Faith Alone in Christ Alone

One of the things I love in New Jersey with ReachGlobal Crisis Response is sharing time.  Last night, I was blessed by both the stories of team members and stories of people from Brigantine Bible Church.  Team members found opportunities to hear needs of local residents and pray with them.  When asked why they were helping, a volunteer explained that he was “compelled as a Christian.”  An ice cream truck driver became involved with a spiritual discussion with one volunteer.  One team was blessed with a 25% thank you discount when they went to purchase lunch.

Kitty, a joyful woman from Brigantine Bible Church, shared her story with the teams.  She is from Ireland and met her husband when he was in the navy and stationed in Ireland.  They returned to live in the United States where they raised a family.  Kitty began drinking more and more, thinking she could stop at any time, but she couldn’t.  She was drinking heavily.  She tried different groups including AA, but no one could help her gain victory over her addiction.

While off work for a disability with a serious rash, she turned on the T.V. during the day.  A voice with an accent caught her attention, because she thought the speaker might be Irish.  He was Scottish and explained that he had been a seventh generation alcoholic.  This pastor explained, “You need Jesus.”  He went on to say, “There is a lady watching today.  You are very religious, but it’s not just religion, it’s a relationship.”  Kitty was very religious.  He went on to say she had tried programs, but he clarified, “It’s not a program.  It’s a relationship.”  Kitty knew he was speaking to her.  She fell down on her knees and gave her life to Christ.  She never needed another drink after that.

Kitty smoked until convicted that her body was the temple of the Holy Spirit.  God helped her give up smoking.  She had relied on pills to sleep at night, but prayed, “Lord, you rock me to sleep tonight.”  In faith, she flushed all her pills down the toilet and went to bed.  It was morning when she awakened.

Kitty and her husband had divorced before she became a Christian.  She called a friend to find a Bible believing church.  Her friend was overwhelmed at this answer to prayer.  She had been calling out to the Lord over concern for her friend, Sandy, whose husband had left her.  She prayed, “Send me someone who can relate to Sandy.”  Kitty was the answer to this prayer.  Kitty and Sandy became prayer partners and friends.

As Kitty read her Bible, Malachi 2:16 spoke to her revealing that God hates divorce.  I Corinthians 7 convicted her that she was either to remain single or be reconciled to her husband.  She started praying that God would bring her husband, Richard, back.  It took 12 years, but God saved Richard and brought them back together again.  Kitty realized that it had taken 12 years for God to make the needed changes in her life before He returned Richard to her.  Kitty said she had to become a Christian to learn to be a wife.  Kitty’s summary of her life now is “Faith alone in Christ alone.”

Kitty's house was condemned 8 months ago due to structural damage, and 2 weeks later her husband died from CJD.  She still holds firm to her faith.

Kitty and Sandy