By Joyce Smith, Ballard campus
Chaotic Destruction
Before becoming a Christian, I was a party girl. I was big into coke, and I'd drink like there was no tomorrow. I'd often go out seeking male attention by dressing the part of the girl who would sleep with someone on the first date.
When I finally settled down into a monogamous relationship, with a man I'd met through a coke deal, my favorite thing to do with my new boyfriend was snort meth and do everything that was utterly perverted. When we weren't having sex, we were most often in violent fights, which I typically lost.
I left my boyfriend and the stimulants (for the most part) behind, and moved to Seattle. But I continued to drink more than ever, and the sleeping around resumed. That was my life. I had little else going for me. Then I met Jesus, and everything changed.
Gospel Transaction
I traded the booze for the Bible, and men for the Son of Man. I'm not sleeping with anyone, and have made a firm decision not to again until after I'm married. Without the partying, I have the time and ability to do things that are important, like read the Bible, go to church, and spend time with my family, especially my new niece.
I used to be terribly afraid of doing anything without my friends, but since becoming a Christian, and since trying not to sin—as opposed to going out of my way to sin—I've lost most of my friends. But I’ve also lost my fear of being without them. Now I'm able to do things by myself for Jesus.
Noteable Transformation
I decided to go back to school, and by the grace of God, I was accepted to a lovely Christian university in Alabama, and was given a full tuition scholarship.
When I tell my old friends about the things I'm doing and the biblical values I now hold, they ask me, "Who have you become?" I know they aren't trying to be nice when they say that, but it's a wonderful thing to hear, knowing that Jesus has made me the person that I am, and everyone can plainly see I am not the person I was.