--PGM NEWS~ [Pacific Garden Mission/ Chicago, IL. 60607]

--"PGM: A Spiritual Hospital"

--KEYONNIE FRANKLIN ~~ -
-(My Personal Testimony / October 2019)

"Growing up, I was one of the only girls, so I did a lot of the stuff boys did. I had a mom and a dad, which I am grateful for, but I felt like I was alone much of the time and even though I was around a lot of people I still felt isolated and misunderstood. I started looking for relationships with guys as a way to fill the emptiness I felt.

"Trying to get relief from the loneliness I started wanting to find someone that I could eventually get married to and live life together. Unfortunately, I seemed to look for love in all the wrong places. I went through a lot of trials because of this, and the emptiness was never filled with anything sustaining. I ended up getting tired of the fruitless searching and all the silly stuff, and at the same time there began a desire within me to seek the Lord.

"I started to read a Bible that my cousin had left at my house and soon after I started looking for a church home. I found a church home, and I have been seeking God ever since. I did well for a while, but I lacked an intimate relationship with God. The church I had been attending before coming to Pacific Garden Mission had not taught me about salvation and Jesus dying on the cross for us. My church hadn't taught that part of Christianity. I began to drift away again back into sin. My mother knew I loved God and I wanted a better life for myself and seeing me struggling through certain life events she suggested I come to PGM. I believe the Lord wanted me to come here.

"I have been at PGM now for almost a year, and I enjoy living here. My relationship with God is more stable now, and especially since I came to Pacific Garden Mission I have been able to focus on Him [Jesus] more. Before I surrendered my life to God I had been entrapped by sexual immorality, and it had gotten horrible. Even though I had a nice job I still felt like a failure. I felt hopeless, and I was bound in sin.

"When I gave my life to God and received Jesus as my Savior it was like a weight lifted off my shoulders. Being here has helped me to grow to know Him and trust Him more. I know It's about a relationship with Him now. Being at Pacific Garden Mission I have learned what Christ did for me and that I can never lose my salvation. Jesus died to pay my sin-debt. My mother is started to trust me and our relationship is growing closer with the each passing day.
'"One of my favorite Bible verses is Romans 8:28 / 'And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.' I know that even though I have made some crazy decisions in the past God knows my heart, and He knows I love Him. I am focused on Jesus, and now know everything works out for the good for those that love Him. If you trust in Him, He will have a path for you that will be encouraging, as we trust in Him. Even if you have backslidden just turn back to Him, and He will be there for you. Jesus said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
The people at Pacific Garden Mission will encourage you, pray for you, and help you grow closer to Jesus. ~~
--Website: www.pgm.org
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