Susan Cebrat
I have attended church my entire life. I watched my mother sing in the church choir and remember the first time I sang with other children. I knew that Jesus loves everyone and that God is a great God. But He seemed far away to me, like God’s power was real in the Bible but not real today.
Now I realize that in my younger years I was afraid to tell others about my struggles with belief.
In my 20s I got married, and my husband and I joined Elkton Presbyterian Church and started our family. I became more involved in church activities by leading the adult and youth choirs, going to Bible studies, seeing God working in the lives of others, sharing my beliefs (and unbeliefs), praying with others – praying alone, and listening to God. I have learned that in times of trouble I can just call the name Jesus as a prayer, and that I can ask Jesus for help.
God has given me my dream of serving as a choir director. I see lives change as we are singing. Singing correctly is sometimes less important than letting the Spirit come to us as we practice.
We sing words that praise God, that show how God understands us, and how God challenges us to do His will. Singing fills us with God’s love and courage.
I have learned to trust God – to see part of His plan for me, my family and the people in our congregation. Jesus gives me strength, comfort, joy, and ideas for fulfilling God’s will. He is always giving me ideas, especially music ideas. I also feel God calling me to support and love LGBTQ Christians who want to serve and share God’s love with others.
More Faith Stories
Brandon Robinson
I remember being in church and going up to the altar and crying. I was so tired of the life I was living. I needed help. I felt a sense of peace at that time and knew that if this Jesus thing can work for some of these other guys, then it can definitely work for me.
Beatrice Sakuda
I said to myself, “Why should anyone envy me and want to be in my shoes?”
Jessica Davis
God has led me to amazing places in my life, so let me explain how God led me from South Carolina to Kenya.
Stu Ross
We built the first church with great difficulty. We went back to the States and the board asked us to become mission staff with the Outreach Foundation. That was 25 years ago, just about, and we’ve gotten more involved with Kenya as days and years went on.
Olive Karuchi
I am a chef by profession. I’m happy because I do what I love. Now I work at Villadise Tours and Safaris, where I meet so many different people coming from far. Being helpful is just a blessing to other people.
Kathryn Lindsay
Then God started tugging on my heart. There was a church sermon series that was about taking your God-given dream off the shelf. I was like, “I don’t know what my dream is. God, if you have a dream for me you’re going to have to tell me what it is.”