EMERE’S TESTIMONY

My Name is Emere and I’m from Waihi, living now with my husband and 12 year old son in Woodville. I first heard about Jesus when I was attending primary school in Waihi. The Bible teachers told us how Jesus loved us all and I remember feeling hope at that young age of 5 that there was someone who could make me feel special.

I was bought up in a disfunctional family with a father and mother who abused us children and, coming from an environment where I felt confused and unsafe, the concept of Jesus really loving me was something new.

But I believed it and there was something in my little being that knew it was true. My siblings and I never received presents at Christmas time, but I remember one Christmas getting a balloon each. I blew up that balloon and threw it up in the air for Jesus and said happy birthday.

I gave my life to Jesus when I was 17 and attended church in Waihi taking a lot of my cousins along with me and they also gave their lives to God. But I ended up moving away from the church a year later and eventually moved in with a man I got pregnant to. We had 3 children together. This man was violent and abusive in every way. My next encounter with Jesus didn’t happen until I was 50 years old when I was visiting Waihi.

I was involved with unchristian practices and had been depressed for years, becoming suicidal and spiritually unwell. I believe God led me back to Waihi that weekend where my sister prayed for me and took me back to the Baptist church to be prayed for by a team of people and then I was baptized the next day during Sunday service.

Since then my life has been changed. I’m no longer suicidal or depressed. I know Jesus is by my side forever and that He was always there with me. I was always called Emily for different reasons but when I came out of the water during baptism I claimed my name back -- ko Emere taku ingoa. Life is good because I have God and a beautiful church whanau.

I wish you all God’s mighty love and blessing in the name of Jesus Christ.