Overcoming fear and alchohol addiction

All my life I have suffered from terrible fears due to traumas I was subjected to as a child, and I grew up not able to cope with life.  I was adopted at an early age, and was always desperately unhappy and anxious about everything. I knew both of my parents, but was abandoned and this was always a deep issue with me.  I grew up to be a rebellious young girl, well into my twenties and thirties, always doing things my own way and really suffered the consequences of this, through bad choices and wrong relationships.  Alcohol slowly crept into my life, bringing great destruction both to my life and the lives of my children.  During these years I became a total broken wreck, both physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally, and I even tried to take my own life on several occasions.  I had always known God in my life, as I was brought up a very strict Catholic, but I did not really know Him.  I went from one marriage to another, always making a wrong choice as the men I married were usually other drinkers and I was very co-dependent.  I went to The Gate in 1984, and it was a slow process, as I went back and forwards to drink for several years.  I had always for prayed for sobriety, and in 1989 God removed the desire for drink completely from me.  He has let me see that rebellion and self-will only bring destruction.  If we give our life over to His care, He shows us the way.  In June 2002 I was baptized for the second time, and have found a great love in the Lord.  He has brought me out of the darkness into the light.  He is the only answer and I love him with my whole heart.  He saved me from the pit of hell and blessed me with sobriety and peace.  Although there are many traumas I still have to deal with, He always shows me a way to deal with them.

My experience of Gate Church International has been a wonderful one, where I have been taught and guided in the ways of the Lord.  The Pastors are both great examples of true Christianity, as are the congregation.  The Gate offers true guidance through having cell groups, and a cell leader, so that everyone has a caring, safe and loving environment which to be counselled, healed and delivered with great love, kindness and compassion, and where we can all make new Christian friends and all help each other.  My cell leader has shown me great patience and understanding, and helps me to cope and go about things Gods way.  I get a lot of prayer and support, respect and love, both from The Gate and from my cell leader.  I am learning things more each day, and I am being guided through life God’s way, with great love and understanding.  I thank God for The Gate and my cell leader.  God has totally changed my life, and I hope I can be instrumental in changing other people’s lives for God.