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Student Testimonies
 Kristen's
Testimony
Before I came into Harvest Time, my life was going in all the wrong directions. Around the age of 7, roots
of rejection and anger were embedded into me. I never felt good enough or intelligent enough, so I began to lie about
things to make them appear better. Although I had been raised in church and attended all the youth camps and conventions,
my heart had just grown cold. I basically avoided all spiritual conversation. When I
started Junior High, my dad started a brand new job traveling all the time, and my brother whom I was extremely close
to, had just graduated high school, and was working constantly. I felt that my security and protection was totally ripped
away, so I began to try to fill this void with guys, drugs, and alcohol. Going into my 10th grade year of
high school, I became a huge pill user. If I could “pop-pills” I was “happy”. I took anything
I could get my hands on, including Loratab, Valium, and Prozac. I had also become sexually active. Even though
my world seemed perfect on the outside, on the inside I was constantly tormented with guilt because I knew right from wrong.
I felt I had no hope, and that I couldn’t turn to anyone, so I decided to commit suicide by taking over 30 anti-depressants.
By God’s grace, I just vomited and passed out. I decided to shift away from pills and try alcohol. Things
just got worse. Finally, towards the end of my senior year of high school, my parents couldn’t handle me anymore,
so they began looking for placements. They found Harvest Time and I agreed to come, but my attitude and motives were
wrong. I basically just wanted a break from my parents, and I felt that I was mature enough to handle everything. I
had a horrible time getting along with the other girls, because I didn’t feel that they met up to my standards.
I thought I was way better and more mature. But, Rev Shawn enlightened me. She told me that I was the one with
the pride issue, and that I needed to get my heart right. I gave my heart to Christ in July of 2004, and since then
I’ve chosen to embrace God. I’ve learned that Christianity is not a game that you can pick up one day, and
lay it down the next. It is NOT about rules and regulations, but it is a relationship with a passion and fire that burns
from the deepest part of you.
Kristen
graduated the ministry and stayed on to work as a staff member for 1 year. Upon fulfilling her commitment, she returned
home. Kristen is currently enrolled in college, teaching a young teens class at her church, and also involved in
a mentorship program, helping to mentor at risk youth.
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