I won or Rather Lost - Personal Testimony of Jean Durocher My mother died when I was 10 and up to that time I had attended a United Church where I was christened and confirmed and I didn’t quite understand the significance of either. My Mom was a Christian and I believed my Father was too but he became very bitter after her death and advised me not to believe in God. At this time I began to read the Bible, started at Genesis and didn’t comprehend it all and soon gave it up. A teacher at the school I attended held an after school Bible class and I just loved her. She became my friend and even attended a dress up Halloween party at a Girl Guides group I belonged to. They said we could bring a friend and she was the best friend I knew. She was so kind and loving to me and as a result every time she gave an invitation to speak to her about accepting Christ I went to talk to her. It took some time to convince me that it only needed to be done once! However it was the beginning. An aunt and uncle who loved the Lord took me to their home for a couple of weeks and even said when I was grown up they would send me to Moody Bible Institute. These are things that stick with me as I see God working in me at an early age to lead me to Him. I often prayed (as my mother had taught me) and during my teen years seldom attended a church, had negative output from my father and very low self-esteem. Then along came Frank, who was already a believer, into my life. He was from a dedicated Christian family, had a mother and father who loved the Lord and so I was exposed to the gospel while attending a Gospel Hall. One eager man at the church greeted me gruffly with “so are you saved?” to which I answered “um, I guess so.” And that was the end of the conversation. Frank and I went to Detroit to hear C.S. Lewis, a dynamic man. At the invitation I had to hold on to the seat ahead in order not to go forward, the spirit was so strong (and I won or rather lost), but in my heart I knew the Lord had spoken to me and I decided to follow His call. After we were married 12 years we moved from Windsor to Brantford and attended a Baptist Church. There I confirmed my commitment to Christ, Frank and I were baptized in February 1958 and it was the most wonderful experience of my life. The Lord has always been so good to me, often I have let Him down or gone my own way, but He always calls me back and tells me how special I am to Him. He truly loves with no conditions. He has given us three wonderful children, who love and respect us, and we are so grateful for their spouses and our super grandchildren & great grandchildren. He has given us an abundance of precious friends He has carried us through illnesses, heartaches, and disappointments and has shared with us in joys, triumphs and our great times. How wonderful He is! My favourite verses are 1 John 4:18 and 19 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, Because fear has to do with punishment. The one who Fears is not made perfect in love. I love Him because He first loved me! 1 John 4:19