We invite you to share your testimonial or story about “What Helped You Through Your Moment of Crisis?“

You may choose to share your testimonies in the form of a script, audio or video, capturing the following:

  • A specific crisis you’ve been through
  • What spiritual resources in particular helped you through the crisis (scriptures, songs, groups, an individual etc.)
  • Your willingness to share your testimony openly or anonymously

Remember YOUR story is the key that can unlock someone else’s prison – we encourage you to share your TESTIMONY

Written Testimonials

Kidney Transplant Testimony
 
Peace, Love and Blessings to all
 
In March of 2000. I felt tired and weak I went to the doctor, had blood work done and the results showed both my kidneys failed.  My Nephrologist recommended that I should have a biopsy done, which I did, the results showed that I am not diabetic, hypertensive, or have lupus.  However, a lot of scar tissues were on both kidneys, he also said that they will never function again. 
 
I cried and prayed and asked the Lord to forgive me of my sins.  I read Isaiah 38 – Hezekiah’s Illness, which consoles me.  Isaiah’s son Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall prayed wept and begged the Lord to give him a few more years.  The Lord answered his prayers and gave him fifteen more years to get his things in order.  I prayed and asked the Lord to take me safely through my dialysis treatments and let me be with my daughters and grandchildren.  The Lord answered my prayers, and I’m now enjoying life with my three granddaughters, one grandson and three great grandchildren.  Praise God, thank you Jesus.
 
The first year it was very hard for me, as it was very difficult to handle dialysis. Getting up early in the mornings, three times per week, getting there at 5:45 am and doing three hours per session was essential, but difficult. Special thanks to my husband for his generous support during those difficult, fulfilling and encouraging periods along the journey.  Before my care giver would start the dialysis machine, I would pray for myself and the rest of patients, asking the Lord to take us through our treatments safe. Praise God, my prayers were answered.  My sister in Christ Bernice Reece picked me up on Wednesdays. Sometimes we would go out to breakfast and then to the mid day service at First Church. Occasionally she picked me up for Sunday mornings service. Continued blessings for my sister.  Love you Ms. Bernice.
 
Patients with kidney disease are on strict diets, as we must watch our potassium, phosphorous, vitamin K, fluid intake and take our medications. I thank God, that He was with me and lead me to follow instructions from the professionals. I was allowed 32 ozs fluid per day, includes water, vegetables and condiments. 
 
Ms. Joyce Batson a retired dialysis nurse always encouraged me to put my name on the transplant list and let me know that I am a good candidate for a kidney so I can live a better life.  I’m so thankful that she did.  Love you Ms. Joyce.  
I had my ups and downs never complained how I felt, after my treatment I was having a lot of pain, tired, and sleepy.  However, after 17 years I took Ms. Batson’s advice and contacted NYU June of 2017 and after numerous tests I became a candidate for a kidney transplant December of 2017.  Praise God, thank you Jesus.
 
In January and June of 2019, I received calls from NYU informing me they had a kidney for me. When they were tested, unfortunately they turned out to be diseased which obviously did not meet the transplant standard. I didn’t give up; I knew the Lord would never leave me nor forsake His children. On November 23, 2019, I received a call from NYU that there was a kidney for me, I was told to be there by 3:00 am, I arrived there on time.  I was prepped for the surgery and was taken to the OR for surgery at 9:00 am. Upon arrival to the OR I started to cry and this song came to me immediately, “you come this far by faith leaning on the Lord trusting in His Word.” A young African American surgeon came over to me and told me that he would be my surgeon today.  Instantly I was filled with joy and had a lot of confidence, I told him keep up the good work, God bless you and I love you.  The surgery started at 10:00 am and I woke up at 4:50 pm.  Praise God, the surgery was successful.
 
The transplant surgery was done on 11/24/2019 and on 11/26/2019, I was in a lot of excruciating pain the nurse practitioner told me the following morning I would be going down for a CT scan. The result showed that I had a big hematoma (i.e blood clot).  Surgery was done the following morning which was Thanksgiving Day.  Praise God, it was successful. I thank the Surgeons, doctors, nurses, technician and cleaning crew. 
 
When I came home from the hospital I was in a lot of pain. The Lord was always there holding my hands giving me encouragement and I knew that He was always there with me.  Two songs that took me through this journey, “Order my steps in your Word dear Lord” and “you come this far by Faith leaning on the Lord trusting in His word He never fail me yet”. Some mornings I woke up singing Order my steps in your word dear Lord, that is a wonderful song.  Brothers and sisters, I’m always singing either one when I take my morning walk at least three times per week for about 45 minutes which keeps me energized all day.  Thank you, Lord, for giving me a Kidney and a second chance at life.
    
I was 49 years old when both kidneys failed, I celebrated my 70th birthday June of 2021, thank you God for that precious blood that you used and washed me from my head to the sole of my feet, you always held my hands guide me when I am going through dark days.  Lord thank you for your blessings and I’m grateful for all what you have done for me on this journey.     
 
Thank you, Rev O’Connor and the entire church family for your prayers and support.
– Diana Willis-White
​Click below to read the testimony.
 
– Abigail Amadi
​My Song: Never Would Have Made It Marvin Sapp
My Scripture : Psalm 121 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
– Sonia Collins
​Scripture: Psalm 121
Song: Never Would Have Made It
– Sonia Collins
​Scripture Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
Song: You Can’t Hurry God, You just have to wait.
– Bernice Reece
​Many years ago, FPCJ committed to a day of service on one particular summer Sunday. Our regular, inside service, was canceled, and we wore T-shirts, printed with the words “Don’t Go to Church” (front) “Be the Church” (back). That fabulous day really stuck with me, and I was on the sandwich-making committee, making lunches for the church family members who went out to perform tasks in the area.
 
 
Those memories and the words of those t-shirts hit more strongly than ever when the pandemic hit. For me personally, COVID stormed in amid a number of personal crises, and my FPCJ church friends swooped in and became an amazingly supportive nest of comfort, love, listening, and understanding that I will never forget, and that continues to sustain me now. While it is not ONE song, one verse, or ONE thing anyone has said, the beautiful activities encouraged by my church family: walking and Zumba in Cunningham park, learning about healthy foods and getting a great salad recipe via Zoom, and taking a webinar on Translational Research via Weil Cornell, and attending church from my own dining room have all shown me that church is no longer just a place to “go” for me, but something we are.
– Mimi Jackson
My Song: This Day – Jennifer Holiday    
My Scripture: Matthew 6:5-15   The Lord’s Prayer
– Stephanie St Clair
​Song: He is Able
Scripture: Peter 5:10 “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast”.
– Ollie Samuel
My Song: Alpha & Omega
My Scripture: Hebrews 6:13-18 Message Bible 
When God made his promise to Abraham, he backed it all the way, putting his own reputation on the line. He said, “I promise that I’ll bless you with everything I have—bless and bless and bless!” Abraham stuck it out and got everything that had been promised to him. When people make promises, they guarantee them by appeal to some authority above them so that if there is any question that they’ll make good on the promise, the authority will back them up. When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee—God can’t break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable.
– Kyshia Marie Hamilton

Video Testimonials

Audio Testimonials