More Testimonys of Praise from HH web site - Page 2

FreedomSoar · #11 09-07-2009, 03:57 PM

I went to Hephzibah House with a life full of turmoil. I was constantly running away from home and practicing a very worldly and ungodly lifestyle. My parents were at a loss to know how to help me. I had been through counseling at church and went to youth camp and I was not responding. So they decided to send me to Hephzibah House.

I was never denied food. On the contrary I remember eating a lot of food. They made sure that we had three meals a day. We had ice cream on Fridays and desserts after most meals. If you had sentences you did not get the desserts but you had your full meal.

Christmas and Thanksgiving were so much fun. We had a great meal with the Williams family and would play games with the staff families. Sure, you missed your own family but they made the day special. Birthday parties were also a lot of fun. We were able to plan it with the other girls who had their birthdays in the same month. We could decorate and plan the activities. We ordered fast food, cake and ice cream and/or pop. We were able to have almost anything we wanted for that day. No one was excluded.

The staff ladies tried to treat each of us girls fairly and equally. I knew that they loved us and cared for us. But remember that 16 year old girls do not think that the world is fair and when they are in trouble the world is out to get them.

We had chores to do every day. We had to work hard and keep our “home” clean and orderly. Because of the work ethic taught at Hephzibah House I now know how to work hard and keep my own home.

Hephzibah House changed my life for the better. I accepted the Lord as Saviour and am actively involved in my church. I do not regret my stay at Hephzibah House.

grannylo · #12 09-07-2009, 04:17 PM

please provide names and dates to go along with these "testimonies" Otherwise I would say you might make a good writer

FreedomSoar · #13 09-07-2009, 09:10 PM

bump

FreedomSoar · #14 09-08-2009, 07:43 AM

will post more when time permits

bestoflife · #15 09-08-2009, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreedomSoar

I went to Hephzibah House with a life full of turmoil. I was constantly running away from home and practicing a very worldly and ungodly lifestyle. My parents were at a loss to know how to help me. I had been through counseling at church and went to youth camp and I was not responding. So they decided to send me to Hephzibah House.

I was never denied food. On the contrary I remember eating a lot of food. They made sure that we had three meals a day. We had ice cream on Fridays and desserts after most meals. If you had sentences you did not get the desserts but you had your full meal.

Christmas and Thanksgiving were so much fun. We had a great meal with the Williams family and would play games with the staff families. Sure, you missed your own family but they made the day special. Birthday parties were also a lot of fun. We were able to plan it with the other girls who had their birthdays in the same month. We could decorate and plan the activities. We ordered fast food, cake and ice cream and/or pop. We were able to have almost anything we wanted for that day. No one was excluded.

The staff ladies tried to treat each of us girls fairly and equally. I knew that they loved us and cared for us. But remember that 16 year old girls do not think that the world is fair and when they are in trouble the world is out to get them.

We had chores to do every day. We had to work hard and keep our “home” clean and orderly. Because of the work ethic taught at Hephzibah House I now know how to work hard and keep my own home.

Hephzibah House changed my life for the better. I accepted the Lord as Saviour and am actively involved in my church. I do not regret my stay at Hephzibah House.

Funny how generic, and so cold this sounds. If I was so taken back by something that changed my life so tremendously, I would think something with a little more pep, and believeability would be in order. My 13 year old could be more convincing that this. And he hates to write.

jeri fletcher · #16 09-08-2009, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bestoflife

Funny how generic, and so cold this sounds. If I was so taken back by something that changed my life so tremendously, I would think something with a little more pep, and believeability would be in order. My 13 year old could be more convincing that this. And he hates to write.

agree. so very scripted and void of passion. as if they were addressing particular charges.
as grannylo pointed out, why remark that "there was no abuse" or, "I never went hungry"... strange thoughts for a kid.
In America, most kids take eating for granted and would never think to themselves, "Ya know? I've never been hungry since I lived here." That's why I say, scripted.

I have to reign myself in, here because I read a mother's testimony that, after not seeing her daughter in months, she was shocked at how "gaunt" she appeared. For teen girls to lose that much weight is a serious health issue.
gaunt –adjective, -er, -est. 1. extremely thin and bony; haggard and drawn, as from great hunger, weariness, or torture; emaciated.

One girl went from 132 to 117. Weight loss like that and no doctor consulted? Reckless irresponsibility.

FreedomSoar · #17 09-08-2009, 03:57 PM

I am so grateful for all that you did for me at the Hephzibah House. It was a blessing to be there. Your staff was a wonderful help to me. Your encouragement was wonderful. The time they took to teach me how to clean was very helpful. I know I was very difficult at times, but I remember the patient reproofs you gave me. I remember the love you showed to me in the hardest times, for the times you sat down and talked things through with me, for all the godly principles you stood for, never compromising in your standards. This has taught me so much. For the godly music you played, and for the godly conversation you allowed. For all the very nice holidays, parties, and the times we got to play volleyball, soccer, and play in the water. It was great. Also for teaching us the principle of eating food we did not like. That was one I needed to learn badly.

The time the staff took to teach school - that must have been the hardest. I really appreciate that a lot too. I’m very grateful for their patience and absolute servant attitude they had towards all of us girls.

FreedomSoar · #18 09-08-2009, 03:57 PM

I am going to start out by saying, cancer and bitterness are very similar, as is their treatment, as is their outcome if not successful in treatment. Bitterness is a cancer of the soul.

Today I am serving the Lord. This was not always so. At the age of 17, I started to rebel against everything that my parents had taught me since I was a small child. I was bitter, proud, bent on self-destruction, and I would not admit it. I became hardhearted and stubborn. This led to poor judgement and loss of moral conduct. I was headed 100 miles an hour in the wrong direction, while my heartbroken parents were wondering what on earth they could do to spare me the many, many scars that life can bring. I would not heed their pleadings. They were losing their daughter and they knew it!

Their only hope came in the form of a ministry for young ladies called Hephzibah House.

Shortly after I turned 17, my parents took me to meet Pastor Ron Williams and his wonderful staff. I quickly realized this was to be my new home for a while.

Many of the ways I was accustomed to were changed. This, I learned was for my well being. The concentrated method of healing in this case was crucial. Having the distractions of the world and the pressures in it removed, I could then and only then, focus on what was needed to start my healing.

Hephzibah’s staff is well-equipped with Godly, loving men and women who have the utmost respect for all the young ladies who come into this ministry, some of whom have gone through the program themselves. None of whom, have ever abused a young lady, in or out of Hephzibah’s care. And more importantly, neither I or anyone else while I was there was abused!!

A very structured program and lots of soul cleansing, along with Bible Scripture memorization and character building opportunities help change the will of the bitter soul bent on destruction. Those who fail to accept the help given often become even more bitter and carry this bitterness with them when they leave.

I came home after completing the program, received my General Diploma, and was very grateful to all the staff who had a part in my healing. My very life depended on this ministry. God saw fit to give me another chance for a successful Christian life and maybe even life itself. God only knows what would have become of me if I had not gone. I would not have seen my desperate condition if Hephzibah House had not taken the things that of the world out from in front of it. I needed that, and so do the many young women who are just like I was... full of bitterness.

FreedomSoar · #19 09-08-2009, 03:58 PM

As a young girl, I had let my mind be filled with the word’s ways. When I was eleven years old, I started rebelling against my parents more than ever. I had wrong friends, listened to wrong music, and I got involved with a guy. I did things behind my Dad’s back. I lied to my Dad all the time - I would say “I’m going to call my girlfriends,” but instead I would call the guy that I wanted to be with. We would sneak out after it was dark and come home before anyone woke up. We did this for a few years.

Soon after all this started happening, I was sent to Hephzibah House. I hated it so bad. My mind was made up that this place was not going to change me at all. I was waiting and waiting for the day till I got out. I hated the rules, and most of all I hated that they would always talk to you about salvation. I got so tired of them talking to me about it, so I decided to make a profession so they would stop talking about it. I made a few professions, but they knew it wasn’t real.

For all the time I was at Hephzibah, I just did the rules so I wouldn’t get in trouble. Although I wasn’t very rebellious on the outside, I was very rebellious on the inside.

The week that I was to go home, Pastor Halyaman talked to me twice, and Dr. Williams talked to me once. They wanted to see me happy and live for the Lord. In my mind, I was thinking they were wasting their time talking to me, but their time was not wasted. I kept thinking of what the pastors told me that week. I knew I didn’t want to go to Hell, and I didn’t want to go home the same way as I went to Hephzibah House. I asked the Lord to save me from my sins, and He did. It hasn’t always been easy for me, but I know that God is always by my side, and in trouble I can go to Him. Life begins at Calvary.

FreedomSoar · #20 09-08-2009, 03:58 PM

I grew up in a Christian home. Sadly, in spite of this advantage, I wanted to go my own way. I did want to do what was right, but I wanted to have some fun first. My sister left home, and I was planning on leaving once I turned 17, which was in a few months. I hated the thought of leaving my parents but, when Satan has control of your life, you'll do anything to please the flesh. I was starting to see a guy, I lived for Country music, I was starting to wear sensual clothing, and just plain rebellious to any authority in my life.

In my early teens, I did make a couple of professions of faith. I always got around friends who were a bad influence on me and it seemed like I could never get anywhere in my relationship with God. One day I stopped trying to even act like a Christian.

A few months before turning 17, my parents took me to H.H. I could never thank my parents enough for doing me such a favor. Yes, it was very hard on them, but they wanted to try to save me from getting entangled with the world.

Upon arriving at H.H. I figured I'd wait it out, but when I learned I'd be there for a minimum of 15 months, I thought, "My, I can't live like this for that long." I was convicted about my relationship with God as soon as I went there. About 6 wks after being at H.H. I asked to talk to either Dr. or Pastor Williams. Pastor Don & Wenda came and counseled with me. Praise God I gave my heart to Him and ask for His forgiveness. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1Jn 1:9

I very much enjoyed my stay at H.H. Yes, there were some rules to which I was not accustomed, but they all were very good for me--they helped to build character in my life. The staff and Williams family were kind and loving. They treated us girls like they would want to be treated. I have many fond memories of H.H. I'm so thankful for the Bible memory we did and all the sermon tapes to which we listened. It's a perfect place for a young girl to be--"away from the world" and "a time to seek the Lord and draw closer to Him."

Several years after I left H.H. I made some bad choices which resulted in sin. I knew I was heading in a direction I did not want to go. After being challenged by a friend, I sought the Lord's forgiveness. Satan is out there trying to get our attention in any and every way he can. As a young person, I went through many struggles. God has brought me victoriously through valleys. Though they may not be easy at the time, it's what helps us to know God in a deeper way and become more mature.

I am married now to the most wonderful man and have 3 beautiful children. God is still working and pruning my life. He is teaching me how to be a faithful helpmeet to my husband and a loving, patient mamma to my children. I can say it's a real joy to serve the Lord, and know that I am His child. It's been a long time since that day years ago, when my parents took me to H.H. I know I have been spared a lot of tears, heartache and regret. I want to give God all the honor and glory and thank Him for saving my soul. And then I thank my dear parents for making that hard decision of taking me to HH. And lastly I thank the Williams family and staff at Hephzibah for the time they sacrificed in helping me and the example they were to me. I pray God will continue to bless their ministry and also for every girl that passes through their doors, that they would yield their hearts to God and be blessed.