and I have finally found it. I learned I didn’t have to work for my eternal life, that everything had been done on the cross and my role was to trust and allow Jesus to be the Lord of my life.
Soon, consciously I gave my life to God in a very simple prayer. I so desperately wanted to be closer to his love for me. At the beginning when I started reading the Bible I didn’t understand much but slowly God was revealing understanding for me. So many times He used my daughter, Ania, who was explaining everything, step by step to me.
I got baptized in July of 2008 and for me this was very important confirmation of the new identity I had in Christ. Next day after the baptism I felt very light, free and empty inside as white sheet of paper and I told God to write on it every day, and that I didn’t want to live according to me anymore, but I wanted to live with His will for my life. I also asked him to use me to build His kingdom.
God continued to change me. I’m more at peace and much more joyful then I ever was in all of my life! Above all God gave me peace I never felt before. When difficulties come I no longer treat is as a catastrophe. I thank God for the gift of life because with my sickness I could as well not be around anymore.
He is everything to me now: my Father, my mother, best friend and brother – he’s all those who I don’t have and whom I can’t count on. I’m no longer afraid of death because I’m sure my future life will be in heaven and it will be perfect, beautiful and without pain.
For the last 5 years I’ve been working for Gospel Joy ministry as telemarketer and office assistant. I contact potential Gospel Music Workshops’ participants. I’m so happy I don’t have to sell maps anymore. I never thought that my work could be service to God and that it will include MUSIC that I so much love!
I’m so grateful to God that He used my children: Andrew and Ania to come to my life. I used to be one sad and frustrated person. Now I feel alive and happy! Thank you Lord for my new life!
Basia