Mandy's Testimony

My story begins at a summer camp in Ligonier, Pennsylvania named Summer's Best Two Weeks. I started attending this camp when I was seven years old, when my parents sent me as part of a church program. I think I can best describe Summer's Best as a Christian sports camp, but to me, it will always be so much more. It was at this place that God first planted the seeds of faith in my life. I had grown up in a Christian home, and attended church regularly, but it was not until I went to camp that I really started to understand and know the love, mercy, and grace of God.

I do not remember much about my first summer at camp. I was just this clueless little kid running around having the time of my life. It was a blast! I met some great friends, some of which continue to bless my life today, but I think the people at camp- "big people" like the counselors and staff- impressed me the most. To be quite honest, I only remember a few names and faces- it was more their qualities that I started to take notice of. These counselors were college-aged kids who loved the Lord, and they let Him affect every aspect of their life. They radiated Christ and it was contagious. I knew that when I grew up I wanted to be just like them. It was not until I returned to camp that next summer that I learned what being "just like them" actually meant.

One night, during my second summer, I heard a man named Kip Crumrine give his testimony. He was the associate director of the camp and an amazing person to know. Kip was the man that all the camp kids looked up to, so when he explained that night what made him so different, I knew I wanted that too. He told us that Christ had entered his life and made him into the person he was today. He said that Christ could make a difference in our lives too and that we could live eternally with Him in heaven. When I went back to the cabin that night, some watchful counselor, and I do not even remember her name, was sensitive enough to see that God was working on my heart. She tucked me in and I asked her how I could have Christ in my life and live eternal life. She said that all I had to do was ask Him into my heart- so I did. I told Christ that I believed in Him and that my life was His from that moment on. Looking back on it now, I do not think I knew or understood all the details about what Christ had done for me, but a seed of faith was planted that day, and it has been growing ever since. I remember lying in my bunk being disappointed because no heavenly host had come to greet me. I thought there would at least be a flash of lightening- maybe a trumpet or something, but nothing happened that I noticed. I even climbed out of my bunk and asked my counselor if Christ had accepted me. She showed me Revelations 3:20 where Jesus says "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." I now know that, taken in context, that verse does not mean what the counselor told me it did, but I was eight years old and it was good enough for me.

When I went home from camp that summer, the first thing I did was tell my little brother. Steve was my best friend and the most precious gift my parents had ever given me. I could not wait to tell him what had happened to me. I thought that heaven would not be much of a heaven unless my brother was there with me too. I remember thinking that if Steve was not there I would not have anyone to play football with! I was definitely a tomboy! Anyway, that night I shared what little I knew with Steve, and he asked Christ into his heart also. That night will always be special to me.

I returned to camp every summer after that and, over the years, God took my mustard seed of faith and watered it. He has shown me the wonders of his grace and mercy in the sacrificial death of His only begotten son, Jesus Christ. The realization that Christ had died for me, a sinner whose "deeds of righteousness were as filthy rags in His sight," in order to pay the penalty for my sin, has exposed me to a love beyond all comprehension. I have had many ups and downs in my Christian walk since the night in my cabin so long ago, but God has been faithful through it all. He has come into my life and changed it, just like Kip promised He would. I have been a work in progress ever since and to be honest, I have believed in Christ for so long now that I cannot imagine what my life would be like without Him.

I guess I should wrap it up for all you wonderful people who took the time to look at this web page. Thank-you for allowing me to share part of my story with you, and I say part of my story because being a Christian has meant and involved so much more than just asking God into my heart. Christ has made all the difference in my life and He can change yours too, no matter where you come from or what you have done. God 's love has to extend beyond all that, because if it did not, He would not be God and the sacrifice of His Son would have meant nothing. John 3:16 sums it up better than I ever could, so I'll close with that.