Jeannie Horton Testimony
Growing up, my parents attended a Methodist church. I never liked going to church because I thought it was boring. I would often pretend that I was sleeping to try and get out of it. But my mother would eventually force me out of bed. My parents made me get baptized when I was 10, along with my two older siblings. At the age of 14 I was a freshman in high school. I was bullied by a group of kids. One girl would not let up. I had so much hatred for her that I lost my peace and joy. I even wanted her dead. I went to sleep one night and God spoke to me in a dream. He said, “It is over!” From then on, I was never bullied again. God was showing me His love. At 15, I started going to a Foursquare Church with my sister and her fiancé and I really enjoyed it. I could feel God’s presence; I felt such peace and joy when I attended church. I was also meeting caring people my age who were passionate about Christ and life. One evening when getting a ride home, I asked my sister and her fiancé how I could get saved. They led me in the sinner’s prayer in the car. After that I had such a burning passion for God. I started reading the Bible and I got involved in the church's high school group. We would meet weekly and we would head downtown to feed the homeless once a month. I was baptized again at the age of 17. This time it was my choice. After high school, I started going to their college-age group and I was still actively involved in the church, attending at least 2-3 times a week.
Fast forward to 2013; I am now married and have two children with my second husband. I am not actively going to church but would go on occasion. I am a runner, running distances between a marathon up to 50 miles. My husband is a Native American and had been offered a job with his tribe in Crescent City, California. He had accepted the position, so we moved the family from Hillsboro, Oregon (15 minutes from Portland) to the small beach town. I didn’t necessarily want to move six hours away, leaving my family. I didn’t want to leave my father. He had already suffered his first stroke, and was also beginning to suffer from dementia. Because of his condition, he was difficult to speak to.
Depression began to set in after we moved to California, I became almost lifeless. I’d stare at the wall, I was bored, I was angry, I cried often, and I took it out on everyone around me. I was still running and I felt that running was my comfort. I decided to train for my first 100 miler. I was very confident in my running. Because a lot of people on social media were telling me that I was good at running and I was an inspiration, I became prideful. Running had been my comfort to help me through my depression, but now it had become an idol.
Running was a gift from God and I was putting it above Him.
My husband was let go from his job with his tribe in 2013 and we moved back to Portland. Two weeks after moving back, I had made two arrangements. I was going to take my car over to my friend’s house so her husband could fix a minor repair. Also, my mother agreed to babysit our oldest dog Boogie. Boogie often acted up and Grandma had a way to make him behave. Knowing we were coming over to drop Boogie off, my mom planned for the whole family to get together. When I saw my dad, I gave him a big hug and the family had a wonderful time together that day.
The next day, I called to check up on my dog. My mom answered and is crying very hard. She told me that my dad was not waking up and the paramedics were there. My dad had suffered a second major stroke. He was on life support for three days. On the 3rd day, I watched the doctors take him off life support. As he took his last breath, I held him. God knew that my father was going to suffer this stroke and God arranged for us to move back to Portland just in time, and He arranged for the family time the day before my father’s stroke. God was showing His love.
After the death of my father, I was still depressed but started training for a triathlon. I kept seeing the number 316 and I thought of John 3:16 which was one of the few Bible verses that I knew. I saw 316 so often that I was certain God wanted my attention. I cried out to God and asked Him to help me; I was tired of being so sad. God began showing me what to do. The first thing He showed me was to listen to only Christian music. I obeyed. He then gave me step by step instructions which included what I was watching, reading, listening to, and of course He told me to go to church. I didn’t want to go to church because I didn’t want to dress up or put on makeup. But God said to me, “Come as you are.” I did that. I wore my Oscar the Grouch “scram” t-shirt, I wore running clothes, piled my hair into a bun and barely put any makeup on. God also told me to read the Bible. I tried to read through the churches “read through the Bible list” but, I ended up getting behind and became frustrated. God told me to go at my own pace and just mark off what I finished. Since I liked Joyce Meyer, I decided to trade in my easy to read student Bible from high school to Joyce’s amplified Bible. This Bible was very challenging for me. I asked God to help me understand it. He told me to stop reading other reading material and to read only the Bible. God also told me to attend Theology school at a university. This request took me awhile to obey. It was an expense that I wasn’t sure my family could afford and a little funny since at a recent Bible study through church, I ended up throwing the study material across the room and then into the garbage. I did obey and school has been a blessing. We have always had the money for classes and in time that I needed the funds.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in me”] (Mathew 16:24). In 2016, during a long training run, God asked me to give up all the training for him. I thought about it for a few miles and then said yes. My pastor spoke on Mathew 16:24 the very next weekend. I’ve tried to enter events since then, but there is always something that stops me from competing in them. I still run, bike, and swim, but the distances are kept short.
In 2017, my friend Steve spoke to my daughter Naomi about going on a mission’s trip to Chacalte, Guatemala. He had already been a few times and was extremely blessed by going. This upcoming trip was 9 days and with our church. I was going to let Naomi go by herself. But it was during a church service that I heard from God. He told me that I needed to go with her. Initially, I absolutely did not want to. But, I was obedient and agreed. I was stretched out of my comfort zone and tested emotionally, physically, and spiritually. God used several moments during the trip that completely touched my spirit. When we were back on the plane, on our way home, I had every intention of not returning to Guatemala, but I heard from God. He said, “You’re going back.” My daughter heard the same thing and will be returning in a few weeks for a ten-day trip. The people of Guatemala have huge hearts. They are hospitable, have so much love for their families, and are very kind. Our church is the only group of people that come back twice a year. The people of Guatemala are like family. My heart has completely opened up to them and to missions. We are now the proud sponsors of two kids in Chacalte and cannot wait to see them again.
In writing my testimony, I look at it as a love story from God. Looking back, before I was saved, I can see moments where God was reaching out to me, and caring for me. I know how much God loves me. He has never given up on me. I know He has a plan and purpose for my life. I may have gotten a little sidetracked throughout the years, but he gently led me back to Him. And His plan for me is still mine.
