My Story, A Christian Woman

I grew up in church. My parents would make me go to church every Sunday and being the diligent that child I was, I always felt obligated to attend. It wasn't until I was 15 that I gave my life to Jesus for the first time.

Now our relationship was a bit on and off. He would try and I would backslid. Whenever I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders, I would crawl back into His arms; and He always welcomed me.

Throughout the years, this would become the norm for me. The start of 2017 was incredibly difficult for me. I thought I had everything worked out, but then the mat got pulled out right under me and I fell hard. Getting up proved to be even harder with my anxiety and depression looming, but on 16 February 2017 at 05:00 I woke up with reassurance that everything will be okay.

I cried, laughed and sang for joy because my Father took my hand that morning and has not let go of it. Throughout the year, His presence has been a tangible part of me; I have grown. I went through a journey that could have broken me, I discovered; and ended journeys with people I thought were meant to be a part of my life, but all of that has shaped me into who I needed to become.

As I stepped into a future unknown, I needed God to guide me. I prayed restlessly for the new journey He took me on and now more than ever I am more aware of my identity in Christ. I have discovered who I am in Christ.

I realised that no matter how many times I failed and fell, God always came through. He always stepped in and pulled me up; I was just too self-absorbed that I could not see. As I reflect back, I realise that all endings became beginnings.

Where I was once soft-spoken and always talked over, I have a voice now; where I lost a friend, I received others that support and fulfil my journey; where I lacked confidence, I now am able to look at myself and say that I am worthy. I am HIS BELOVED.

I chose to continue my life as a new being in Christ. I'm looking forward to growing more in Christ. I joined Hugs for Christ in 2016, mostly because my cousin wouldn't stop pestering me, ha-ha. But after the first outreach, I was hooked!

I experienced Jesus in a whole other way... The joy of people running with open arms to you is a feeling indescribable. Just one hug from a random person; just one hug from someone that ''needed'' it… It's truly been an awesome blessing to be part of this beautiful project.

Father has been faithful to this cause. What started as a sharing hugs on a Saturday has turned into a winter drive, collecting stationery for under privileged children, giving gifts for those who don't have families to spend Christmas with and keeping the city, our communities clean.

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My story, I’m saved

I used to think that my story was a fairly easy one and that my testimony will never be as impressive as someone who got saved after an explosive meeting with Christ. I thought that my story was just an ordinary one, that it might not mean something to anyone.

You see, I grew up in church. My dad was a pastor, my sister a youth leader, my mom was part of various church events and I went to Sunday school every Sunday morning. I thought that, that was what it’s like to be Christian. That was my story, it’s just ordinary.

That was until I realised that although I knew about Jesus, I did not actually personally know him. And it took me a while to realise that. I was 13 years old when I finally met Jesus, without anyone pressuring me.

Since then my position as a child of God has been tested a lot. I went through a rough teenage patch; I experimented with things and totally went off the course. It took sometime before I realised that I need to set things right, I had to repent once again.

I lost friends and the road was lonely, but I do not regret my decision at all. I persevered through all the hard times and that just helped me become more Christ-like. Two years ago I made the choice to go through a believer’s baptism and it was the greatest day of my life.

Since then I have been tempted, I fell, I made stupid unnecessary mistakes, but Jesus stood by me and helped me through it all. After another amazing meeting with Christ during a fasting period I decided to start a group that will just spread love.

The idea came after a men’s camp, which once more made me see things differently. And thanks to Fathers’ guidance Hugs 4 Christ was born. It was supposed to be a onetime short event, but it grew beyond what I expected. Father has been faithful and Hugs 4 Christ has been transformed into a full-blown ministry.

I have a passion for H4C and every day I learn more and more about Jesus through this ministry. It has changed me and it has helped me grow. I hope that H4C will continue inspiring others and that we will continue spreading the Love of Christ one hug at a time.

Barry de Klerk