Michigan

Barbara Read, a Berrien Springs Village Church member, first learned about Adventists in 1992. As a single mother living in Elkhart, Indiana, a co-worker's friend told her about GENESIS Project, an Andrews University single parent program developed to encourage those seeking an undergraduate degree, and to help them support themselves. Excited about its prospects, she moved to Berrien Springs and began classwork at Andrews University.

Looking back, Barbara remembers growing up in a home with no religious affiliation. She did attend a handful of Vacation Bible School programs with her paternal grandparents. But since her parents did not attend church, Barbara’s commitment to a church was not strong.

While at Andrews University, she attended an evangelistic service on campus one evening in 1996, when Doug Batchelor was the speaker. At that service, she was challenged by what she heard.

Later, an Adventist neighbor invited Barbara to her home to watch a series of evangelistic messages presented by Kenneth Cox, entitled, "The Midnight Cry." In 1999, she also went to the Berrien Springs Village Church to watch Doug Batchelor's New Millennium series via satellite, but her schedule only allowed her to attend half the meetings.

By the following year, her exposure to Adventist preaching began to stir her thinking. She realized that all of those presentations of Bible truths were real and correct. After graduating from Andrews University, she was providentially employed as a social worker and her boss happened to be the Village Church head elder.

He invited Barbara to attend his church's Hope for the Homeland meetings conducted by Larry Lichtenwalter, senior pastor. Although life's demands with work and two children made it impossible for her to attend every meeting, she sensed the Holy Spirit once again speaking to her through the Bible truths that were presented. As Barbara continued to study with Stephanie Wines, she became convinced she needed to completely surrender her life to Jesus and to the truths she found in His Word. Following an eleven-year quest for God, she was baptized and joined the Village Church.

Barbara's experience is a beautiful example of the gentle and patient way God works in the lives of His people. He provides a variety of people, circumstances, and even institutions to meet the needs in our lives. We may not always understand His leading or His timing, but looking back we can see His faithful providence.

The journey has been long, but God has blessed with many opportunities, including the opportunity for Barbara's children to learn of God's personal care for them, and His purpose for them to enjoy eternal life. Barbara and her children praise God for His goodness, patience, and love.

Bruce Babienco, Lake Union Herald volunteer correspondent, adapted from a testimonial at the 2004 Michigan Camp Meeting.