save - stormey mcdougall

17th January 2011 by MORE

I grew up in a family who are about as non-Christian as they come. They weren't just non-Christian, they were actually opposed to Christianity. I never shared the same point of view with my family.

As a young teenager I did a lot of bad things. I would drink a lot, I was very rude and I pretty much did everything an average teen did.

When I turned 13 my friend invited me to youth group. I used youth as a social gathering – a place to go and hang out with my friends. After about six months of going to youth I went to discovery camp. It was the best experience of my life. Not only was it fun but it really connected me with God. For a few weeks after discovery camp I would pray every night – praise the Lord every chance I had. I even stopped doing all the stupid generic teenager things that I was doing.

But that only lasted for a few weeks. I drifted so much. I was worse than when I started. By this point I was not only lying and drinking but I once again succumbed to peer pressure and started stealing. I knew the things I was doing were wrong but I still did them anyway. By this point I had stoped going to youth all together. I spent my Fridays working.

After a few months of just work and school, I felt very unsatisfied with my life. I felt I was lacking something. I got Fridays off and began going to youth again. I really thought that it would help fulfil my life. The things I used to do no longer applied to my life – no more stealing, drinking, no more ignorance. I got really dedicated to my life and sharing it with God.

Every Friday I travel for an hour just to go to youth and every Friday I strengthen my tie to the Lord. I feel strong and whole. I no longer even feel the pressure of peer pressure. My family at first would tease and ridicule me about going to youth and church. They would call me names such as a "Bible basher", but I didn't care because once I decided to let God into my life, I knew everything would be okay.

At school I tried to get as many people as I can to come to our weekly Christian meetings. I feel like I owe my life to the Lord, for without his help I would still be the ignorant teenager I was before. My family have even lightened up about me going to church and youth.

God helped me in so many ways – he has helped me become a stronger person, a person of faith, he helped me to learn the ways of the Lord, helped me become a better person inside and out – helped me care about the important things.

I believe with all my heart that every person should take a leap of faith. They should trust in God. Get to know God. For when you know him your life is filled with light and joy. The Lord is your first and most faithful love. Everyone should know him.

Comments

Claire Hill

January 17, 2011 at 12:53pm

Stormey - you're amazing!!! I'm so glad you are a part of the family at Auburn.

I love how honest and open you are and how determined you are to be become all you can be in God.

You're a super smart girl with heaps of integrity and lots of God-given gifts.

Can't wait to see how God uses you in the coming years as you keep saying yes to him. :)

Bless you heaps!

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Harry Golden

January 17, 2011 at 1:11pm

Stormey! What an inspirational story! I'm so proud of you & love hearing about your growth in God. I know that as you continue in your walk God's gonna use you to do great things! :)

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Heidi Starr

August 08, 2011 at 3:50pm

I realize this was out up a while ago but Stormey that's an amazing story. I love how honest you were about your relationship with God and how you stood out from your family, you dared to be different and that's really inspirational. Always praying for you (: x

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Stormey McDougall

August 08, 2011 at 4:51pm

Thank you guys so much.
Your encouragement means a lot :)

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