Celina’s Testimony

My conversion experience was very powerful.  It truly consisted of breaking demonic strong holds, going through a de-programming phase, and renewing the mind all within a brief period of time.

I was a weak Catholic with almost no knowledge of their doctrine.  Therefore, the conversion from Catholic to Jehovah’s Witnesses was easy.  I became a Jehovah’s Witness for the next six years (beginning in 1989).  In my search for God, I ended up becoming a fully indoctrinated and a well schooled Jehovah‘s Witness.  I came out of my Jehovah’s Witness studies with no doubt in my mind that their teachings were correct.  I knew I couldn’t be wrong, not even a little!

I met my husband in 1997, at this point (as a friend).  I was in the process of renewing my commitment to “Jehovah again.”  Carl began to teach/debate with me on the truths of Christianity.  This went on for a period of five months.  We were in essence trying to convert each other.  It wasn’t until we decided to humble ourselves (and quit arguing) and start praying, that we experienced a demonic manifestation in the middle of one our studies.  That quickly opened my eyes to two facts, one; the fact that demons do exist and two; that my friend Carl had real issues, because his house was possessed.  I did not realize at this point that this incident had more to do with me than him. 

Each time we set down to study the Bible my vision would blur.  Once my vision was blurred I couldn’t see well enough to read the Bible.  I had to rely on listening to Carl read the Bibles we had laid out to read.  We compared six different translations of the Bible with the Jehovah’s Witness’, New World Translation.  Only after we were through with the bible study, did my vision return to normal.  This happened repeatedly and this is how the Lord Jesus caught my attention and humbled me.  God was blinding me and taking away my ability to argue with Carl.  Carl showed me the many discrepancies in the New World Translation and how it varied from all the other bible translations, which were very consistent with each other.  Later, Carl was able show me and convinced me from the scriptures that the Trinity was true.  I thought I was going to lose my mind when this revelation became clear.  It was against every thing I had learned as a Jehovah’s Witness. 

On one occasion we were studying and Satan told me run and get out of there, and I tried to do this discretely, but the Lord impressed on Carl what was about to happen, and between him and another sister in Christ, they lead me back inside the house, and it was at that moment that I had a complete break through, God opened my eyes and I understood the gospel for the first time.  I prayed and received the Lord Jesus Christ as my savior for all eternity.   Many, demonic manifestations continued to take place after this, and mini-miracles were taking place all around me.  I believe this was absolutely necessary for me, because I was a skeptic of all things in the supernatural.  The Lord knew what he needed to do in order to convince me, this was all real.  I could have never been taught solely, through knowledge about Jesus.  The visible evidence needed to be there in order to confirm the word, and for me to truly believe, and never doubt again.

The day that I was converted, the Lord lovingly cleared my mind of all the Jehovah witness false doctrine.  From one day to the next, I went from an able debater of the scripture to a woman who only knew how to find Genesis and Revelation and I now knew absolutely nothing about what lied in-between the two.  The Lord lovingly did this so that I could never have another SILENT debate in my mind, and mock anybody who was speaking about the Lord, which I had always done in the past. This was the final miracle of my conversion.  I was a clean slate, the false doctrine and brainwashing were gone and I was teachable.

I was 35 years old when I repented and received Christ.  I grew in leaps and bounds after that.  Even though, I became a Christian late in life, the Lord helped me catch up quickly.  I love being a Christian.  I have the liberty to love all of my brother and sisters in Christ, regardless of doctrinal differences or denominations.  I can go into any church anytime, without fear of being CAUGHT (I was not supposed fellowship with anyone but Jehovah’s Witnesses before.) 

I love intercessory prayer and joining forces with others who intercede with God.  I do not have a lot of knowledge concerning the scriptures, but my heart is always ready to be taught.  I home school my children and we integrate scriptures in there lessons. 

The Lord has led many young married women to me, to counsel and inspire.  I have a large number of friends who come to me for advice and I never speak without incorporating scriptural admonitions into this advice.  I don’t believe in severing ties with unbelievers, because I believe it’s my obligation to plant seeds and allow the Lord to do the rest.  After all, look how long it took me to become a Christian.

In (2004), I had to pray about missions, unsure whether or not we were supposed to go.  I actually, resisted going, out of fear of the unknown.  I prayed to Jesus and asked him to change my heart and prepare me, if this is what he truly wanted for me.  I told him I would be receptive to whatever he willed.  Since then, he has made it very clear to us, which way he wanted us to go.  My fear has ceased, and he has repeatedly brought people into our lives in order to prepare and inspire us to go. He changed my heart and took away my fears.  I know this is the path in which we will walk and serve him, without doubt.