Michigan

Debra Zoerhof was raised in a Christian home and was baptized as an infant into the Reformed Church. Later she joined the church by confession of faith when she was 17. She believed Jesus was the Son of God, but she did not have a personal relationship with Him.

Years passed. Debra married and raised her family, independent of a trusting relationship with God, until a family crisis with her daughter threatened to destroy her marriage and family. She felt like she was no longer in control of her life or surroundings. This crisis led her to focus on the need for Christ’s divine power to come into her heart and give her strength to deal with the situation she was in. By faith she reached out to take Christ’s hand and to learn to trust Him. She made a commitment to study the Bible and learn God's will for her life.

The miracle began to happen as she studied the Bible and experienced a change in her emotions and thinking. She became submissive and let go of circumstances she could not change and allowed Jesus to lead.

Providentially, she began attending Hope for the Homeland evangelistic meetings in Zeeland, Michigan. There she learned that the Sabbath the Creator made and blessed was to be observed on the seventh day of the week. She wondered why she had been taught for 42 years to worship on Sunday, the first day of the week, when the Bible clearly taught she should worship on the seventh day. It was a question that repeated itself over and over again in her mind and heart.

However, it was the Bible’s teaching about discovering the difference between tradition, truth, and worship, as they related to the "mark of the beast" and a pretense of correct doctrine, that really touched her heart. She now knew she could no longer honestly deny truth, and that she had to make a decision. She began attending the Holland Adventist Church.

About six months later, Satan once again brought doubts and discouragement to her, but this time she prayed for God to give her strength to obey and follow His will. That prayer was answered as she studied the "Voice of Prophecy Speaks" Bible course she had been given at church. It added new blessings and assurances that the truths she had learned were truly God’s will for her life.

Debra was baptized on October 11, 2003, by Holland’s associate pastor, Ilko Tchakarov, and became a member of that congregation. The text that is especially meaningful to her is, "Test me, O Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind; for your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in your truth" (Psalms 26:2, 3 NIV).

By Debra Zoerhof with Bruce Babienco, Herald volunteer correspondent