TESTIMONIES
Worship Service Sats. 6pm - 8pm
Bible Study Weds. 7pm - 9pmSean Rogers
All I can say is WOW, oh...and YAHOO!
My father was saved when I was just four years old. I lived with my mom but spent the weekends with Dad and went to church on Sundays. He played guitar and sang on the worship team. I have early memories of meeting in different buildings because we couldn't afford our own church. One of those buildings was the gymnasium of the elementary school I ended up attending by age nine. I remember telling other students that and them not believing me. "Where's the steeple?" they asked me. But I knew that I knew.
Through my early years I had much exposure to the Gospel. My uncle Jeff and his wife Vicki were saved and my aunt would share truth with me often as we rode together in the car. I remember her telling me that I would go to Heaven if I just believed in Jesus. Another early lesson I remember is hearing of God's omnipresence. I was absolutely amazed to know that He was everywhere, in every room, at all times. An early question I had for my dad was whether or not Jesus was the first to go to Heaven. I stumped him! Another great memory from this time period was running into my uncle Jeff at church one Sunday. I was very young but I knew that my uncle (being my mom's brother) didn't go to our church...and that this was special. I remember being so HAPPY sitting between him and my dad that day!
Indian Lake
Community Church
2 Hastings Ave. Worcester, MA
Loving God - Making Friends - Changing Lives
When I was nine my family moved to Sturbridge. Although mortal enemies at first, I soon became close friends with a kid named Sean Corriveau who lived down the street from us. His family were hardcore Pentecostals and I was instantly intrigued by the way they lived. They didn't have a TV and that blew my mind! Sean's mom, Susan, was a true woman after God and spoke often of the Gospel. There was always a sense of warmth and welcome in their home. Susan often made chocolate chip cookies that I absolutely LOVED and clamored for every Saturday. I often sat in on their family devotionals. I can remember Sean being embarrassed by this but I never really understood why. I found God's Word and Susan's presentation of it fascinating! One great story I have recently heard recounted is that one day Susan had come home from work to find me sitting "Indian" style on the couch with a towel wrapped around my head and a bible in my lap. I was reading from it while Sean and his two sisters sat around me on the floor listening intently. Sean has recently told his mother, "He still does that...only now without the towel!" I, of course, have no recollection of this.
Somewhere around this time my dad and his wife (also named) Susan had stopped going to church. I never did find out why. They soon fell far from God; and there was much turmoil and trouble in their marriage throughout my teenage years...which eventually ended in divorce. Some of my step-mom's family however, most notably her sister Elaine, were dedicated Baptists and absolutely on fire for God. When I was twelve years old, Elaine invited my brother Chris and me to a service at her church. I remember that the appeal was supposed to be that there was a Christian "rock" band playing. To tell you the truth, I don't think either of us was all that impressed. That night there was an altar call and after a little coaxing, my brother and I answered. I specifically remember expecting some sort of feeling of change from within, as if anticipating the Holy Ghost, although at the time I had no idea what that was. No such feeling took place. I remember fearing that I had done it wrong, even desiring to try again. Nevertheless, I gave my heart, soul and life to Jesus Christ that night and knew exactly what that meant. A man from that church gave me my first bible and wrote a dedication inside the front cover. He encouraged me to start with John and to never stop. It was an original King James and very difficult to understand...so I didn't get very far.
I took my salvation seriously and prayed to God every night before bed for about a year and a half. I never told anyone else about this, it was just between me and God. We had officially begun our relationship! But I was completely separated from the body of Christ. My mom and step-dad were non-practicing Catholics, my dad completely went off the rails...and I'm not sure my brother thought about Jesus once since the night he was saved. There was no encouragement from anywhere and I soon slid all the way back. I know now, that because of my new found love for God, the enemy had turned the heat up on me and without any real knowledge of truth...I didn't stand a chance. My dad had given me my first beer at the age of twelve. That's also the year I discovered my first Hustler magazine. I knew that I was sinning, and I continually asked God to forgive me. I know that He did, but no one had ever taught me the word REPENTANCE. By the time I turned fourteen, I had stopped praying altogether; and my bible was buried beneath a stack of books I never read.
The next twenty years of my life are more or less a blur. As a teenager I felt awkward and always out of place at school. It was very difficult for me to talk to girls and I never was part of any clubs. Although told continuously how "smart" I was, I never liked doing schoolwork and got very poor marks. Things at home weren't any better, as I was constantly fighting with my mom...and extremely jealous of (and mean to) my younger brother Dennis. I started experimenting with drugs at an early age and developed a very unhealthy addiction to pornography. My dad and his wife split up in an ugly separation and a solid leg of stability felt ripped out from underneath me. I (barely) graduated high school at age seventeen and moved away from home that August. My friends and I turned my new apartment into a party house and my illicit drug use was turned full blast. I was arrested seven times between the ages of 18 and 20. I had become very good at talking to women by then...by constant lies and manipulation. I had always been very good at talking my way in and out of situations, and I hurt some people who I really cared about. Though I was fired from every job I ever had...I was a very hard worker and built a strong resume through experience in the restaurant business. I burned through many jobs in both Worcester and Boston though my twenties. At age 25 I had found myself waiting tables at the most prestigious restaurant in Boston. That year I earned $65,000 in tips! That year I also became a full-blown crack addict. My twenties are really a blur of lies, deceit, drugs, alcohol, casual sex, ruined family relationships and betrayal. There are many more details which I could share here, but this story is about REDEMPTION and I refuse to give the devil any more credit than I already have.
In late spring of 2009, I was 33 years old. I was living with a woman in sin. The circumstance of our relationship made things very difficult for us and we fought often. I had (mostly) stopped drug use but had become a serious alcoholic. I drank on average a half liter of whisky a night. I had recently been fired from the best job I had ever had (Assistant General Manager of a fine dining steak house) for drinking and sexual harassment accusations. Despite my previous accomplishments in the restaurant industry, I found myself assistant manager of a pizza joint. I had no hobbies, no pastimes, no real skills to speak of and no friends. I had burned bridges with family which to this day have still not healed. My only interest or passion whatsoever was going to concerts...times that were filled with idolatry, reckless spending and drugs. I was in debt up to my eyeballs and had absolutely no plan to get myself out of the mess which I had created of my life. I was extremely prideful and self-righteous and hated everyone I didn't know. I didn't find myself at a point of "rock bottom" that you often hear about in other testimonies and support groups. I simply had given up on life. I just did not care.
Although I didn't know it was Him at the time, God spoke to me through my girlfriend on June 7, 2009. She told me that she'd like me to stop drinking altogether (I had recently "slowed down" but that measure never really amounted to anything). Much to my surprise and to her delight, I stopped. I quickly made up my mind and stopped drinking. There was no struggle, no AA, no "sponsor"...the desire was simply gone. Of course at the time, my prideful self took all the credit. Around this time my girlfriend had been invited to church by her sister, who was attending Calvary Temple in Holden. She had been born again years ago...but like me had fallen far from the things of God. She was very reserved about going, for fear that the Lord would smite her and burn her up on the spot. This may sound comical but it was a real fear which she held. After a conversation with Pastor Lee DeMatos over the telephone, she finally agreed and made plans to attend church with her sister...one week before Father's Day. She had asked me to come with her but I respectfully passed, knowing that church just wasn't my thing.
When I spoke to my girlfriend later that night, I found myself like a deer caught in headlights. I remember being in absolute AWE of the difference in her countenance after attending church just one time. She was happy and excited and genuinely JOYFUL for the first time in as long as I could remember. I knew that God had made the difference. She asked me if I wanted to come with her the next week, and she didn't even have to finish the sentence. I was on board! I wanted some of whatever she had gotten that day. I attended Calvary for the first time on Father's Day, June 21, 2009. I remember being angry about having to pick people up...and scoffing at the idea of tithing. I was convinced that this church thing was just a scam to get my money. I did not want anyone to talk to me...and certainly not touch or hug me. Yet there I was, and in the door I walked.
I started attending Calvary weekly and enjoyed it more increasingly every week. I never said the sinner's prayer...I never confessed anything for Jesus. But I knew that I was where I belonged. One Sunday during worship, God met me in private. There in that secret place He met me and told me how happy he was to have me back. I fell to my knees and could only praise Him, weeping. I was baptized in the Holy Spirit and an inextinguishable fire was lit in my heart. It was a while before I shared this experience with anyone. Once again...it was just between my God and me. From that day on, Jesus has made truly miraculous changes within me. I am transformed...a new man in Jesus. While maintaining a strong relationship as brother and sister in Christ, my ex-girlfriend and I no longer live together. I have been humbled by the Lord and am sharing space with my grandmother; I am able to keep her company and help her out around the house while living rent free while I catch up on my debt. My earthly parents have lovingly and graciously given me a vehicle to get around in. I have been alcohol free for just about ten months now. I have quit using drugs and smoking cigarettes altogether as well. God has given me a job which I truly enjoy and gives me opportunity to do HIS work everyday. My new boss is a Christian and I get the opportunity to minister to her almost daily. I have a newly found love for people and relationships. I have more friends today than I had in the sum of all my years previous to knowing Christ. I have recently been reaquainted with Aunt Elaine and my friend's mom, Susan. They have both encouraged me in my walk and I have been able to thank them for watering God's seed in me. My uncle Jeff (who backslid and fell from God during the 90's) and his girlfriend have been coming to Calvary for three weeks now, and this week are coming to a home group! God is already using me to lead others to Christ, mind you, through no effort on my part! I feel safe, secure, confident and joyful everyday now, wrapped in His arms...completely dependent on God. Blessed to be single and without kids, I am able to attend church functions, bible studies, prayer groups and experience fellowship in Christ almost every night of the week. I am closely involved in the planting of a new church (ILCC) and have found the stable and holy family life which I had always craved. I am studying and training for a life in full time ministry, as I believe this is God's call on my life. Lee and Teresa DeMatos have accepted me as a son and I could NEVER express in words how grateful to God I am for that! For the first time ever I have life, purpose and plans. This is still (and always) a process of trying to know God better each day; and every day I am able to yield more to Him and give Jesus more control of absolutely every area of my life.
Thank you for taking the time to read all of this and come along with me for this journey. This writing was a long time coming. I urge you to write ILCC with your personal testimony as I pray that our stories help current and future believers in Christ. As important a journey this testimony has been...the journey ahead of us will be far more joyous and rewarding...I am looking forward to it. Put Jesus first in all things. I love you all.
Sincerely,
Sean M Rogers
March 29, 2010
