One of my favourite rap artist, Da’ T.R.U.T.H., has a song that says ‘I ain’t got no horror story God kept me in my youth, I give him all the glory.’ I can truly relate to this song as growing up in a Christian home where my father is a pastor and my mother is the daughter of a pastor, I was protected from most of the drama young people go through.

I distinctly remember though, when I gave my life to the Lord at age 4, lying on my bed just before bed time prayers, my mom asked me if I wanted to be a Christian and I said yes.

I went on to attend the most prestigious girls school in the island, St. Andrew’s High School, where I sat on the I.S.C.F executive committee every year for all seven years and took devotions regularly for the whole school.

Bruk Out!

It was quite astonishing for my class mates and friends when in fourth form I discovered there was more to life than school and church. I never stopped believing in God or proclaiming I was a Christian, but that experimental stage in every young person’s life had reached me. I wanted to get a boy friend I wanted to know what a session was like, I watched MTV and BET like crazy and listened to dancehall Music like never before. Eventually I got into a relationship with and non-Christian which was big news for everybody. I lied to my parents to get to go out with him, I started to go to Jankunoo lounge and dance inappropriately with young men and all kinds of things.

I finally got to experience a session when my cousins were going and I begged my dad to go. He eventually out of frustration said ‘Go on to your HELL HOLE!!!’ and I left quickly before he could change his mind. But at the same time I was still attending church, having devotions on stage and fooling myself that the life I was living was acceptable by God. The Lord eventually opened my eyes to see what I was doing and showed me that in those months of my ‘bruk out stage.’ I had lied to my parents in that period more than I had ever done in my whole life. I made a decision and broke up with my boyfriend and by God’s grace went about weeding out each bad habit.

Back on Track

I started to get more serious about God, getting more into his word (the Bible) and seeking a personal relationship with him. But I felt as if I was going through routines not really heading anywhere and so I kept searching for more. But I felt inferior spiritually, to some of my Christian friends who it seemed God was just revealing his will to. My friends were going off on Missionary trips with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) to places like China, Gambia and so on.

God Speaks

A prophesy concerning me was then spoken to me by one of my Aunts. God said he was going to ‘take me from a shallow, little girl to a woman, whose words are weighted.’ In my times of feeling inferior, I held on to this word.

Xtreme Impact

In the summer of 2005 I went on a missions trip to Trinidad with Xtreme Impact, which opened my eyes to so much and it was then that I grew sure that God has called me to do more, and that there are so many people that need to be impacted by the truth of Jesus Christ. I started my degree in hospitality and tourism management that September and through U.C.C.F. I began to grow closer to God. I was hearing his voice more but I was still insecure about my purpose and where I fit, in contributing to God’s Kingdom. After U.C.C.F. camp in January 2006, I saw the need to be more intimate with Jesus and really started to pursue that.

Seeking…and Finding God’s Purpose

It was the beginning of February when God called me to a three day water fast, and he explained to me that just as it took three days for Jesus to die and be resurrected, he was going to take me through a process in the fast of dying to my old self and being resurrected anew in him. Unsure I was hearing from the Lord and not just making this up; I sought advice, and was encouraged to do it.

This fast was definitely my breakthrough, God revealed so much to me in those three days. He had led me to read two chapters from the book of John each day some time before the fast; and when I started my fast it so happened that the chapters I ended up reading where the exact chapters that spoke on Jesus’ death and resurrection. Each day what I read was specifically inline with the process God was carrying me through. From that I knew it was God who had told me to fast.

I can honestly say that in those times, it was the clearest I have ever heard God speak to me. He broke my timidity of ministering at my youth group where he prompted me to share and a guy who came for the first time decided to give his life to the Lord. I began to see the fulfillment of the prophecy about God turning me into a woman whose words are weighted. I became more confident and I began to learn who I was in God.

God Speaks…Again

In March, my youth group went on a retreat where Pastor Mary Wildish, prophesied over me saying

God has called me to Teach, Preach and Prophecy… I am going to take short term missionary trips to different nations…God is going to put fire and boldness within me, removing the fear of man…Leadership positions are going to open up and God says to take them - this is my season.

Since then my life has not been the same, God completely blew my mind and erased all my ideas of being a behind the scene Christian. I felt empowered and truly transformed. I can truly say that I see all of these things coming to pass at this very moment in my life. I love to lead and I’m in a leadership position in everything thing that I am involved in. Also through Xtreme Impact, I surely will be taking many short term trips to the nations. This year has been magnificent and life changing, God is leading me into my purpose and I can’t wait to see what more he has in store for me.

My personal vision is: through the guidance of the Holy Spirit to encourage and help develop believers nationally and internationally through teaching, preaching and life style, and along side them, impact non-believers through out the nations.

Sara’s Word to You!

My Testimony is to encourage you not to settle for drifting through each day aimlessly. God has a great purpose and plan for each of us. We all have a very important part to play in advancing God’s kingdom, seek him for your purpose, ask him to give you a personal vision and live each day pursuing and pressing towards what God has called you to. GET EXCITED about your future and what God has in store, don’t be distracted by the typical dream of having a nice job and money, but seek God for your divine purpose and follow the path that he has laid out for you, trust me it will be way more fulfilling. I know God has called our generation to be a dynamic and world changing group, make sure that you’re playing your role and following God’s will.

Ephesians 4:11-12

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelist and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.