08/28/2026
"I was blessed to be born in a family who loved Jesus, believed in church, and
family. I can’t remember a time in my life when Jesus wasn’t always welcome. We went
to church (morning and night on Sundays), learned more about Jesus in Sunday school,
Bible school, and training union. That does not mean I understood what it meant to be
a Christian because church does not save you, but it gives you a foundation to grow on.
So many young people don’t get that chance today because they aren’t taught about
who God is and how we are to reverence Him and trust in Him for salvation.
Some people can remember the exact moment they accepted Christ, but I do not
know the exact moment, but I remember at revival I went up and gave my life to Jesus.
Since then, I have continued to learn what it means to be saved. I believe it takes a
lifetime to understand what Paul meant in Phil 2:12: “to work out your salvation.” He
does not say to “work for your salvation” because salvation is a gift we receive when we
accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. What we do for Christ while we are alive is “work
out our salvation.” We are His hands and feet on earth. As Christians we still sin but the
closer we get to Jesus the “less we should be sinning.” Our goal is to be more like
Jesus who never sinned. I often feel like Paul who said, “I want to right but so often I do
not.”
I was privileged to go to a Christian college at North Greenville for two years
before transferring to Winthrop. One of the highlights of my college days was to serve
as a summer missionary in El Paso, Texas. We met many different people and did
numerous jobs- most at Bible schools. I saw much of God’s beautiful creation. I did not
feel qualified, but God used me anyway. He has promised that He will help us do what
He asks of us.
God blessed me with a Christian husband, three children, three grands,
and now seven great-grands. We truly tried to raise our family to love and honor God. I
have always tried to be involved in God’s work. I have taught Sunday School (mainly
youth), sang in choirs, and did mission work. I don’t believe we ever retire from being
used by God.
Most of my life (it seems) I taught school for 30 years. After retiring, one of
the best things has been to have more time to study God’s word and go to small groups
and enjoy the grands. I have learned to trust God when times are good and even more
through the difficult times. Losing your loved ones is some of the hardest. You have to
trust in God that “he has a plan” and He never makes a mistake. He is our refuge and
strength.
Over the years we have been members of several churches. We learned
much from each and have friends from all. God finally led us to Doctor’s Creek where
we have added to our Christian family. As I look over my life, I can see how God has
taken care of us and helped us plan for the future. He has always provided for us and
was always beside us even when we didn’t feel it. He is always at the right time. I call
this “ A God Thing!”
Now in my senior years, God is still using me. I teach (with God’s help and
David Jerimah’s Study guide) a class on Revelation. With the world so evil (feel like the
Days of Noah), I feel we need to know more about God’s future plans, and He has
revealed those in His Holy Word- the Bible. As Christians, we need to be bolder in our
witnessing to others about Jesus and to warn them about the consequences of not
surrendering our lives to Jesus. He gave His life to pay for our sins that we could never
repay. Salvation is a gift from God, but to obtain it we must have faith in Jesus and trust
Him. Let our voices be heard for Jesus even if it means persecution.
Thanks for allowing me to share some of my life story. If God can use a
simple country girl like me, he can use “everyone” who trusts in him. God is good all the
time even when He judges and disciplines us. We just have to keep trusting and resting
in Him and stay faithful."
~ Joyce Crosby ~
