From trauma and despair, Gladis encountered Christ and found healing, forgiveness, and purpose.
Gladis’s Testimony (26 years old)
What was your life like before knowing Christ?
My life before knowing Him was very angry, honestly, it was bitter. I had gone through difficult things, including sexual violence, and that made me very hardened and upset inside. I remember asking, “If God is good, then why are these things happening to me?”
One day, I thought, “If God really exists, why doesn’t He save me from all this?” I reached a point where I decided I didn’t want to live anymore. I tried to end my life, I tried to cut my wrists, but at that moment, my mom walked in my room. She didn’t really know what I was doing, and I didn’t tell her. I felt hopeless, disappointed, and full of guilt.
Later, I opened up to a sister from church, and she spoke to me about Christ. That’s when I accepted Jesus into my heart. I don’t remember the exact date, but it was the most important day of my life. For the first time, I felt protected and loved by God.
How did your family or community react when you decided to follow Jesus?
My parents were surprised that I had made the decision to accept Christ. It wasn’t overnight, it was a process, but little by little, my way of acting and thinking started to change as I focused more on God and His Word.
That’s when I began to feel His comfort and love, the kind of love that never fails.
But following Christ also brought suffering. The closer I drew to God, the more trials came. Some of my brothers didn’t want me to go to church. They mocked me, and one time they even beat me because I insisted on going to church when they wanted me to stay home and tend to them. To this day I have problems, but I chose to suffer for Christ rather than turn away from Him.
I’ve learned to show my faith not just with words but with my actions, to live differently, to forgive, to apologize, and to love them even when they reject me, mock me, or beat me.
How did your life begin to change when you started following Christ? How have you seen God working in your life?
The first big change was learning to forgive, truly forgive those who had hurt me, and even love them. That was something only God could do.
I’ve also seen God working in my family. I used to be the only one seeking Him, and it made me cry many nights, feeling alone. But God has been transforming my family little by little. My sister, who once wanted nothing to do with God, now participates in church and even encourages me when I feel down. My mom has also supported me through hard times in the church and in life.
I can clearly see God’s hand in all of it. He has given me strength to keep serving despite fear or discouragement. I now help lead a small group and also help with children’s ministry at church. I love the ministry and I love Christ and that’s what keeps me going.
Even my family, who once told me, “Don’t go to church,” now says “Don’t stay home, go!” That change amazes me and shows me how God is working.
What people or experiences have encouraged or supported you in your walk with Christ?
God has used different people to encourage me, especially Natalie. God used her life to help me draw closer to Him. I remember when I first told her that I had started reading the Bible, and she invited me to join the discipleship group which helped me grow so much in my walk with Christ.
What is the desire of your heart for how God could use you to expand His Kingdom?
Through discipleship, God gave me a passion to teach others, to make disciples and share about His love. I see it as a command from God: “Go and make disciples.” So even though I don’t even have a high school education, I’m amazed that God uses me as a discipleship teacher.
About five years ago, God also put in my heart the desire to be a missionary. That calling hasn’t gone away. It began during a Bible study with Natalie who is a missionary and I felt deeply moved to share the gospel wherever He sends me. I told God, “Here I am, Lord, send me.”
If He wants to send me farther, I’m willing. My family has even started to support me in this calling. I believe God is opening doors, and I’m praying for wisdom, strength, and provision for whatever comes next even studying the Bible more if He leads me that way.
