Romans 8:37 - “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
Hebrews 1: 14 - “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”
First this is not a testimony of pity, but victory. At the age of 4 my sisters and I were suddenly removed from our home and were placed with my Aunt and Uncle. Today I still do not know what happened—I remember our neighbor, Sylvia, was murdered. Her body lay in-between the door with half of her body hanging out on the porch, and the next thing I remember we were staying at my Aunt’s. While living there we experienced lots of hunger and poor clothing in the winter and I always got frost bite and hated snow because of that. For years we did not see my mother or father and one day my mom showed up, but she did not take us with her. Those times were hard for me—when she came I would grab her leg and hold as tight as I could, but to no avail. I remember around 5 years old I started to be molested by my cousin Larion (not her real name) she was about 5 years older than me. I did not know what that meant, but it was on a daily basis and I learned to block it out so I made up in my mind I would act real bad so they could get rid of me. Not only was I hungry but being sexually abused also. I ate a lot of bread because I was hungry and when I did steal food I would give it to my two younger sisters. Whenever I caught my Aunt cooking and she would leave the kitchen, I would steal a piece of chicken or meat and share with my 2 younger sisters. I remember on Sundays we had fried chicken and my Aunt would give us all backs I still hate the backs of the chicken and I won’t eat them today. I was always hungry, so I started stealing. I remember I was so hungry one night and I walked down to the corner drug store and stole some candy and was caught. Whenever they forgot to close in the basement I would steal as many frozen strawberries as I could and would live off of those for a few days. I remember my Aunt getting this fur coat for me at the Goodwill and it was bald, I was embarrassed to wear it to school, so I took it off in the snow and went to school with no coat. My mom would send us clothes and she would give them to her kid’s—I hated living there. All through grade school I was molested by my cousin, and then I met another one of my mom’s cousins. I went over to his house to wash dishes and while I was washing dishes he was feeling all over me, I just froze, I did not know what to do. I dare not tell anyone, I was pegged as a liar and thief and I had to eat somehow, so I stole. I had a bad taste in my mouth for Christians and after living with them I thought God had too many rules, so finally, when I was 8 my mom came and got all 5 of us and we accumulated a brother and another sister and was back to living the hustling life. Shortly after we moved, my mother and my new stepfather left town and my Grandmother stayed with us and we had a fire in our house and everyone got singed except for me, and my brother and sister smothered to death. Somehow I blamed that on myself because I put out the fire in the fireplace as I did every night. I knew it was God, why the rest of us survived, because the place was an inferno. They bought another house and I suffered the worst ever. I got pregnant when I was 13 and had a baby when I was 14 and my life continued to slide. I felt dirty and used—I got very angry and did not care. After I had my baby I left because my stepfather wanted me to give him my money. He said “You’re making money, you might as well give it to me.” He was not trying to have sex with me, he just wanted my money, so I left and the streets became my best friend. Through all of my disappointments, drugs and pain I knew God was with me, I could sense His presence. I lived a careless and dangerous life until October 16, 1989 when I accepted Jesus as my personal savior in jail and that is the best decision I ever made. I am now part of a ministry of reconciliation. God led me to Women of Purpose, International.
- A. M. February 2012
Galatians 3: 26 - “For ye are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”
James 2: 17 - “Even so faith, if it hath not works is dead, being alone.”
Hebrews 11: 6 - “But without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
I became a part of an organism called Women of Purpose, Int’l. It is difficult to explain exactly what Women of Purpose is. It isn’t a Bible study group, though it could be. It isn’t just another prayer group, though it could be part that, too. It became much more important than that for me. It became the very life I needed.
You see, being a woman of faith isn’t easy in today’s society. There is always someone dictating to us how and who we should be, usually for their benefit, not ours. It may be family members, the media or society at large and when we become born again believers, you can add pastors, preachers and teachers of the law to that list. Add fellow believers to that list too, usually interpreting scriptures to their liking. Whew! What’s a girl to do?
On finding Women of Purpose I found a room full of believers, who not unlike me, have had very profound spiritual experiences with God that had somehow formed their lives and their purpose. They walk the faith road and it shows in their lives and the lives of the women and their families.
- M.P. - August 2011
Proverbs 24: 3 - “Through wisdom is a house built.”
Proverbs 2:2 - “Incline thine ear unto wisdom and apply thine heart unto understanding.” (verse 5) “Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”
I became involved with Women of Purpose, Int’l and God told me that I would find answers through that organization. My world had fallen apart in 1995. I was married for sixteen years and still in love with my husband. We had been blessed with a son, who was then four years old. My husband announced that he did not want to be married to me anymore. We went to counseling and I could not come up with an explanation for his behavior. He quit his job and moved away.
I attended the Women of Purpose, Int’l retreat one weekend. I had almost given up praying for the marriage and thrown in the towel. “I give up God. I can’t handle this anymore.” I walked into the retreat late on Friday night as it was time to go up for prayer. Before I knew it, I was on the floor being filled with the Holy Spirit. He did an amazing thing. I don’t remember all that happened, but I remember feeling like I was having muscle spasms from my toes to my head. It felt the same as being very sick. A lot of my life’s garbage was being removed from within me. All the pain and hurt of life was being removed. I had a childhood issue of sexual abuse removed that I also didn’t know was still in me. Then I was filled with a great peace. Peace and quiet and comfort at last! I soaked in God’s love for what seemed to be quite awhile. Then more of the retching feeling began. He was removing more! I appreciate Women of Purpose, Int’l for being there for me; loving and accepting me as I am, and women who have the wisdom and discernment to allow people like me to be real without having to be pre-judged.
- B. M. - August 2011
James 5: 6 - “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
I Thessalonians 5: 17-18, “Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
Women of Purpose, Int’l, gives me a great sense of purpose knowing that I have many sisters in prayer. I know I will never walk alone; they will always be there in spirit to encourage and nourish me. Every step that I take, with each encounter I come upon, they will lift and enlighten my life and other women in need of spiritual, motivational, understanding, guidance and support. Women of Purpose, Int’l, has been a great comfort in my life.
- D.Y. - August 2011
Proverbs 11: 3 - “The integrity of the upright shall guide them.”
Proverbs 3: 3-4, “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee. Bind them about thy neck. Write them upon the table of thine heart. So shall thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.”
The name, Women of Purpose, Int’l, has been a great help to me. Just to think about the name has motivated me to a different level spiritually. In the Bible, a person’s name was not taken lightly for God spoke in a name as in Joshua, meaning deliverer. When the angel called Gideon a man of valor, it made him stand taller.
So the name, Women of Purpose, Int’l, has made me stand taller spiritually; to stand in what God has planted within me. They are women of integrity and truth. All spiritual gifts are to be used to the glory of God that He might be glorified as the Bible tells us. To understand, from the time of my conception, that God’s purpose for me was assigned. I am a Woman of Purpose, in the name of Jesus, a name given to His only begotten son. That has power both in heaven and on earth for me to minister all His callings in my life to His glory.
- W.A. - August 2011
Luke 16:10 - “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much....”
Ephesians 6: 8 - “Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.”
One day a very close friend and sister to me, Lisa Johnson, asked me to go to church with her that night. She told me it was a Christian women’s group having a meeting and she was sure that I would enjoy it and would probably want to join. I have been going ever since. I look forward to going to our meetings. These women were there for me when I found that I had an incurable kidney disease in February 2000. The doctor told me I couldn’t work after February and my disability wasn’t approved until May 2000. I was depressed and down-and-out about this. But, the women were by my side in every way. They helped me mentally and financially through this trying time with prayers and love. Everybody else I had talked to about disability benefits told me that I would have to get a lawyer. Those ladies prayed and prayed for me and my disability was approved without a lawyer.
He is a good God! He is a good, kind and loving God and everybody should know that. I feel sorry for anybody who doesn’t have God in his or her life. If you put God first in your life there is nothing in this cruel world you can’t handle. We are growing in Christ our Savior. Sister Lisa told me to read Matthew 6: 32-34 every day when I wake up. Because of that, whatever comes my way that day, I can handle.
- S. B. - August 2011
Proverbs 2: 9 - “Then shalt thou understand righteousness and judgment, and equity and yea every good path.”
Women of Purpose, Int’l, to me, has been an uplifting experience. For when I came here I truly loved God. I was walking around feeling sorry for myself and I was withdrawn. But now I can speak boldly for Christ. I am ready for our mission of helping battered women. I am ready to witness about God’s love for those who believe in His son, Jesus, for these women have shown me much love. There is no backstabbing. Everyone is treated the same. We have uplifting speakers that are women. This ministry will continue to help me to grow. Now at my church I am the third vice president in our mission ministry. I felt the need to say this because I had been on the bench in church for over ten years or more doing nothing but attending church before Women of Purpose, Int’l.
- L.H. - August 2011
Proverbs: 29:18 - “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”
I have served in several leadership positions in Women of Purpose, Int’l since 1995. I believe I saw and believed in the vision of Women of Purpose, Int’l from the beginning. Somewhere in the ensuing years I lost the vision. I began looking at my own circumstances and fastened my eyes on the visionary, herself.
After attending a Children’s Services Association meeting, representing Women of Purpose, Int’l, the vision returned with a passion. I didn’t know whether I could truly represent this organization. When I began to spread, to different people, what God had done and is doing in my life and the lives of other women, I realized that this was not about one woman, Dr. Phillips, it was about a move of God that had so imparted into my life, it had become my life because it is a ministry of Jesus Christ. I have new vision and new passion for the kingdom of God. Women of Purpose, Int’l, is a vision of God and I believe in Him and in His ministry.
- B.K. - August 2011
Deuteronomy 14: 2 - “Thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto Himself.”
How Great Thy Are O Lord. Women of Purpose, Int’l, means to me, that there is a purpose in every woman. There is a need each of us has to be all that we can be in the best manner that we can. It means to live Holy as God is Holy. I see this around me in my Women of Purpose, Int’l sisters. As we worship together in the Word and in the Spirit, we are prepared for the work we set out to do to help all women of all walks of life, every ethnicity and denomination, churched and unchurched.
- M.C. - August 2011
Psalm 85: 13 - “Righteousness shall go before Him and shall set us in the way of His steps.”
Proverbs 11: 23 - “The desire of the righteous is only good...”
I believe that Women of Purpose has strengthened me. I know God has a purpose for each believer’s life. Women of Purpose, Int’l, has helped me to be bold and speak out for Christ. I have met more of God’s people, who are righteous and holy, helping to make a difference in the lives of others to strengthen the body of Christ. These Women of Purpose seek to live righteous lives.
- G.C. - August 2011
I Chronicles 16: 15 - “Be ye mindful always of His covenant. The Word of God which He commanded and by understanding it is established.”
I moved to Columbia in December of 1996. I left my family, home and church family behind, not knowing how difficult it would be, being a pastor’s wife. My spiritual level was high and excited at my former church. I was involved in many areas of the church. Things changed when I moved to Columbia. My spiritual level took a stand still; it didn’t grow or move. Someone had told me that I needed to be around more spiritual people and I totally agreed. It took me over two years before I decided to join the Women of Purpose, Int’l. At the first banquet I attended I felt that I should join them. Women of Purpose, Int’l, I feel, has helped my spiritual growth. I am moving toward a higher level in Christ. I am growing more and more everyday. I have a new attitude, THANK GOD.
- S.H. - August 2011
Acts 1: 8 - “But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you; and ye shall be witness unto Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and into the uttermost part of the earth.”
BC and her husband were looking for answers and someone who would be impartial. My husband and I were privileged to be able to give counsel and pray with them. However, as BC came closer to the Lord, the more abusive her husband became. A few months later, she left all her belongings except what she could carry in two bags. Women of Purpose, Int’l people took her in and gave her a safe place to live until she could be healed emotionally and able to get back on her feet. Her husband came back repentant and asked her to forgive him. They stayed together for a while, and then he got crazy and spent money that wasn’t his and left. He was arrested and jailed. BC started all over again.
There were a few men interested in her but not for the right reasons. They hurt her also. We would talk and she seemed to look to Jesus, her Savior as a man, and of course men could not be trusted. The gospel of Matthew was able to help her see Jesus as a good man with feelings and a personality. God continued to do miracles for her. She has been growing much stronger. She found a church that accepted her for who she is, and she is beginning to minister to her people, the Native Americans. God says she will be an undercover agent for those who are in prominent positions and hurting women who are going through what she has gone through. To God be the Glory in all the earth.
- D.B. - August 2011
Deuteronomy 10: 12 - “What doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.”
Deuteronomy 13: 3 - “The Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”
Deuteronomy 30: 6 - The Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart and all thy soul, that thou may live.”
Psalm 31: 23 - “ O Love the Lord, all ye His saints.”
Psalm 97: 10 - “Ye that love the Lord, hate evil.”
Psalm 145: 20 - “The Lord preserveth all them that love Him.”
I would have to say thank God for Women of Purpose, Int’l for it has truly helped my growth in Christ. I thank God and give Him all the glory for the women He has placed in my life. When I go to our meetings I know that I will be able to praise the Lord, worship, be encouraged, give encouragement, share, pray with and am prayed for. These are strong, wise, prayerful women of God! I can never wait to get there and I always come out “on fire” for the Lord! It is really nice to belong to a group where I know my business won’t be in the street. I can cry, be myself and don’t have to hear gossip or negative talk. Being a member of Women of Purpose, Int’l I have realized my spiritual gifts. I found I have many. I found that God has a call on my life I never, in a million years, would have dreamed. I am accomplishing things I never have before.
To my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I am forever grateful and also, to Women of Purpose, Int’l. I look forward to continuing this Christian journey with my sisters in Christ; the Women of Purpose who love and show love to anyone who comes into their lives.
- L.J. - August 2011