Testimonies From The Lighthouse
Liz Amantea
I was born in Holland and my family immigrated to Canada when I was 9 months old. My parents split up when I was 4 and a new step-mom came on the scene shortly thereafter. I remember going to church as a young child but I did not understand a word of it as it was all in Latin. Later, I got perfect attendance for one year at another church’s Sunday school. I remember we talked about a lot of things but don’t remember ever hearing about Jesus. As a teenager I decided my goal in life was to make people happy.
In the spring of grade 10, on my way to school one day, I was complaining to my best friend how everyone was against me. I had had fights with my step-mother, my sister, and other family members. I wasn’t doing such a good job at my goal in life. My friend then said to me, “have you ever thought that YOU might be the problem?” Well, needless to say, I did not continue walking to school with her. All that day at school I saw some weird looking people in the halls: Guys with Long hair and Girls with long skirts. They were Hippies. They spoke in my last class of the day. Before I went into the room, one of the fellows gave me a pamphlet (a tract) and said “smile, Jesus Loves You!” As the seven of them took turns in a panel discussion they talked of Jesus and How he died for our sins but also is alive today and has a plan and purpose for our lives.
After class that day I ran to the locker that I shared with my (former) best friend. She said “What is the matter with You?” When I asked her what she meant she told me that I was “glowing”. I told her about my encounter with the Jesus People. That night she and I went downtown and met with a few of those same people in a café and I prayed to give my life to Jesus.
I went through a few glitches at first but about 7 months later I was baptised in water and my life did a 180 degree turnaround. I have never looked back since. The scripture that has meant so much to me over the years is Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”