Hey everyone! My name is Brianna Ramsey and I was born and raised in the small town of Talihina, Oklahoma. I am currently living in Poteau as a freshman student at Carl Albert State College, studying Elementary Education. I thought that I would use this opportunity to share about how I came to know Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior.
When I was younger, my mother and her parents took me to church at Talihina Assembly of God. My parents had divorced when I was about two years old, and my dad hadn’t accepted Christ as his personal Savior yet. I had always had a head knowledge about Jesus and what He had done for me, but I didn’t have a heart knowledge, if that makes sense. Eventually my mother and grandparents started going to church less and less. We went every once in a while, but that was the extent of it until my 6th grade year. My teacher took it upon herself to send a letter home with me that was addressed to my dad, inviting him to Talihina First Baptist. A little while after that simple invite, my dad was saved and then later surrendered to the ministry. I have gone there ever since, with the exception of my dad preaching at other churches for periods of time. I was a part of the youth group, attended church outings/activities, and had even gone to church camp.
On July 14, 2011, our youth group was at the local church camp. It was the last day of camp and I went forward and said a prayer to accept Christ, but I didn’t mean it. I went forward because of my emotions. I “felt” like that’s what I needed to do because that’s what everyone else was doing. I didn’t mean business with God, and in the back of my mind I always knew that, but I kept pushing it aside and ignoring it. From that moment on I had completely played church like it was some sort of game. I made sure I was at as many church services that I was able to attend. I was in our FCA group in junior high/high school. I played the game and I wasn’t all in.
I’m so happy to say that on April 3, 2016, I fully gave my life to Christ. I was sitting in Sunday morning service, and a particular verse caught not only my eye, but my heart as well. James 4:4 says, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” It was in that moment that I truly knew and recognized that I was lost. Quite honestly, I was going to leave after service just like any other Sunday, but the closer I got to those doors, the heavier my heart and soul got. I pulled Pastor Mark Cook aside and talked to him about how God was dealing with me. It was in that moment that I meant business with God. No more games and no more playing church. I wanted to be everything that I could possibly be for Him and His kingdom’s cause. I surrendered my life that day, and was baptized a couple of weeks later.
I can easily say that my life has never been the same since that moment. Christ truly changed me from the inside out, and I have never been more thankful, even though I’m so undeserving. On June 12, 2016, two days before I left for my first international mission trip to Nicaragua, God called me to surrender my life to missions. Whether it be in the United States or foreign lands, I want to serve my God in the way that He has called me to. Not for my personal gain or glory, but for God’s glory. In everything I do I pray that God’s will be done and not my own.
