Testimony from Catherine Hegarty(Previous Vice President of Christian Union)
I've pretty much been brought up in a Christian home all my life. I say almost as my parents divorced when I was about two and soon after my Mum became Christian. (Up until that point our home had been a non-Christian household). Consequently she began to take my brother and myself to church. I have attended the same church ever since. It is a church that has consistently taught the Bible and throughout my time there I have heard the gospel story week in and week out. I've always believed in God and that the Bible is true. However, knowing these facts in your head and in your heart are two different matters. I knew of God yet didn't know Him personally. That remained true of my life up until the age of 15. It was around this point in my life when I began searching for God.
Since the age of about 11 I had been living a pretty rebellious life - I got involved with the wrong crowds inside and outside of school, I was disobedient and disrespectful to my parents, and did many things which I ashamed of now. I was completely unhappy with life; I questioned the point to living. I walked around full of anger, discontentment and guilt. I felt that no one understood me, yet strived to try and make it appear that I was having fun and was at peace with myself for the sake of reputation. Fortunately I continued going to church. As a result I was asked if I'd like to go away with the church youth group to a Christian Easter event called Spring Harvest. I agreed to go as a wanted to try and run away from my problems, even if for a little while, I also felt. It was a good opportunity to socialise with the youth group and even meet members of the opposite sex! (I'm embarrassed now!). I made a pact with myself, however, that under no conditions would I attend any of the Christian meetings.
Funnily enough on the first night I found myself in a large gospel meeting! I went because everyone else was going and I didn't want to be left in the chalet by myself. I actually quite enjoyed it and so went to many more meetings throughout the week. I felt challenged by God the whole week but kept trying to hide away from Him. I didn't want to admit my sinful state before Him. However, towards the end of the week I went to a large evening meeting with the theme of something like 'Surrendering Ourselves to God' and heard the gospel preached. I really felt God was challenging me. At the end of the meeting we sang as song called 'I surrender', when I heard the words I just broke down in tears and told God how I was feeling, how sorry I was. I asked Him for His forgiveness and asked Jesus to enter into my life and be my Lord. As soon as I prayed this I felt God's peace and His joy enter into my life, warmth came into me that I've never previously experienced before. I now know this to be the Holy Spirit entering into me. God really has changed my life and I'm still with Him 4 years later.
However, that's not to say that I'm perfect and that I find the Christian life easy - it isn't! I particularly find being a Christian at university hard but I know I am Jesus' and He is mine and He will never leave me nor forsake me (Joshua 1v5) and that I have eternal life in Him (1 John 5v11).