Testimonies
Joe’s Testimony
I was born in Jamaica New York to a blue collar, middle class Catholic family. I received the sacraments of the Catholic Church as a youngster. That was the extent of any mention of God in my family. I enlisted in the United State Air Force upon graduation from High School which was during the Vietnam “Conflict”. Honorably discharged after 4 years of service at 21, I began my young adult life living the dream of sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll. After numerous jobs and a failed attempt in business my then wife and I moved to Maryland, and not long after that we divorced. In 1977 God presented me and my live-in girlfriend with my son. I now know this was the turning point in my life, where God began to work in my heart, and I began my journey to the relationship that would change my life forever.
In 1986, nine years after the birth of my son and 3 years into my second marriage to my son’s mother, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. From that day to this God has been doing a work in this sinner. I have made many mistakes on my journey and each time He has been there to lift me up and put me back on the narrow path.
In 2012 through my local church, God led me to Cuba on a mission trip. During that trip and the ones that followed, I felt the Holy Spirit speaking to me about the desire to serve in Cuba. In 2015, having been led by the Lord and His Holy Spirit I found myself on an exciting new journey, beginning a new ministry not only to Cuba but the world, Bridging the Nations Ministries International. At the age of 67 God answered my prayers and questions of “what would you have me do now Lord?” My life now is dedicated in full- time ministry to Him and I have never felt so completed and fulfilled. I thank Him every day for allowing all the trials and pain I have experienced in my life to bring me to this place. Thank you, Lord, thank you.
Galatians 3:28 “We are no longer Jews or Greeks or slaves or free men or even merely men or women, but we are all the same—we are Christians; we are one in Christ Jesus.”
Bill’s Testimony
I was born in Douglas, Arizona and lived in Arizona until I left for college in Maryland. I was raised in a Christian home and my family was always highly engaged in church. I gave my life to Christ at a very early age and was baptized at the age of 6. By following the example set by my parents, I served in many volunteer ministry positions, beginning in high school, during college and for a number of years afterwards, while embarking on a career in music.
I met my wife Mary Ann, in 1982 while she was performing in a musical theater and I was subbing as a pianist. We were married the next year. After Mary Ann and I were married, we gave concerts in churches, led music for revivals, and continued to volunteer in our own church as I worked on developing a classical music teaching and performing career. In 1994, after serving 2 years as part-time music director at Riva Trace Baptist Church (RTBC) in Annapolis, Maryland, God’s calling on my life into full-time ministry was very clear. In 1994 I was ordained and became the full-time worship pastor at RTBC, where I served for 27 years as Worship Pastor and Executive Pastor for five of those years. When I look back on my life, I can see how God orchestrated things to bring me to where I am today. I owe all that I am and have to Him. He has blessed me with a wonderful wife and daughter.
The books of Psalms and Philippians are favorites of mine and the following verse challenges me every day.
Philippians 2:14-16a “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the Word of Life…”
John’s Testimony
At the age of 52, I was afflicted with severe clinical depression, which left me unable to continue in my career. Previously, I had been very self-reliant and prideful of my accomplishments. Now, I could not function in any meaningful capacity. It was about this time that my wife encouraged me to attend a small start-up church. One Sunday, the church had a visiting evangelist as the speaker. In a room of 200 people, it felt as if I was the only person he was speaking to. Every word seemed directed to my heart and held the truth that I needed to hear. At the invitation, my hand shot up, I raced forward, and prayed the Sinner’s Prayer. In that moment, it seemed that all the cares and worries slid from my back. I had received a great gift – Eternal Life. My life has not been the same since that decision over twenty years ago. The preaching and teaching that I heard had new and genuine meaning. My mind and heart absorbed it continuously. Serving our Lord has allowed me travel the world, spreading the gospel, bringing encouragement, and witnessing. In my home church, I have been allowed to serve the needy as the Food Pantry Leader, in satisfying their physical hunger for more than ten years.
Ephesians 2:8-10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from ourselves, it is a gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Orlando’s Testimony
I was born June 5, 1982 and was 11 years old when my parents separated. It was at this time that my mother and I moved. Due to the grief and heartache my mother felt, she began taking me to church. I accepted Jesus when I was 12 years old. I continued to attend this church, eventually becoming the worship leader, but the Lord’s biggest blessing at that time was my soon to be wife, Lisset. We were married Sept. 16, 2004 and have two wonderful boys, Alejandro and Arthur. Before my marriage I was involved various different ministries. One of which was an a cappella group called Reborn, performing in various churches around Cuba. My family and I currently live in Havana City. My wife served in a Southern Baptist Church for two years early in our marriage. Since the birth of our two sons she has felt the need to remain home and raise our children. I feel blessed to be able to serve the Lord along with my wife as we continue to grow in His blessing and am able to show His love to others.
Deuteronomy 6:24 “And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day.”
Ron and Heather Anne’s Testimony
Following their respective Catholic and Presbyterian upbringings, Ron and Heather Anne came to faith within two months of each other in late 1980. Having previously believed in justification by works, they each learned that faith is about relationship with a Savior, not a religion. Their prayer is that every video they produce is God inspired, and that He will use them to help make the saving name of Jesus known to all who watch them.
2 Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and self-discipline.”
Debbie’s Testimony
I was born in Cuba, New York, and lived there until the day after I graduated from high school in June of 1987, when I moved to Florida. While my family attended church faithfully every Sunday, I never knew the Lord. During my high school days, I attended a group called Campus Life (a group of college students from Houghton College who shared the love of Jesus in local area churches) and met Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior in November of 1985. Living in a small town with not many fully committed believers, my spiritual growth was quite slow. In August of 1987 I started attending a Bible study group for single adults. It was there that I experienced the unconditional love of our Lord for the first time, and my spiritual journey really took off. I was baptized in the Atlantic Ocean on Easter Sunday, 1988. I experienced life changing trials in 2008 which led to going to college and obtaining an Associates of Arts degree. More life changing trials came in 2020. During these times, I have grown to know my Lord and Savior in new and more personal ways. He is enough and is always faithful. I have seen His hand of mercy, His faithfulness, and my life is continually being transformed.
Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
Brooke’s Testimony
I was born and raised in Annapolis, Maryland in a strong Christian home. My family led by example in their service to our local church. Because of this I was constantly around other believers that exemplified the humility and service that following Jesus requires. Upon graduating high school in 2015, I moved to Conway, South Carolina to attend Coastal Carolina University. It was there that I found a group of believers my age that spurred me on to pursue a deeper relationship with God each and every day. During three of those college years I was blessed with the opportunity to lead a college women’s small group full of women dedicated to the Lord and each other, all while exploring God’s Word as a community. My time in college has inspired me to be a representative of God and his beautiful Gospel in everything I do.
2 Corinthians 5:20 “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
Yulie’s Testimony
I became a Christian through reading the Bible. God’s Word convicted me that Jesus is the only way to the Father and that I needed God in my life. I realized there is no one worthy without Him. It was through the Word of God and His Holy Spirit that I came to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I received the Lord in my home, committing my life to Him.
My decision to begin to attend church was after reading Hebrews 10:25 RVS “Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another even more as you see the day of the Lord is coming nearer.” I prayed asking His guidance to know which church I should attend and He guided me to the 1 st Eastern Baptist Church. My entire concept of the world was changed. The more I read, the more every aspect of my life changed, until I barely recognized myself. I was the first Christian in my family, which bought many challenges in and of itself.
I thank God He came into my life and saved me from myself. He transformed my sorrow into dance as well as many of my family, friends, and neighbors. He equipped me to share His love which allowed me the blessing of seeing many people come into relationship with Him. I am looking forward to joining the Bridging the Nations Ministry International team serving in Cuba which will allow me to share the Gospel with God’s people through a multi-denominational ministry by supporting God’s people and leaders.