Testimonies From The Lighthouse
Jennifer (Huisman) Dobranski
I was blessed to grow up in a Christian home; and went to church all through my childhood and high school years. I gave my life to Christ at a Pioneer camp when I was in grade two. I had stayed up late with the leaders and they had their worship time and had sung a song “Cast your burdens unto Jesus for he cares for you”. I was moved during their worship time and back at the cabin prayed with my camp leader accepting Jesus into my heart. I went to church with my family and Christian schools and continued to have a relationship with Jesus Christ and was baptized in grade seven. All through high school I continued to live my life walking with the Lord.
However, the last year of high school and then on into university, my part-time job (waitress at a breakfast diner) offered me work on Sunday mornings. I knew I would miss church but thought it would be ok. I felt I knew enough to be ok without the fellowship and teaching and besides I could always go to the evening service. But university started and a lot of the people I met did not go to church (which I had been used to from going to Christian schools and church my whole life) and I thought well they are still ‘alright’, I can just hang out with them, and not worry about church.
It soon became very hard to continue to live like a Christian when I had cut myself off from church, devotions, fellowship, etc. I began to party with my university friends and decided I was doing fine without God being in control of my life. I knew I couldn’t keep trying to live in the so called ‘grey’ area so I made a decision that at this point I did not need the Lord; I could do things on my own.
To keep a long story short, let’s just say that obviously that was a horrible decision. I made a lot of poor choices throughout university, decisions I am not proud of.
After university I had an offer for a job out here in Calgary. I moved out here in 2006 and met Christian friends right away. I began going back to church slowly on my own. Eventually, God brought Troy into my life who was in a similar spot in his life. Together we encouraged each other to keep going to church regularly.
I have rededicated my life to the Lord and Troy and I had chosen Joshua 24:15 (“As for me and my household we will serve the Lord), as one of our wedding verses. I am so thankful to the Lord for not giving up on me. I feel like I was like the prodigal son and that my past is behind me and he has welcomed me home with open arms. I am happy to live my life for my Saviour Jesus and thank Him for his unconditional, unfailing love. Praise the Lord!