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| Javagirl Registered user Username: Javagirl Post Number: 647 Registered: 6-2005  |
Some of you remember me sending my story of leaving adventism out via email installments awhile ago. I once again feel God calling me to do the same thing, only this time to a broader audience. I am sending to some former classmates and churchmates. I am asking for prayer cover from you all. I anticiate that God will use this for good, but I also know that last time I received a lot of backlash. I find myself bracing myself for the hurt and hard comments, and i don't want to be holding back. I want to be bold for Jesus. So please pray that God will move on the hearts of the recipients, and that he will protect me and my family, and give me courage. Here is a copy of part one I sent out today... Have you ever spoken in length with someone who has left the SDA denomination? I’m not talking about a backslider here, but talking about someone who made a decision to leave Adventism in favor of serving Jesus Christ as part of another church, or as part of the larger body of Christian believers? I knew of a few Adventists who deliberately and intentionally left Adventism, but I never bothered to ask them why. I simply bought into the party line, or the grapevine talk, that suggested they left because they “listened to some tape”, or were “bitter”, or “married a non-Adventist”, or got involved with some “Former Adventist” website. Maybe part of me was afraid to ask them the question directly. I know in a couple of cases I was actually mad at the person who left Adventism. I felt betrayed and hurt. So I just made some assumptions, heard and believed what was most comfortable to believe, and left things alone. In hindsight, I wish I would have picked up the phone and asked the hard but obvious questions. How in the world could one who was 3rd or 4th generation Adventist, educated and socialized in the denomination from birth, walk away from the “remnant church”? How could one walk away from the “Sabbath”? How could one join in worship with “Sunday keepers”? How could one who once devoured the writings of Ellen G. White come to believe that she was not a prophet of God? I have some answers to those questions, because that is what happened in my experience. I did leave the Seventh-day Adventist Church. I did walk away from my family heritage, my friends and social life, my son’s school, and my church family. Probably the most amazing thing is this: Not only did I walk away from the Adventist church and join the greater body of Christ, but I have thrived in my relationship with Jesus Christ since that time. I am three years removed from Adventism, I am living the life of a sold-out Christ follower, and I am active in a local church body. I love God, I love my family and and I am living out Christianity in a passionate manner. I have not abandoned all values and morals, indeed my lifestyle is more conservative than ever. If you know me now, you know that I am committed to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of my life. You would also notice that I have plenty of hardship, but incredible joy in my life. Plenty of suffering, but even more praise. I would not change this reality for anything. I consider myself blessed, and know that God in his mercy called me out of shadow religion and into His gospel. I hope you will read the story. I sent it out a couple of years ago to a few people, and now I feel like it is time to post it again, with some of you I have not personally talked to about this journey. I can only imagine that some of you are even afraid to read it. That’s how I felt when I first read someone else’s story of leaving Adventism. I felt like I was betraying my church just by reading….. For those of you who no longer believe in God, or have given up on religion, I really hope you will read on. I know those feelings well. There is more to God then what most of us were taught. I hope you learn from my mistakes. I hope your eyes are opened to the possibility of a better experience with God than what you had in the past. In any case, I’m sending my story to you, in hopes that you will read it. For those who do believe in God, I ask you to pray, and pray some more, before, during and after reading it, for God to guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus, and for truth to be evident. God is faithful. That I do know. It’s good to reconnect with you. Lori Part One—my journey out of Adventism I was raised a third or forth generation Seventh-day Adventist on both sides of the family. When I was young, my father was an Academy Bible teacher and a lay pastor of an SDA church. My family was very active in church. My dad also worked as a Singing Evangelist, Literature Evangelist, and Bible worker. My mother was very active in Sabbath School, Women’s and children’s ministries, pathfinders, lay activities etc. I grew up watching my parents/grandparents preach, teach, sing, and lead song service. They were generally on the platform for either SS or church. My early memories of this are quite fond ones. We moved around frequently, but we were always in the cocoon of Adventism. Our social life revolved around our fellow SDA friends. When I was in 7th grade, my family uprooted from California to Florida. The transition at 7th grade was difficult. I did not feel accepted at my new SDA school. My life took its first turn for the worse by 8th grade. My freshman year of Academy, my parents put me in the dorm at academy. I was rebellious, and often in trouble, sneaking out of the dorm to go to the beach with friends, sneaking cigarettes, drinking Dr. Pepper, having a radio in my room, etc. Finally, after attempting to pierce my ears in algebra class, My parents and I were called into the Principals office, and I was given a choice: 1. Get Baptized 2. Transfer to another school. To be continued: | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 944 Registered: 7-2007 |
Oh, that was excellent! I was disappointed when it came to an end, so if your friends read this, they will certainly want to read part two to see what happened next! I know, I sure do! | ||
| Benevento Registered user Username: Benevento Post Number: 304 Registered: 4-2005 |
Lori I, too, feel so sad about the many former SDA's who have given up on God. I pray that somehow someone who is about to give up on God, will be blessed by your story, because there is so much more, and so much better knowing God, and really loving God once you leave the shackles of Adventism. The joy alone is worth the journey! God Bless! Peggy | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 10195 Registered: 12-2003  |
Good for you, Lori. I'll be praying. Your story is really good. Colleen | ||
| Bb Registered user Username: Bb Post Number: 488 Registered: 7-2004 |
I love, love it, Lori! I feel like it is so rare that adventists get honest, heartfelt notes that cut through the malarky and sincerely lovingly get to the point of it all. It removes the possibility that they can dismiss it as a bitter move, or a desire to live a sinful life!! I recently tried to do something of the kind with my extended family. I do feel that it was sincere, but a bit rambling. I love your letter! | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 5313 Registered: 9-2006  |
Praying for you Lori girl. | ||
| Seekr777 Registered user Username: Seekr777 Post Number: 786 Registered: 1-2003  |
My prayers are with you Lori, I think this will be the third time I've read "received" your testimony. I think the first time was a smaller email group you sent it to, then on FAF and now a second time on FAF. You have blessed and opened the eyes of many. May the Holy Spirit continue to use you in mighty ways. | ||
| Javagirl Registered user Username: Javagirl Post Number: 648 Registered: 6-2005 |
Thanks for your prayers, I so appreciate the support. Richard, I know I sent this out before, but God just pressed it on my heart to do it again, albeit mostly a different audience. Im not planning on putting the whole story here, but I have so appreciated others who wrote their story in installment form on this forum, and I hope to spur others on. I recall Jan and Bob, Ikilgore and others wrote there stories in this format, and blessed me. Im hoping some others will post their stories here, on the open forum, instead of just the member section. I think we need some of the transparent stuff here as well. Peggy, The intial responses are mostly good so far. I love how God had me add the part about those who dont believe in God anymore, because that is the surprising responses I have gotten. Im hearing from those who have given up, and just wandered away from religion in general. How sad that so many are left isolated, with never an outlet to even discuss what happened to this huge chunk of thier lives. My heart is really moved by these responses. Im looking forward to dialoging with them. Bb, I would love to read any part of your letter you care to share. You can email me. Hugs, Lori | ||
| Gcfrankie Registered user Username: Gcfrankie Post Number: 540 Registered: 1-2007 |
Lori, It is a good letter. Being there are newbes here I hope you will print the whole letter. I am praying for you that satan can not throw his darts at you through those you are sending your letter to. Heavenly Father, I am asking you to put your loving arms around Lori and keep her safe and that her words will help those who are suffering from the damage done by the sda teachings. This I ask in your precious sons name Jesus Christ. Amen Gail | ||
| Javagirl Registered user Username: Javagirl Post Number: 650 Registered: 6-2005 |
Ok, so I left off with a decision to make: 1. Get baptized 2. Transfer to another school. Here is part two! I’m glad you are reading this. My parents were horrified that the Academy would mandate baptism as a way out of a consequence for rebellious behavior. They said “no thank you” to that offer. I am grateful for that. They know it would be blasphemous, and were angry at the school for suggesting it. At age 14, I even knew that it was very wrong. (The principal later apologized personally to me and my parents for the way it was handled.) My parent withdrew me, and I was sent to another boarding academy. I went through a great spiritual awakening during a week of prayer my 10th grade year. I was baptized, and it meant a lot to me. I was hungry for the word, and poured over my bible daily. It was momentous, and I still remember the joy. I had other sincere friends who experienced God at that time as well. My spiritual fervor continued for the rest of the school year. I went home for the summer, and I got back around my old “rebellious” Adventist friends/boyfriend, and ran that summer with a rough crowd. I started back to the academy near my house, and was getting into trouble again, so my parents sent me away to Academy. I had little relationship with God other than short bursts at “right living”. I remained at that school through my Junior year. My senior year I transferred schools once again, this time to follow a boyfriend. I had another “God encounter” my senior year. It was more of an attempt at good clean living, than any real sense of a relationship with God. I did want to know God, and I think I thought if I was good enough, that might just happen. I could never reach good enough. The spiritual awakening didn’t last. When I got back home… To be continued. | ||
| River Registered user Username: River Post Number: 5318 Registered: 9-2006 |
I think I'll save all this and re-write your story putting the old River touch on it. Lets see, will you be the villain or the heroin, the villain turned heroin, the good girl gone bad or the bad girl gone good? I wonder what I could do with some of that boyfriend stuff? lets see...it was during that wild keg party.....  Its hard for me to imagine the sweet Lori girl ever having a wild streak...but for the sake of literature we must press on. River | ||
| Hec Registered user Username: Hec Post Number: 405 Registered: 3-2009 |
Lori, was that principal Mr. K or Mr. C. | ||
| Javagirl Registered user Username: Javagirl Post Number: 651 Registered: 6-2005 |
Hec, I dont even remember him name! I wasnt there long, and my mom reminded me when she read this story that is was a whole group involved, the dreaded "ad council" who passed along that ultimatum. River: Good questions. I think it is a case of a little, lost, sinful, confused girl turned into a Princess Warrior Bride of Christ! | ||
| Javagirl Registered user Username: Javagirl Post Number: 654 Registered: 6-2005 |
…..When I got back home, I had a struggle to keep up the religious fervor. I led a double life for a while. I would be spiritual around my religious friends and party with my party friends. I worked hard to keep the two separate. That was an awful time, full of shame and guilt and despair. I so wanted to serve God, but I could not sustain “good behavior”. I would give up; go headlong down a wrong path, then make an effort at being a good Adventist once again. This continued into my freshman year at Southern Missionary College, until one night, in a movie theater no less (I guess maybe the angels don’t wait at the door) God got a hold of me. My date and I had snuck into town to a movie (grounds for suspension if we had been caught). While watching the movie,--- which was about a guy who rose to the top of a political career and then lost everything and ended up in despair---God spoke to me. Not audibly, but it felt that strong. God told me that I would end up just like that guy, with a miserable and very empty life, without Him. I began to cry right in the movie. To make matters worse, I was on a first date. I tried to tell my date what had happened on the way home, and he quickly dropped me off in front of the dorm—needless to say it was also a last date. That night I ended up walking around the track, crying out to God to please accept me back one more time. God responded in a powerful way, and I went through a very strong spiritual awakening. I confessed my sins to God and the girl’s dean and to others I had wronged. I joined witnessing teams, prayer groups and bible study groups. I became very zealous in my attempt at Adventist living. I read Ellen G. White “spirit of prophecy” books daily. We stayed up late in the chapel every night reading, praying, and studying the Bible and EGW. I switched friends, and hung around with a very religious and sincere group of students who were seeking God. Many of us went through a revival of sorts at that time—1979-and into the early 1980’s. It is still a great memory for me. I made wonderful friends, and we were seeking to know God and to do His will. I spent the following summer as a literature evangelist, selling Ellen G. White books door to door. The next year I went off to be a student missionary. That did not end so well…. To be continued. | ||
| Bskillet Registered user Username: Bskillet Post Number: 493 Registered: 8-2008 |
Covering fire in 3.... 2.... 1.... | ||
| Bskillet Registered user Username: Bskillet Post Number: 494 Registered: 8-2008 |
Funny, it was when I came to believe in Jesus Christ that I knew I had to give up on religion. Grace and religion are incompatible. But then again, everyone defines the "r" word differently. | ||
| Animal Registered user Username: Animal Post Number: 608 Registered: 7-2008  |
Brent... I agree with you 110 percent. | ||
| 8thday Registered user Username: 8thday Post Number: 1107 Registered: 11-2007  |
Thanks for sending it out again Lori!! It's an awesome testimony! | ||
| Nowisee Registered user Username: Nowisee Post Number: 59 Registered: 5-2009 |
Thank you for posting this--it's clear & compelling. The trying to be good & 'overcome the bad behaviors'part really resonates with most of us, I bet. I wasn't exactly rebellious, but I knew I still had lots of sins to overcome & each day I tried & failed. That year God sent someone to tell me the Good News--(we were all still in the SDA church at the time). We were so excited that we started telling everyone at church about the gospel. A few people listened. The pastor informed us if we didn't quit talking about this that there would be consequences. So, we & 2 other couples met at our homes on Saturday to study what the Bible had to say. I know most of the church members thought we had gone off the deep end--no one ever talked to us about it to ask questions. I had been CR teacher for 10 years. | ||
| Javagirl Registered user Username: Javagirl Post Number: 655 Registered: 6-2005 |
Nowisee, I cant wait for rest of the story.... Bskillet Its sad how many believe that when they find they cant "do religion" good enough, that they have to dismiss God as well. Its such a clever scheme of the enemy to promote that belief! Thankfully, God brought us out of that misconception! |
