My Testimony

Published on 13 July 2023 at 17:09

Get ready to read a lot, because I'm going to tell you all about my story!

 

I was born in Florida, USA July 4th 2002. I moved to the UK with my family when I was four. There, I was raised as a Christian and was taught the value of what that meant. After my father moved back to America, when I was 12, I faced a number of hardships and the reality of life kicked in, as it does with most people. At 14, I turned away from my faith as a Christian and began to drink excessively, smoke weed, and party like I had something to prove. This lifestyle left me feeling lost and alone for a long time. In the summer of 2019, My brother and I moved to Oregon, USA to live with our father. I was running from my life in England but didn't want to admit it at the time. Even with a fresh start, in a new country, I continued to be a spiteful and angry youth. I had run-ins with the police, I stole my father's car, totalled it, and I drank and smoked more than ever before. In my mind, the world was unfair and cold. So I pushed away everyone who tried to get close, and shut them out by putting walls up around my heart.

 

On a night when I was feeling like there was nothing good in my life to live for anymore, I felt my hands being pulled together. I fought the feeling, but they clasped tight and I began to pray to the God I had forgotten about. I cried as I remembered who He was and how He loved even me. As time drew on from that moment, I brushed the experience off on account of me being tired and emotional. But God had a plan, and I was walking out that plan without even knowing it. 

 

A few months after that, I moved to Bend, Oregon for college. Where I carried on partying like I was going to die before the night was over. Many times I woke up not knowing where I was, or what happened the night before. I was still destroying everything around me, and was not at all behaving like I had been given a second oppurtunity by Jesus. Anyway, I managed to stay on top of my grades, because I didn't want to look like a screw up to my parents. I graduated from Central Oregon Community College with a two-year transfer degree, and seven years before I needed to be back in school to redeem that degree. 

 

So naturally, I wanted to travel around a bit with that time. You know, see the world and do the things. But I didn't want to just wander aimlessly, because that sounded lonely. So I talked it over with my father, and he recommended Youth With A Mission (YWAM). He had spent a number of years in YWAM when he was my age, and his parents had even started an outreach base in Belize, where they still are today. So I search YWAM up, and the first base I find is offering an SDTS (Snowboarding Discipleship Training School). I applied without really knowing what I was getting myself into. But I'm so happy I did.

 

Thanks to my family, friends, and anonymous donors I raised enough money to fund the school. I was on my way to Canada and had no idea what to expect. It soon became apparent to me that, this is exactly where God wanted me to be. I could not have imagined the impact my SDTS would have on my life. It showed me who I really was. Behind the walls of bottles and beer cans my heart still beat. I have found that beat again and I do not want to lose time anymore. So I'm sticking with the rythm God has given me, and I have applied to join staff in Vancouver. Where I will continue to walk along the path He is laying out for me. 

 

Thank you for taking the time to read that. God bless you.

Ezekiel Smith.

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Comments

Grama
a year ago

I love you Zeke. I can’t tell you how proud of you that I am!! Keep trucking with Jesus, He is Life

Zeke
a year ago

Thank you!!!! You know I'm in for the long haul. Love you! x

Deidre Mooney
a year ago

I am a friend of your grandparents, Karol & Larry. Your testimony is beautiful. I know that God has big plans for you, and can’t wait to read about all the wonderful things He will do through you!!! God bless you as you walk in His plan and purpose for your life!

Zeke
a year ago

Thank you very much Deidre! I appreciate you taking the time to read my testimony, that means a lot to me. Let me know if I can do anything for you through email. I'd love to get to know you better. God bless you!

Roger McKee
a year ago

Zeke…how God works is both mysterious and wonderful and I’m excited to know you have many years ahead of you to savor that truth daily. It’s been a pleasure to get to know you over the past few weeks especially on top of the new church pavilion we worked on together. To hear how God has gently brought you back to Himself is a wonderful story of grace that you will share many times in the years to come. Blessings on you my brother in the Lord. Dee and I look forward to sharing in your ministry together.

Ric Jones
a year ago

I read your testimony and you have been blessed. Chris and I are So excited to see what God has in store for you.
You are the only one of us that could have hung from the rafters with one hand and not fallen. Bless you