I first heard about the Universal Church through a friend. I told her about the storm I was living—marital conflict, financial strain, and deep family troubles—and she said, “I know a place where you can find help.” I didn’t come right away. I started, stopped, and wandered for a while. But about six years ago, I decided to come seriously—and that decision changed everything.
When I arrived, my life felt broken in every direction. My home was tense, my finances were a mess, and sadness had settled over me like a heavy cloud. On top of that, I suffered from severe asthma; the doctor warned that it could take my life while I was still young. Breathing often felt like a battle I was losing.
At church, I chose to obey the Word I was hearing. I used my faith, followed the guidance of the pastor, and even drank the blessed water as a point of faith. Little by little, something shifted. The asthma that once controlled my days and nights left me. I had needed a chamber at home just to breathe; now, I have not had an asthma attack since. God visited my weakness with His strength, just as Scripture says: “Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame” (cf. Ps 34:5).
With my health restored, I began to fight for my family. I committed to Tuesdays for health and Thursdays for family, bringing clothing and photos to be anointed, praying over my home, and refusing to give up. We faced many battles with my daughter and my husband, but God is faithful. My daughter was freed from depression. My husband came to church. In time, my son, my husband, and my daughter were all baptized—and today, we attend the Universal Church together. As Joshua declared, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh 24:15).
God also touched our finances. As I practiced obedience and perseverance—especially during the Fast of Daniel and the Campaign—the Lord opened doors. Through a chain of prayer, He provided a new job. In September, three years ago, during the Fast of Daniel, I received the Holy Spirit. From that moment, the transformation became unmistakable: my mind cleared, my heart became steady, and my purpose grew bright. Today, I serve as an assistant, still fighting the good fight of faith, and I can say with confidence: my life is totally transformed.
If there is a word that defines my journey, it is restoration—health restored, family restored, and a future restored—because when we obey God and persevere, He turns “valleys of trouble into gateways of hope” (cf. Hos 2:15). What He began in me, He continues to perfect, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
– Samantha James
