LaNae Atkinson

I grew up in a very dysfunctional, abusive and non-religious household. We never went to church. My childhood was brutal, and as I grew up I never thought I was good enough for pretty much anything, especially for God. In my brokenness, I was busy for many years “surviving," and turned to drugs instead of the Light. Somehow, some miraculous way (God's amazing grace and the birth of my daughter Kelsey), I got clean. Over many years I dabbled in occasional church attendance, some classes, etc, but nothing stuck, and I was continually being pulled back in the direction of worldly living and all that that meant to me at the time. Perhaps the most profound reason I have come to hold the faith I have now, started two years ago through my husband’s near death experiences (heart transplant, multiple intestinal surgeries and serious complications). I found myself praying and pleading with God every single night on my knees to save him and that he would make it through. After a long stint in the hospital, today Dave is by my side and I know in my heart of hearts it is only by the grace and mercy of my God that he is. I sought out a faith-based counselor to deal with the stress of that medical journey and she recommended GBC to me. The first time l attended I knew I had found a home (an anchor). I've never looked back and am immersed in different Bible studies offered here. I'm seeking, learning and growing more everyday. My faith in my Lord Jesus has enabled me to know true, deep, and profound love. God has lessened my fears and anxieties in this unknown, crazy and fallen world in which we live; and has given me peace in my heart (something I've NEVER EVER had before). These things are what it is to know Jesus. In Jesus, I have found my true identity as a beloved child of God, and I know that NOTHING can separate me from the love God has for me. John 8:12 — “Jesus spoke to them again: ‘I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.’”