Angela's Testimony
I grew up in a non-Christian home with one older brother. My parents were both professionals. Their primary concern was that we had to "look good" on the outside - new cars, nice house, etc. My family appeared normal but it was very dysfunctional. I experienced all kinds of abuse for many years. I escaped reality by living in books. At 15, I discovered that drugs and alcohol would ease my pain & give me confidence. Soon I graduated to stronger & harder drugs. Even the addicts and dealers thought that I needed to slow down or I would die. God showed me very clearly that he wanted me to come to Teen Challenge. I obeyed. I was enveloped in shame, had trouble speaking & rarely looked people in the eye. Already God is changing those things. I have realized the bondage I was in all my life, & now know who I am in Christ! God is taking away the hurts of my past and replacing them with dreams of the future. Each day I experience the unconditional love of God and of those around me. Jeremiah 29:11 has been very meaningful to me; "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord; plans to prosper you and not to harm you; plans to give you a hope and a future". For the first time in my life I am excited about the future. I know that "what Satan intended for evil, God will turn into good", & I will be able to help many who have had experiences similar to mine. I love the Lord with all my heart and am committed to serving Him for the rest of my life.
I was raised in a
Christian home with 2 older brothers. Also I was home schooled so I had
a very sheltered up bringing. When I was 14 yrs. old my brother who was
almost 3 yrs. older than me committed suicide. I became very depressed,
angry & withdrawn.
I turned to the occult became and studied & practiced Satanism. I
left home at 18 yrs. old & went to Vancouver where I quickly became
involved in the street life & began to experiment with all sorts of
drugs and alcohol. I soon came to hate the street life so I went back
to Abbotsford.
Through drug use and involvement in the occult I lost all sense of reality & ended up in a psych ward in a local hospital. There the doctors told my parents that I had lost all touch with reality & that it would be a long time before I would ever be released form that ward. Thank goodness that God had other plans for me & that my parents & many of their friends were praying for me. I was miraculously released in 5 days! Soon after that I re-dedicated my life to Jesus Christ.
There was a battle raging with-in me! One side of me wanted to be able to serve God the other side just wanted harder drugs. At this time I cried out to God!!!! I had heard about Teen Challenge Women's Centre from my Pastor & his wife. I asked God to make a way for me to come to Teen Challenge & get help.
My family & my spiritual family were very supportive of me coming into the Teen Challenge program. I have been learning a lot of things while here. One of the biggest things has been learning how to deal with people, and also submission to those in authority over me. I am learning a lot about God, how He sees me, and thinks of me, that there is a God who cares & loves me just as I am. I'm thankful to my Heavenly Father that His Holy Spirit guided me to this program, & I am growing daily with Him.
I was born on Vancouver Island. My father died when I was 5 yrs. old. My childhood was filled with all kinds of abuse from a young age. At 12 yrs. old I was removed from my home & placed into group & foster homes. At 14 I ended up on the streets of Victoria and at 15 yrs. old I began prostituting.
During this time I was very angry & out of control & the government placed me in numerous mental institutions for children. By the time I was 16 yrs. old I was addicted to crack cocaine & I was working for a Vietnamese gang as a prostitute.
When I was 20 yrs. old I became pregnant & had a son. I now realized that I had someone else in my life to live for. At a Christian Recovery house I had my first knowledge of God & the power of Jesus Christ. After this program, I moved quickly into an abusive relationship with a man. My life was endangered by this man and I knew that I had to turn to God & no one else. I needed GOD!
The first thing that I noticed about Teen Challenge was that they didn’t treat me like I was insane. They truly showed me God’s love & that I could change if I would let God be the one in control of my life. Since I have been at the center, I have come to rely on “GOD” to be the one who holds me together. God has been bringing things to the surface that have been deeply engrained in me, & releasing me from these strongholds one at a time. He is teaching me to thank Him in all situations & that all of the messes in my life will some day be seen as a blessing. What Satan has intended for evil, GOD will turn it all around for HIS glory & my good!
