The Testimony of Marion Owens

 

Growing up in the catholic church and eventually joining a convent, Marion found a personal relationship with God despite the teachings of the Cathloic church.  Below is the testimony of her salvation in her own words:

 

 

Having been raised in a Catholic church and one of twelve children, my parents were very busy people.  They did make sure  sure we went to church every Sunday and catechism classes on Wednesdays.

 

My parents did the best they could just keeping up with our physical and matereial needs but there wasn't much time left for emotional support or outward signs of affection.

 

Being a sensitive and timid  child, I craved that affection and support.  There was always a longing for something more in my life; a deep void existed in my soul. 

 

Always very sad, the only one there seemed to be for me to talk to was God.  I had never really accepted myself as God had created me,  "What was my purpose in life?" I always asked myself.

 

At the age of thirteen, I was attending a Good Friday service when I was deeply touched by the Spirit of God.  I was convicted of what a sinful person. I realized how much Jesus had suffered for me and how he died for me.  At that point, I felt such a deep sorrow in my heart.  I began to weep.  From then on I had such a thirst for God and a desire to give my life to him. 

 

With only my Catholic teaching to go on, I felt in order to be closer to God and to live more for Him I should enter the Cloister Convent.  I did this at the age of 19 years old.  I didn't understand at the time that no one in this life can become perfect, as much as we try. 

"For all have sinned and come shot of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) 

 

As much as we want to be perfect in this life, it is impossible  That is why Christ took our sins upon Himself when He died on the cross so that we may have eternal life.

But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)

 

He paid the way to heaven.  We cannot earn it like so many people believe, they think that we must pay for our own sins.

 

God moves in mysterious ways and while in the convent he taught me the meaning of love, and how to love.  He taught me that yielding and surrendering all to him I could be one with him.  It wasn't my life but Christ lived in me.   The only strength or integrity I had was from him.  I was who he created me to be.  Anytime my focus was taken from him and put on myself I began to sink.  Just like Peter did when Jesus called him out of the boat to walk on water.  Once Peter took his eyes off the Lord he began to sink.

 

Leaving the convent at the age of twenty seven years old the world had really changed.  Everyone seemed to have so much and I dove right into the world.

 

Two years after leaving the convent I was a wife, mother and a widow.  Five years later I married my husband's best friend who was a Baptist.  We would go back and forth from a Catholic church to a Baptist church and that is how we raised our children.

 

Desiring all my life to know and understand the Bible, we finally joined Revival Baptist Church of Scranton.  Here was a place where the word of God was preached at every service.  I could not and still cannot get enough of Bible knowledge and understanding.  The words "born again" and "being saved" and "having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ" were words I had never heard about  until I came to Revival Baptist Church.  Whenever I would ask what these words meant, no one's explanations ever made sense to me.  Then one day the Holy Spirit revealed to me that on that Good Friday when I was thirteen years old, I had been born again, saved.  I just didn't know the biblical terminology for it. 

 

Because the Bible promises,

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  (Romans 10:13)

 

I was saved that day as a thirteen year old when I acknowledged my sin, and called on him to save me.  That was the day he sealed me with his Holy Spirit.  And even though I fail him,  He always draws me back to himself again and again.

 

Many times when I falter and He seems so far away, I ask, "Lord, where are you?"  And in the stillness of my spirit I hear, "I am in your heart".  And, just as I am, every day, I come to him.