Virginia DeFosse

My name is Virginia (Ginny). I’ve been coming to Groton Bible Chapel for about eight years on and off and then participating more over the last three years. My daughter encouraged me to come. She was an inspiration to me, her and her friends. They would speak the Word of the Lord and their faith made me feel I wanted that. I was raised Catholic and went to Catholic school and I learned my core of religion from the Catholic faith. I believed in God and Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, but I did not know Christ as my Lord and Savior yet. I had a difficult childhood with an alcoholic stepfather who verbally, physically, and sexually abused me. I would pray to God to save me and my prayers seemed to go unanswered, so I strayed, doing whatever I wanted. I now understand that the Lord was always with me, even though bad things were happening. My childhood made me strong and made me the person I am today. My hardships  helped me to excel in my job helping people who were mentally ill, addicted, and homeless for over 40 years. I was empathetic and understanding of their traumas. God was with me. I used to feel lost because I never knew my real father and now I realize that my Father the Lord was always walking with me. Throughout the years, leaving home young and putting myself in some bad situations, somehow I always came out OK and I would say, “Oh, my God, how did I live through that?” I know now it was God! He was always with me, looking out for me, wanting me to be here and to be more. When I came to Welcome Aboard, Pastor Zak talked about “Belonging, Believing, and Behaving,” and this made sense to me. I wanted to belong, so I joined two small groups and in doing that and reading the Bible — really, really reading it for the first time, I came to know the Lord as my Savior,  and believe He is where I find peace. I find myself saying, “What would Jesus do” in each situation now.