Gigi’s Story

Posted on Sunday, February 27, 2011 by Scott Sjoblom

"I've always believed in God and I would even pray to him but I would pray for all the wrong reasons. I would pray for material things because I never knew how to connect with God. I was always stubborn and selfish, even if I was wrong I would find a way to get what I wanted. I used to be one of the biggest party girls in our school. I was also a liar, I lied to everyone especially my parents. I would tell them I was going on place but really I was out drinking with friends. All those things like getting my way constantly, and partying with my friends made me happy so I never saw anything wrong with any of it. I became a cheerleader and that's where I met Emily.

She had told me about and invited me to Campus Life, so decided "why not, I never do anything on Monday nights anyway." So I tried it out and was so surprised at how much fun it actually was, so I started going and got close to a lot people there. I never thought of it or saw it as a religious thing.

One day my friend Tiffany and I were hanging out and she was telling me how she was going to YFCamp with Emily but was trying desperately to get out of it and saying how Emily wasn't letting her back out. But when Tiffany came back from YFCamp she told me all about it and how camp really changed her views and understanding of God and of life itself.

By this time I had made some of the worst decisions of my life, putting myself down and making myself feel worthless, then I realized everything that seemed to make me happy was making me miserable. I didn't know what to do so on Sept. 20th 2011 at Campus Life I turned to Emily and told her everything I had done. I told her that I had been thinking I needed to get more involved with God. I told her that I wanted to be connected to Him but I didn't know how to? So we stepped outside and we talked it through.

She told me that by feeling that disconnect, that I was already getting connected with Him. She asked me if we could pray. We prayed for like 3 minutes although it felt more like 10 minutes. I just got so emotional and started to tear up realizing that I had just received Jesus as my Savior! As soon as we finished our prayer I instantly felt happier than I had ever felt. I had so much joy in my heart, I just wanted to tell the world. Everyone was happy for me!

A few months later I felt I was ready to take my next step in my life with Jesus and I was baptized on January 16th, 2011. Since then I couldn't be happier. I know I have changed for the better and I'm so glad Jesus Christ is here and will always be with me."