SHERRY SARANDREA
I was introduced to the "Associated Bible Students" by a relative in August of 1975. My interest in spiritual things grew, and soon both my husband and I began a private study with the elder of the group. Using the Bible and Bible students literature, "the study in scriptures", "truth" was revealed to us. Soon we were fully immersed in "the truth", a term used frequently by all dedicated members. We were water baptized in the fall of 1976 at a gathering of our local ecclesia. The next six years were spent in hours of study, pouring over the endless stream of Bible student literature. In the summer of 1980, I began to sense a change in my spirit. I began to question the foundational doctrines of "the truth". Leaving the group seemed the only way to determine the truth, and that fall marked the end of my association with the Bible students. I read the Bible alone for about a year, and I was finally led to a Bible believing church. Music played an important part in my journey toward a full separation from doctrinal error. The lyrics of gospel music, rich with doctrinal truth, touched my spirit. It is my desire to minister to the hearts and spirits of others to present them with the opportunity to know Christ.
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PATTI DAHL
About twenty years ago my life was on a devastating downward spiral. My marriage fell apart, my father died and my career took a disastrous tumble leaving me nearly penniless. These events took place all at the same time and it was all I could bear. I knew I had to get answers. In my very vulnerable state, I began to seek out New Age powers. I was a follower of Edgar Casey the sleeping psychic, transcendental meditation, and I dabbled in Buddhism. I finally ended up a Spiritualist...a necromancer, consulting the dead for answers in my life. The power that I saw and received was incredible at the time and I thought that was the answer. Strangers began to call me from everywhere because they heard I had powers. But there was something wrong.
Very wrong. I did not have control over my life in certain areas. I was growing increasingly fearful despite the fact that I had a group of spirit guides that told me information whenever I needed it. One day some dear Christian friend of mine opened the Bible and showed me in the scriptures that being a spiritualist was an abomination to the Lord. That was all I needed. The conviction from the Law came over me; I repented and was saved. The battle of trying to pull out of Satan's hold over me as a spiritualist was horrific. I saw and experienced wrathful demons manifesting in different ways as I went through the process of deliverance. Now I serve the Most High God and walk in His true power. He has blessed me with a singing ministry to help free others.
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