church groups Testimonials

Fifteen weeks ago I did not deeply understand three things.

First, there is a big difference between wanting and being willing to be like Christ and making it my determined purpose. Second, the way to become Christ-like is to focus on knowing Him deeply and intimately in a progressive way. And third, I must turn my life over to Him daily. Today I understand these things, and it has changed my life forever!

Matthew S.

I have experienced a new look at my relationship with God through ONE on ONE with GOD.

God loves me and wants the best for me. I can trust and believe His Word. I thank God for your obedience to write this study.

W.

Growing up in a Christian home, I heard about Jesus, and I gave my heart to Him at a young age.

Mother and Daddy took us to church every time the doors were open, which helped grow my faith. When I went to college, I became involved with a parachurch group, and in that setting I learned about evangelism, discipleship, and developing a multiplication ministry.

ONE on ONE with GOD has been awesome! I have not had such an exciting, intensive study of discipleship since college. ONE on ONE has reawakened a hunger to pursue God purposefully and passionately. My favorite part of the study has been the Scripture memory. I resolve every New Year’s Day to memorize Scripture, but I have never managed to do it successfully until I tried Jerry and Marilyn’s method. Repeating the verses 30 times on the first day helps it stick in my mind, and then practicing for 60 days ensures that it sticks. It has been life-changing!

M.S.

When I started ONE on ONE with GOD, I was stumbling in daily Bible reading and not very willing to share God’s Word with others.

I knew I wanted a stronger relationship but did not know how to go about it or where to start. I was already involved in reading the Bible through in a year, but I wasn’t meditating on it or listening to what He wanted to speak to me about.

Now I have a more complete relationship with God and a method and consistent time to read His Word. I know how to ponder, picture, and pray and am able to move His Word from my head to my heart. I’m excited to share His Word and, hopefully, to disciple others and share what God has taught me this summer. I want to turn everything over to Him and know He is in control of my life all the time. I know my determined purpose is to know Him in a deep and intimate way. I know I am constantly being transformed into His likeness. He created me for a purpose and has a special purpose for me. I am awestruck by the love He has for me and others. I know how important it is to love others as Christ loves me.

Jennifer N.

When I started ONE on ONE with GOD, God found me as one lacking integrity and in need of some major changes.

I was being tossed back and forth, wondering if I was or was not saved. I was having quiet times but not on a daily basis or of the quality they should have been. Memorizing Scripture was not something I had ever applied myself to doingŠ—”I really had no desire to do it. God found me with a heart that was not full. I was not letting the words that I read and heard go into my heart. Anything I read would be forgotten by the afternoon, and any sermon I heard would go in and leave by the middle of the week. Before ONE on ONE I was not in the position of consistent spiritual growth.

After completing ONE on ONE, God finds me as one not lacking but still working on my integrity. I still have common lapses into myself, but now I have the tools and applied knowledge to come back in submission to Christ. My days are filled more often with the presence of God because of the thanks and praise I am giving Him throughout the day. God has placed in me the desire to disciple, encourage, and lift up those around me. So after ONE on ONE I have a more Christ-centered relationship that will motivate me to grow in His likeness.

M.W.

When I started ONE on ONE with GOD, God found me spiritually dry.

I was not spending time in His Word like I have before or like I should have been. I was still relying on Him for many things, but I was not receiving His Word daily. I was going through a period in my life where I was learning a great deal spiritually through just living life; however, I could have learned much more if I had been in His Word.

After completing ONE on ONE, I have now truly understood the importance of being in God’s Word daily. I have received so much by reading His Word. I still have so much to work on, but I am truly encouraged by what His Word means to me and how it works in my life.

A.H.

After I got saved at the age of 21, I longed for someone to show me what to doŠ—”to disciple meŠ—”but no one really knew what to do.

They told me to read my Bible. I thought Bible studies were the answer, but none of these studies taught me how to have a relationship with GodŠ—”they merely taught me things about God.

ONE on ONE with GOD is you and God, with no one in between. I discovered that God is my everythingŠ—”Deliverer, Healer, Comforter, Strength, Redeemer, and Encourager. I discovered it for myself as I came to Him daily through His Word. He was my Teacher. It breaks my heart to see that we have so much in the way of helps and resources when it comes to the Christian faith, and still we do not live the abundant life. How much more do we need! We have abandoned the Living Word for other ways to experience God! The other things are helps, but we have allowed them to take the place of hearing from Him one-one-on.

Two years ago God gave me Joshua 1:14-15: Š—“Your wives, your children, and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, fully armed, must cross over ahead of your brothers. You are to help your brothers until the Lord gives them rest, as He has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving themŠ—_Š— This is my passionŠ—”to disciple womenŠ—”to help them take possession of the land that God has already given them in Christ Jesus.

Patty M.

I want to thank you for developing these materials and having them cram-packed with Scripture!

I got saved during the second/third week of class. This study has really been beneficial and critical in the growth of my walk with God.

Julie M.

As a men’s minister, I believe that as you get a core of men who want first to INVEST sacrificial time with God (meaning a.m. preferred), you will find men who have a heart for service because their reason for service will be the same reason for a quiet timeŠ—”to know Christ, become like Him, and to bring Him glory.

ONE on ONE with GOD is particularly good at developing this lifestyle pattern.

Dan M.

Men’s minister

When I started ONE on ONE with GOD, God found me newly married, just out of college, and trying to find out how and whom to disciple at this stage of my life.

I was already committed to disciple-making and the spiritual disciplines. Though I had a strong desire to be a bold witness in my job, I often found myself timid and reclusive. My thought life was not one that honored God.

After completing the course, God finds me today more committed than ever to carrying out the Great Commission wherever I go. God’s Word has affirmed my desire to know Him through spiritual disciplines and has strengthened in me the desire to make application of what I learn. I have been recently blessed with boldness and opportunity to witness at my job. Possibly the biggest change God finds in me today is the commitment to filling my mind with thoughts of Him.

B.H.

Fifteen weeks ago, God found me having all kinds of responses to things and lacking any kind of discipline.

God would have said I was just an acquaintance because I had no relationship with Him. Today He finds me striving to come closer. Even after getting to start loving others, being more diligent in prayer, and reading the Word. I am also stepping out to be used as a vessel to further His kingdom.

ONE on ONE with GOD helped me learn about love. It helped me get more into the Word, and it also helped me to start paying attention to what God is trying to tell me. This study is anointed.

L.C.

Fifteen weeks ago I was using profanity and looking at inappropriate books and doing a lot of wrong.

I was not being a very good person in Christ. Now my language has cleaned up, and I don’t look at inappropriate books. I’m a lot better person and husband and father, and I’m living for God more and more very day.

ONE on ONE is a good book and study. It showed me how to ponder, picture, and pray.

J.M.

Thirteen weeks ago God gave me love, and He gave me understanding.

I was determined to have a daily relationship with Him, but I didn’t use the tools or know how to use the tools He gave me to achieve this victoriously.

Today God is my peace. He is love, and without Him there is no understanding. He is everything to me, and I am worthless, nothing, without Him. Through ONE on ONE with GOD, God has brought changes in many areas, but the top three are these determined goals to work on as I press toward the mark: (1) I will take God seriously and have a proper fear of Him; (2) I will make it my determined purpose to daily pursue God vigorously and honestly; (3) I am determined to submit to God willingly, with Christ-like humility, cultivating a lifestyle that is obedient to God. I am daily getting to know better the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Billy Graham was rightŠ—”Š—“The ultimate experience of life is knowing God.Š—

Cindy A.

God found me fifteen weeks ago very busy and very dependent on others’ prayers for me.

God found me very dependent on Him during rough times and less dependent during Š—“prosperousŠ— times. He found me desiring to spend more time with Him but not willing to actually take the time.

Today God finds me still busy but with my priorities straightening out. He also finds me in His presence more often as I am now making a more conscious effort to pray and express my love and gratitude to Him. God finds me more consistently in His presence, depending on Him more on all occasions. God finds me willing to take time for Him. I pray I will continue to be disciplined in my quiet time and prayer time.

K.C.

Fifteen weeks ago God found me inconsistent, quite temperamental, and yearning for fellowship and sharing.

Today He finds me improving in consistency, revitalized, and ready to serve once again wherever He directs. Everything is more at peace in my heart, and the Š—“rolling seaŠ— feeling is calm. There are fewer valleys now, and it easier to say Š—“Thank You, LordŠ— for the trials.

Sally

Before I went through ONE on ONE with GOD, God found me wanting to have a deeper relationship with Him.

And now I have that closer relationship. I think about Him and His love for me more; I know He loves me. The Bible is now more important to me, as is spending time in the Word daily. ONE on ONE has given me a tool to think about who God is and what He can do in my life if I let Him be in control and don’t take over in everything.

Sharon H.

Fifteen weeks ago I was virtually useless to God because I had a minimal prayer life and spent almost no time in His Word.

Today I have put on the armor of the Lord and am a willing instrument of His will, desiring to know Him better and having a broken heart for those who don’t know Him.

Bob

I cannot express what a blessing ONE on ONE with GOD has been to me.

This week everything has come together for me. The study portion jumped out of the pages of the book to me. The concepts throughout the study became alive all of a sudden. I started application of some of them in practice as opposed to in theory. Twice this afternoon I went to my knees in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord. I’ve stayed in the office all dayŠ—”usually I run and hide or flee from the unpleasant things. The study in ONE on ONE this week told us to refer back to Š—“CautionŠ—_CautionŠ—_Caution,Š— so I did, and I read James 1:2-4, which says, Š—“Don’t squirm out of your problems.Š— That showed me that God is able to help me face the unpleasant things, phone calls, visits, criticism, etc. And if He is able, I have nothing to fear!

Dale M.

Fifteen weeks ago my heart was seeking.

I had the desire and passion to find Jesus Christ, but I did not know how.

Now I know where and how to find You, Lord. It’s been great being in Your arms as you talk to me, and I can talk back. You find me sharing with others Your love and how they can get to know You deeply and intimately.

Susan G.

When I started ONE on ONE with GOD, I doubted that God would see me through fifteen weeks of study.

I thought I might lose interest or nerve. I doubted God’s power to cause my husband to take up the responsibilities we both normally shared on the night ONE on ONE was to meet. God found me in desperate need of having the blinders lifted and the shackles broken so that I could have the freedom to love Him and to serve Him.

But now God finds me more at peace with myself. I’m more assured in the knowledge that He is omnipotent. I know there is more to life than the people on this earth. God’s hand is at work, and He will include us if we let Him.

Holly B.