Personal Testimony
August 3, 2008 by Tina
Hi my name is Tina Bradley and I would like to share with you my journey with the Lord. My life as a child growing up in a dysfunctional family, living and striving on conditional love from parents and thinking that it was a normal way of living only brought me to a place of loneliness which led to many years of being in torment.
Religion in my family consisted of a few short years of my mother being involved with the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Along with many regulations, laws, and a certain way of living, I had my mother being the self-righteous (good) and my father was a mean, cursing, never show his love, distant and cold towards us.
Really it was like having in a sense Jesus and Satan all under one roof. Mom was saved and trying to work her way to heaven and Dad was not saved and it showed in his actions towards all of us.
My teenage years were very rebellious and I was looking for acceptance and love in all the wrong places. What I found out was I did not find love but others who used and abused me in every way. I wanted so much to just get out of the house I found someone at the age of 16 who was in the army which I loved or at least thought I loved and that was my ticket to freedom but in the end it led me to another road of torment and bondage.
I married when I turned eighteen years old and moved up to Alaska only to isolate myself away from any of my family and friends people who knew me.
I dated my ex-husband for two years before I married him so I thought it was long enough and that I knew him well but I didn’t. He had a drinking problem and I should have seen it before we married but I wanted so much to be away from home or anything that had to do with home I just didn’t think about that being a problem plus when your eighteen drinking is cool no big deal.
He was verbally, mentally, emotionally, and physically abusive to me and for a couple of years I went through ups and downs in my marriage. Things got so bad that I didn’t even care if I died.
We had a little girl during our marriage and I kept thinking to myself I could not see her growing up in this and I wanted a better life not so much for my sake but for hers. She kept me alive and fighting.
I picked up what pieces I had left of my life and left with my daughter. I was angry, bitter, shattered, and lost. I had no hope.
I thought to myself why is it so hard for people to love me why do I have to try so hard what is so wrong with me?
I started to party go out with friends. There I found friends that were cool and that liked me so I was happy well at least for the time being. Dating and hanging out at the clubs was my lifestyle for a few years. I worked hard as a single parent and felt that it was ok to enjoy myself.
I did my duties as a mom well being the provider but then I started asking myself am I really being a great mom it’s not like I had good role models growing up. I smoke, drank, and I clubbed often. Although my daughter was not around any of the lifestyle she did see little of me and more of the babysitter.
I kept the drinking and party life away from the home front but it still affected her. Mom was not around much and that was wrong. I always dated the wrong guy one who was abusive and I could not figure out why I would attract such people.
So long story short abuse after abuse guy after guy it was like I was being gutted from the inside out.
I kept thinking to myself is this it? This is life? This is what everyone goes through, then what is the point of even living?
My sister left the house at a young age also. She was taking drugs, drinking, stripping, and it left her in ruins until God came into her life. God changed her life and I seen that change.
Even though for a long time I did not care but then after a while I looked at her and thought to myself what is going on with her? She is different. She’s happy.
I am not. At that point I had moved from Alaska to Tennessee and had lived there up until just a couple weeks ago when I moved here.
I would visit my sister in Ohio often and every time she would insist I go to church. Well to be honest, I could care less about church and I would get so sick of her bugging me about going I would go just to shut her up.
She attends the Newark Baptist Temple in Newark, OH. Little did I know that all those years my sister prayed for my soul, not giving up hope for me she knew I needed Jesus and she was not going to give up on me.
I could see something happening in my sister’s life and I wanted that also funny thing is I did not want the church, Jesus and I did not want to be the bible thumper either.
I did not understand it was God changing my sister’s life not her changing her own. The first few times I went to the church I felt really out of place everyone was dressed funny and you could tell I did not fit in there.
But much to my surprise everyone was so very nice to me and when I say nice I mean like really nice to the point I was like what is wrong with them they are to nice to me they don’t know me and if they only knew my past oh my gosh they would really not want anything to do with me! If they only knew where I came from that would change their minds.
They enjoyed having me there so much after a while I started to enjoy being there. I started to look forward to going so that I could get all the free hugs and hand-shakes I was like a kid in the candy store! Seems like the place to go I always seem to have people treat me mean so I enjoyed the attention they made me feel loved.
Now I still went out to the clubs and went to parties I even lit the cigarette as I left church services, but that is when things started to change in my life.
In June of 1999 I gave myself to the Lord. I remember it was a guest speaker who sat up on a stool with a lump of clay in his hands and I thought this is crazy what is he doing up there.
I listened and then something in me sank. I felt that I was the only one in there and that the preaching was just for me. I was so overwhelmed and didn’t even know why at that point but I started to cry.
I tried to hold back the tears but I could not I felt so embarrassed and I was so ashamed still not understanding why at the end of the service they did the alter call well I was not going to go I was afraid embarrassed confused well prideful and I was just going to sit there.
But something in me was saying go forth and I felt this pull like someone or something was pulling on my shirt pulling me out of me seat and I got freaked out I was fighting it crying all the way and then the moment came, my sister looked at me knowing what was taking place with tears streaming down her face she says:
“If your afraid I will go with you” and then she took my hand and we left the seats. I confessed I was a sinner in need of Jesus Christ and I got saved. It would take me a very long time to tell of everything Jesus has done in my life and is still doing.
I can not put into words what love can do to a person’s life how it can change. The love of my sister and her church brought me to Jesus. I am humbled at his forgiveness mercy grace and his endless love for me.
One year ago I was told by my husband who is Chris Bradley that God loved me no matter what I have done and that he knew what he got when he scooped me into his arms.
I have had my moments and from my past I had a wrong view of God and his love I thought that I had to earn or work my way to, change on my own, get good to get to God and I knew of him but did not have a relationship with him.
I knew things about him but it was not a personal relationship. I view God like I viewed my parents love as being conditional. If I did good then God was happy but as soon as I messed up then it was run as fast as I can away from God.
But in these few shorts months I learned that it was fear keeping me from my relationship with him. How can someone become friends with another if he or she is afraid of them? It’s possible but not the way God intended.
After learning and the Lord showing me in many different ways just how much his love towards me was pure perfect and complete I started to understand that all he really wanted from me was my heart with no strings attached!
Just me all of me the good bad and ugly even everything in secret. And when I started to fall in love with him I wanted to do things that were pleasing to him not doing them out of fear of what he would do to me.
Now it’s love not fear that motivates me and I am after his heart not his hand. I want to see his face and just simply hang out with him. I want the real deal! And everyone I come into contact with I share what he has done in my life, I want them to know that what he has done for me he will do for them also. Thanks be to God for my salvation and to him be all the Glory.
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I’m very touched by your testimony and while reading your letter , I feel that God is talking to me right here through your words thanks of being the communicator via God
Sis. Tina I love that testimomy. I’ve often heard
there must be a test before there’s a testimony.
Tina you have been tried by fire and now you are
pure GOLD. The Bible tells us ” We overcome by the Blood of the Lamb an the WORDS of OUR TESTIMONY. The more you testify the more you OVERCOME. Remember when Tina has CHRIST that’s all
Tina NEEDS
God Bless You
Pastor Louis and Annie Roberts
what a moving testimony and may the good Lord continue to guide and bless you. This testimony will change lives i assure you. i wiil surely share it with friends. God bless you.
Tina, hello my name is Dr. Rebecca Fernandas.
i’m a student of Medical (Heart Surgeon) and i know that GOD really do Miracle.
Our GOD is of a Miracle GOD and i beleive very strongly. i always pray to GOD before going in to operate anyone. I will really love if u could share your testimony with me personnaly at my E- mails iddy. Nowadays I’m at BRazil spending my vacations with my friends. plz i would like you to plz add me at your e-mails iddy. i would really love to share things with u online chatting. plz if u like to share and tell me things. It would really be honoured and i wil really love that. it will be very very nice for my expereinced
With Love
Dr. Rebecca Fernandas
Dear Sister in Jesus, What a wonderful God we have.Our God who knows you before the foundations of this earth kept you safe in all your life and moulded you as instrument to be an effective powerful weapon among the disillusioned people like you before. All Praise to Our Havenly Father, our dear friend Jesus Christ and our sweet companion Holy Spirit God.
May God bless you and your family,
yours brother in Jesus Christ,
Paul Koti. India
Praise the Name of Jesus. Glory to God. It is amazing and true how God takes the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. It doesn’t make since in the natural (sin nature) but the Spirit of God raises up a standard. I am thankful that we can serve a God Who does not care where we’ve been but is willing to reach down into the dirt (sin) and snatch me out.
I’m so glad He reached all the way to the Cross your just for me…
Brother in Christ
Minister Bouie
WOW! Glory to YHWH. We serve a mighty God, bless His holy name.
I am rejoicing that another soul has entered into the kindom of God. HalleluYah.
Stay close to the LORD. The more you draw closer, the more He will draw closer. The more He draws closer the stonger His fire and love will be.
May God bless you abundantly in Jesus name.
John
Dear Sister Tina
God bless you and your amazing testimony is indeed touching. We will pray for you and God bless in your new life.
With much love and prayers
Thomas
Your story was similiar to mine. Is God Good?
I will pray for you. God Bless You as you go through the journey with HIM.
Love,
Alesia
YOUR TESTIMONY WAS REALLY GREAT. HOW OUR GOOD LORD TOUCHED YOU WAS REALLY AMAZING. I REALLY THIRST FOR THAT LOVE IN MY LIFE PERSONALLY AND AFTER READING YOUR TESTIMONY IT WAS REALLY ENCOURAGING FOR ME
Wow! Your testimony gave me chills. I guess that’s because I have and still am going through basically the same thing. Life is really rough for me right now and I need to have a relationship with God. Please pray for me! It’s like I need something great to happen to me to make my faith start building up!
Love in Christ,
Cathy
To everyone I am flooded with joy…God is so wonderful. I do have a personal address I will share…feel free to drop by and say hi…ask for prayer…share thoughts….my door is always open. I am so thankful for new friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ! Cathy…sweetheart let me tell you something…God will hold you up when you start to fall..take every thought captive…DO NOT let Satan rob you of your peace..Even in the midst of your pain draw close to God in whatever way you can…read the bible, praise and worship..daydream of him…surrender yourself with open arms and watch and see what happens! God bless you all…here is my address so you can reach me…. tina at bible-knowledge.com I had to spell it out like this so the spam bots don’t come by and get my email address and spam me.
My Beloved, this is a comfort in my affliction,for your testimony has revived my spiritual life. The Almighty God who delivered you shall one-day give me words to testify in His Honour.
Much Love
Patience
Hi Tina;
To give yourself to the Lord is His decision, not your decision . He is the Potter, we are the clay . See Romans 9:21 The Potter makes the decision, to either make us into a vessel, or into a vessel of dishonour ! It is like your husband said, God is “Sovereign” .
Yours For Christ,
Harold Brown
Greetings Tina
God has a plan for all of us.
Some of lifes lessons/adventures can only be lernt before we have accepted/acknowledged Jesus as our saviour
With the love of God in your heart,
and your past challenges be them positive or negative equiping you,
You can now identify and share Gods love in areas or ways it wuold not happen if not for you(Tina)
You are special, an Angel in the making
May the Lord continue to bless you as he has those of us who read your testamony
God has a plan for all of us
With love through Christ
Geoff
Praise the Lord .. we have such a wonderful God! Thank you for sharing your testimony .. it has profoundly touched my heart.
Your Sister in Christ,
-Debi
To all,thank you for your kind words. Patience, I got chills when I read your comment. My dear friend whatever you going through know that on the other side is the Almighty with open arms! You are going to be used in a mighty way! Keep up the good fight….Press In and know the you have the victory in Christ Jesus! I was touched by your words.
YOUR TESTIMONY WAS REALLY GREAT. HOW OUR GOOD LORD TOUCHED YOU WAS REALLY AMAZING. I REALLY THIRST FOR THAT LOVE IN MY LIFE PERSONALLY AND AFTER READING YOUR TESTIMONY IT WAS REALLY ENCOURAGING FOR ME TO THINK GOD 4 THIS
Taste and see thath the lord is good,sis Tina u ve tasted of the goodness of the Lord pls continue in it.
Thanks to God for giving you the courage to share your personal life with me it has really tauched me.
Dear Sister Tina
I’m very much moved by your testimony.Although I also came from a long way before God had touched me,I’m still delighted to hear different testimonies of how Great God always is. He took me from a pit to the alter as well.Let’s keep on praying for the lost ones out there specially the young ones.Let’s make it our buisness to bring them to the Lord in any possible way that we can.
May God bless you and your new family.
By the way, I love the teachings on Bible-Knowledge.com .As for bro Michael maybe the Lord wants him fulltime in this ministry, he does it so well.
My prayers are with you all.
Sister Tina Marie B.
Greetings in the Mighty Name of Jesus. I thank God for your life and know that God has a plan for your life . I understand and can identify with your testimoney. May God’s blessing continue to flow over you and His blood protect you as your journey through life being a witness for Christ Christ. Blessings to your family . Jesus is the Answer – God Bless you
God is a God of Love, yes, we are supposed to show love to anyone who enters the House of God, God Bless Your Soul Tina
Tina, I can so relate. I grew up in a horribly abusive home, my father told me I would only be good for one thing. My nickname was E.A. Elephant Ass, even though I was thin and then became anorexic. While there are many years of my childhood that I literally don’t remember, I would suddenly be another age and be too afraid to tell anyone that I had no memory of the past. My father took us to witches as he studied the occult, I played with their children. I had so many un-natural sexual desires even very young. I turned to drugs and allowed anyone to abuse me or have sex with me and then I ran away at 15. Back and forth to home then being homeless, I ended up going to a party at a drug dealer in Miami and didn’t leave for a long time. I can’t talk about what happened there, it was so ugly. My life continued to be one of horrible sin yet outworldly I was known as a happy go lucky girl, very sexy and fun. I married at 20 and have 3 beautiful children, 15, 17, 20 and they don’t drink, smoke, do drugs or have sex. Weird. When my son was born I began to call out to God even though I didn’t know him and ended up going to a womans bible study and asking who Jesus was. I learned alot and believe I was saved even the International Churches of Christ or Boston Movement was a cult, shown on 20/20 and MTV back in the early 90′s. After leaving and being told I was the anti-christ my husband and our kids moved to Texas to only go back to worldly sin. We divorced and I moved away with the kids. I am re-married and my husband and I dedicated our lives to Christ but the demons were never gone from me. I turned back to sexual sins and drunkeness and then involved him. I have no repented and renounced my sins and last night we did a self-deliverance. I am believing I am free, I have to believe this. The pain of having this demon in me is too painful, my throat is constantly feels like I am choking especially during prayer and song. God has been calling me into ministry for a long time and I have avoided it because I didn’t think I could do it, I am too awful, what I did too awful. But God uses the foolish I guess and I am standing up to the enemy and believing I am forgiven, free and filled with the Spirit. I love studying the word and love God with everything I have. I desire only to serve Him and forget the past and move forward in His will. Please pray for me to continue and as I told the demons never to come back, I too will never go back to that life. That life was death.
You’re a living testomy. l pray God to grant you more of his grace
Glory to GOD!!!
Tina.Be blessed.
Also.Be free to visit http://www.prayer24blog.com
Thank you! I will visit the site! God Bless you
Sister Tina May the Lord our God bless you so much. I have ready your testimony and comments from Valerie Messersmith and others, and I realise that our God is a good God, a loving God indeed and as the bible says nothing is impossible to God.It does not matter in what circumstance you are and how sinful you are, Go is your creatro and a loving father He longs to see his children back home.
Tina I really enjoy hearing your testimony. I thank god for you and your husband. God is moving in you all lives in a great way. I’m newly married to a beautiful woman god brought in my life. I ask for prayer that god use me to do his will. And to stand and stay focus I truely LOVE GOD.
Dear TINA PLEASE KEEP RIGHT ON LOVING AND BLESSING GOD AND ONE DAY YOU WILL TRULY REAP THE REWARD GOD HAS DESIGNED FOR ALL THOSE WHO REMAIN FAITHFUL UNTIL THE END LOVE ALWAYS EVANGELIST BARBARA E. DOGANS.
I WISH ALL YOUNG AND OLD PEOPLE THOUGHT ABOUT THIER SOULS, AND KNOW THEY WILL SPEND ETERNIT Y SOME WHERE
Tina I am so happy that you have found Christ,be happy dear child of God, the best is yet to come.
Something strange happen to me .
>
> I had planned to start 2010 with a 40 day prayer and
> fasting. After going for 7 days of total fasting no food no
> water I began to feel some pain in my left leg. After the
> next 14 days on light porridge the pain become unbearable. I
> was forced to abandon my fasting so that I could seek
> medical help.
> I ended up being admitted in hospital with a condition the
> doctor diagnosed as deep Vein Thrombosis. I was in hospital
> for 11days
> I’m out of hospital but leaping when walking.
> Was that the Devil at work or
> what?
>
> Thank you
> Rev. Rufus Mukusulo