Lost my Mother, but Gained a Home, Jane Chambers

In October 2000, I counted my 22^nd anniversary of having sweet, solid fellowship in the local churches. When I was 17, I began to clean up my life as I knew how and would sometimes read the Bible by myself. In May of 1978 just before my eighteenth birthday, my mother suddenly went to be with the Lord. Her tragic death gave opportunity for my uncle from Florida to formally introduce me to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. I then began my short but desperate search for a place of fellowship that I felt was home. I attended many different denominations and sought Christian contact any time church doors were opened. My uncle introduced me to a group that I became involved with for about three months, but I still did not feel I had found my resting place. I longed for a place where my insatiable hunger for the Word would be fed, where I would have support if I went through hard times, and where my many unanswered questions about the Christian life could be resolved.

One day I happened upon a Christian tract about the bride of Christ. I was impressed that God wanted to get married. I vividly remember praying in my room earnestly asking the Lord if I could be His bride. I was not aware that His bride would be a corporate people, but I knew that I wanted to be Christ's bride (Isaiah 54:5).

Very soon after that prayer, (October of 1978) I was driving home and I saw a young lady walking with her head down. The Lord within me encouraged me to stop and tell her about Jesus. I felt shy so I drove past her. At home, I could not go in my house because I was strongly encouraged from within to go back to tell that woman about the Lord. I drove to her, got out of my car and said something like, “Hi, do you know the Lord Jesus?” She responded with “Yes, Amen! I was just praying to Him because I'm about to get married.” I later realized her praying spirit drew me, a seeking one, to her. I offered her a ride home and she lived right down the street from me. She invited me in and introduced me to her two housemates who were also sisters in the Lord and enjoyers of fellowship with the local church in Atlanta. They were so excited and happy to meet me. The sisters fed me a delicious bowl of beef stew. From that very evening, these two sisters became my “mothers” who have spiritually and practically cared for me all these years.

At my first church meeting, I met one particular sister. She asked if she knew my best friend. I told her yes. She explained that they had a college class together, and my friend told this sister, one day, that her best friend, Jane always wanted to talk about Jesus. This sister had prayed for this new believer Jane, that the Lord would strengthen her Christian walk and lead her to be fed in God's Word. And then I, Jane came to their Christian meeting. We were warmed and full of thanks to the Lord for Martha's answered prayers that night.

After more contact with these believers, I realized my search could be put to rest and I continued in worship with the local churches. I bow my knees in praise to our God that I have not had to walk my Christian life alone. I would never have been able to stand against the temptations of the world in preparing to be a part of Christ's bride without this rich, steady, satisfying fellowship. I have gone through some hard times in my human life and have had strong support through them. My ravenous hunger to be nourished with God's Word is still being fed richly, and nearly all of my Bible questions have been answered. I can say with boldness and surety that my God has led me to a place where I have gained a home.