My name is Lisa. I grew up in a typical middle-class home in Central New York. My parents gave me anything I could have ever wanted to be happy. I started piano lessons when I was four, I always made straight A’s in school while on the honor roll, I went to church several days a week faithfully, and always acted appropriately in public. With a life like this, you would have been very surprised to ever believe that a girl like me could have any reason to want to abuse substances, yet alone have an addiction to them.

At the age of 13, I began a habit of sneaking out of my parents’ home with a whiskey bottle in hand, stolen from my father’s basement. This would start a vicious cycle of heavy drinking and many unfortunate consequences that followed with such a lifestyle. I mastered the art of leading a double life. I continued to fool people into believing that my life was all that it had appeared to be, but when night would fall, I would proceed to engage in the abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs in a manner not usual for a girl so young.

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Categories: Testimonials, Women's Ministry
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When a woman named Denise Chiappetta asked me to study the Bible, I felt I needed “more” of God in my life, so I agreed to study with her. I loved the studies, but also knew I would have to give up my “old” way of life if I were to follow the Lord. When Denise asked me to write my spiritual goals, I discovered Psalm 119: 25-32. This Scripture confirmed to me what I needed to do to meet my spiritual goal of getting to know the Lord and eventually be with Him in heaven.

“I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word.
I recounted my ways and you answered me; teach me your decrees.
Let me understand the teaching of your precepts; then I will meditate on your wonders.
My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.
Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me through your law.
I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on our laws.
I hold fast to your statues, O Lord; do not let me be put to shame.
I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.” – Psalm 119:25-32

I felt like I was a fairly good person when I first visited the Chicago International Christian Church. However, when I heard Chris Broom preach the word, I realized I was actually breaking God’s laws.

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Marc Hill (right) with his grandson

Overcoming Battles
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:37-39

This scripture from Romans gave me courage and hope to go on during times in my life when I needed to know it most that I was a conqueror through Christ.

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Greg Biggs (3rd from left) with his brothers in Christ

“Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.” Ecclesiastes 4:6

Growing up I was never close to God. I thought that being good and obeying the rules was enough. When I hit high school I was like most other freshmen: curious about what was ahead. My freshmen year was a year I never would forget for many reasons. There are two events from this period that would define the rest of my life. The first was meeting one of my new teachers, Mr. Chris Adams. He would be the first person to ever open the Bible with me.

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Categories: Campus Ministry, Testimonials
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The Boea Family

“Jesus replied, ‘What is impossible with men is possible with God.’”
Luke 18:27

Pat: Before I found God, I had been married for eight years without any kind of spirituality in my life or my household. I loved my wife and kids very much but my actions were not showing that at all. Because I was very selfish, I did what I wanted to do, when I wanted to do it. I worked two or sometimes three jobs. My thinking was that on my free time I could hang with my buddies, often getting drunk and missing time with my wife and very young kids.

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