When I came to The Carpenter’s Church, I was broke, jobless, dirty, frustrated, angry, and full of lots of nonsense that I was tired of. I wanted a change. Although my family and I were worshipping with another church, I was not satisfied because on many occasions I tried to go for altar call but the opportunity never arose as the pastor there was more concerned about members contributing and sowing seed than winning souls.

So, I decided to come to TCC since we had just moved into the area. That day, I met a classmate in church, who encouraged me to keep coming to church and maybe I would be given a space to sell popcorn after service. It was that bad; nothing was working. I believed that everything I was going through was due to my sins and previous actions. I started coming to church with my children and listening to Pastor Charles preach and teach the Word of God. That was when I got to know I could not even pay for my sins or actions even if I wanted to. Sometimes, I would have so many questions in my heart and I did not have anybody to ask. However, when I came to church the pastor will somehow answer those questions in very clear terms. So, I did not have to book to see the pastors. The Believers’ Classes were amazing! In fact, if I was to give it a name, I would say ‘Christianity Simplified’. My whole life was changing. Then, on a Sunday one of the pastors said that just by sitting and listening consistently to the Word, your heart will be renewed.

My hardened heart was breaking gradually right in front of me and then, I realized all of the anger and hate I felt inside of me was because I had been depressed all along. This depression had controlled me so much that nobody even wanted me around or to be with me. This depression also pushed my husband far from me and I was becoming unbearable to stay with. I would quarrel with him for days and for every little thing. I even remembered boasting to him that I was very malicious. I started attending MoThars Collection. Married women and men, you don’t know what you are missing by not attending The MoThars Collection and The Boaz Brigade. At the MoThars Collection, I saw love, compassion and understanding amongst women. When a woman complains, she does not need to tell you it happened to someone else when it was happening to her. We were open and sought help. I heard real advice given to them and I knew this is it. I was lacking love, how then could I give it to my family?

I realized I had to work on myself before I would be able to work on any other person. God was so faithful and patient with me. One night, I was sleeping and in my dream, I just heard “When Satan is in the family, trouble, trouble, o”. I used to have terrible nightmares and we didn’t have morning devotions or any other kind of devotion. I started the devotions with the children and later I had another dream, with a voice saying – “Jesus is in the house”. Hallelujah! When I woke up, I told my sister that was staying with me then that we will not stop the morning devotions. I realized that whenever we gather to pray that God answers us because the Bible says that where two or three are gathered in His name, He is there with them. God continued answering whatever we brought before Him as we came to Him with worship and praise. When I faced a great challenge in my marriage, Pastor Charles was such a blessing to me. Almost every Sunday he preached, there was a rhema word for me; and this didn’t happen once or twice. The grace of God has made what seemed impossible in my life to become possible.

In TCC, I learnt that the only way to prosperity is through giving, but not under compulsion. This I did. I remembered one day, I was tired of being broke, yet by this time I was committed to paying my tithe. I was wondering why the window of heaven was not open to me by God. Where was my “more than enough”? That weekend, I came to church and Pastor Nkechi preached about receiving the same measure with which you give. These words clicked in my spirit. I realized I was only paying my tithe and nothing else; so, I only had enough to eat and that was it. I increased my giving with expectation and for the first time, I received a cash gift, which I had never received in life without working or earning it. God also blessed me with a paid job and a growing business.

I have found out that the preacher is so important to mankind, he is a mouthpiece of God with a specified amount of time to preach and change the mentality of the children of God through the Word God has put in his mouth. Many times the preacher doesn’t even get feedback from the congregation. Imagine if the preacher in his selfishness sends out a wrong word due to his selfishness and a child of God takes the word and it leads to death? This is why I am forever grateful to the pastors: Pastor Charles whose messages still live on, Pastor Nkechi and also Pastor Sola for the simplified and practical Word of God spoken every day that is changing lives daily. Indeed you are a gift to my world.

I also want to thank the leaders of the TC Cubs department for the teachers’ prep class we hold. The outlines are so simple and practical for children and we also learn a lot there too. It is our own “mini Ekklesia”. For me, I know God is not through with me yet. I am a work in progress. Like gold that has to pass through the fire to be made pure, God is taking me through this path and when I come out of it I will be too bright to behold. I have started the journey and I am not going back.