Testimony

Hi! My name is Yanelba! (Jah-nel-buh) I am a Puerto can, a pastor’s wife, and a mother of five beautiful children. I moved to New York after my husband Trevor and I got married in 2010 and he began full-time ministry the same year.

My life is a beautiful testimony of God’s redemption and grace. At 27 years old I experienced true freedom, freedom from addictions, drugs, alcohol, and sexual immorality and its consequences. I experienced freedom from the search for love, security, identity and life. I found this freedom when I gave my life to Jesus Christ on February 20^th, 2005.

I grew up under the teachings of the Catholic faith. I was baptized as a baby and followed all the requirements to show that I was a woman of faith – a faith that I never understood!

When I was six, my parents got divorced. This sad experience was pulling me more and more away from a God I thought I knew. But this was a false god. This was the god I saw in pictures, in the drunkenness of a friend and in the fake smile of a child. I thought this false god’s only role was to supply all our needs and be quiet about our life decisions.

After so much wondering and tiredness from the burdens of this life, and asking myself over and over again: “What is my purpose?,” I was invited to a Christian church by a friend, and in my desperation, I accepted her invitation. I had no idea what I was going to see there, but I knew that “this God” could help me.

I went into a church I had never been to before; the environment was different, the people were different and even the music was different. I came inside, found a seat and sat down. With my hands placed in my lap, I sat shamefully and waited until the songs were over. I was ready to hear what the pastor had to say. I don’t remember any of the words the preacher said that day, but I do remember so vividly how, after an altar call, I went forward, accompanied by my friend Sheila Conley.

Although I did not know what to expect or what I was doing, I had a feeling that this was the right thing to do. The pastor was praying and laying hands on people. He placed his hands on my head, prayed out loud for me, and blessed me. Immediately, the desire to let go overtook me! I had this desire to give up my own ways and a realization that something new was happening inside me.

Then I knew! Then I tasted! Then I met my Savior! I met Jesus! For the first time in my life, I experienced a love I had never felt before. I experienced life!

People hugged me, welcomed me and, more importantly, they were interested in my life. They didn’t ask me questions (although at the right time, I shared my life with them). They didn’t judge me, or form opinions about me; they just loved me for who I was in that moment. Later on these same people were the ones God used to mold my Christian life, to walk with me, and to show me the right path.

One of the things I will always remember about these loving men and women of God is that they followed through with me. They called me, helped me, met with me; they were walking by my side, step by step. In that church and in many other churches, I can record all the people that God has placed in my life during all these years, true worshipers and servants of the only true God, Jesus.

Year after year I continued growing in the Lord, not without suffering and trials, but I knew then and still know that I don’t want anything else, only Jesus. That day in 2005, God brought me from darkness to light! In a moment! I never struggled with wanting the world back again; I never struggled with walking two ways; I never struggled with doubts of who I was following. I praise Jesus that He gave me the strength to stay firm and to walk in truth.

There is so much more of my old life that I could share with you: the sins, the temptations, the addictions, the loss of babies, the sexual immorality, the lies, the thefts, the witchcraft – I could go on and on. But in all this Jesus has overcome! “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

What a beautiful idea that I am a new creation. That my old life has no power over me anymore.

I pray that you will be blessed by my writings and be moved by the testimonies of Jesus’ grace, redemption, forgiveness, and help in my life.

Praise the Lord! To Him alone be the glory for ever and ever!