Hi, my name is Margaux Hansberry, as most of you know, and I am sharing my testimony: the story of how I became a Christian, a child of God. Well, here I go.

When I was a child, I grew up on a Marine Corps Base. I had moved from North Carolina to California to Virginia. When I lived in Virginia, at the age of let’s say seven years old, I noticed I was different from most typical Base families. Even though I was normal, little, spoiled, bratty girl, like every other one out there, something was missing in my life: church. Everybody went to church. Everybody went to Sunday school. At the time, I thought nothing of it, because both of my parents were atheists; and although they had told me that I could choose what I wanted to believe in, I right-handedly chose evolution. It made sense to me at the time. Of course, now I realize that I was wrong and that there could not be all of this amazing stuff on Earth without God. At school, being the tricky little devil that I was, would say things like, “Oh my God” and think it was funny because every little girl and boy around me would gasp like I had said a very bad word. But, then, I didn’t understand. Now I look back at it and think, “I was so immature.” Maybe a year later I requested that my family try to go to church like every other family. We tried it and it was fun. I thought that I was a good Christian girl that knew the true meaning of Christ in my life. This was totally wrong because everyone else did. Even my parents started going to a class. However, we left the strict Lutheran church when my parents had heard a man say that his son was gay. The man had also said that he had not spoken to him in many years and most of the Christians were happy for his decision. My parents had been immediately turned off to Christianity that second, and they walked right out of the class. After a year or so on the base, my father had hade enough of the marines and we moved to another part of Virginia. Then we moved here.

This is when I felt I was missing something again. It seemed like I was a normal person, but almost every day I would do something bad like lie, or be a bad person in general. When my mother and I went on our monthly trip to New York, we went to a fair. I saw a very nice cross that I had liked. Me, again, being the spoiled brat that I am wanted it, and wanted it. My mother was against her spending the seventeen dollars on the cross, because it would just be another thing thrown in my junk drawer. She also thought, “Why have a cross if you’re not a Christian?” I was horrified and extremely miserable for the rest of the night. That night, before I went to sleep, I saw a cross in the dark night sky. This may sound impossible, but it’s true, so we decided to try the Christian thing again. About a month later, my best friend called, inviting me to Ground Zero. I refused, being the stubborn person that I am, and then refused again and again. Finally, I gave in and went, and of course I had a good time.

I am not sure when it was that I was saved, but it was some time between when I first came to GZ in sixth grade, and the first retreat. On every retreat, I learn something new. The first Elevate retreat really made me see how happy everyone is to be with and worship God. This made me so ecstatic. The last retreat that I went on was the second Elevate retreat. On Friday, before I got sick, we were all casting away our idols into the fire. We had written them all on a piece of paper, and cast the papers into the fire. This was a great way for me to realize how imperfect my life with Christ was.

As God continues to work in my life, I continue to work in others’. When I went on the New York trip, I saw many children that were not as fortunate as I am. Although they were living a lot better than poor families in a third world country, they had only the necessities of life. I met a little girl who changed my whole perspective. I had always thought that the needy were not the happiest people around, especially being in a bad part of New York City. The girl that I met was named Jacara. Before we had met with the children, we were given children’s bibles to give to them. She was so happy and very appreciative when I gave her the bible. Jacara seemed to be so happy all the time, and really amazingly interested in Jesus and His life. In Sunday school, she had paid attention so well that she got two candy bars. It was an amazing experience being with her.

Today, I am very happy and love coming to GZ. Although I still have not changed my selfish, bratty, spoiled, stubborn ways, I have improved them greatly. Also, my mother is a Christian. Now God is working on my father. God has helped improve my life in so many ways, and I owe Him everything. He has also fixed so many broken relationships and bonds in our family that even though our family is not the least bit perfect, it has been touched up by God’s mysterious ways. I have learned so much, like the true meaning of love, friendship, and how Jesus gave His life for us. As I get older, I am learning things every day. God reveals little things and big things to me. He watches out for me. Four years ago, I would not have believed a thing that Pastor Mike would have said. Now I try to be the best Christian that I can be. I am so happy for this opportunity to see God’s amazing Grace. I know that I will always have something to fall back on.