Carol D’Onofrio Testimonial

For the first 50 years of my life, I was a Catholic — baptized as a child, went to catechism, and followed the traditions. But rarely read the word of God.

Week after week, I would attend mass… but NO ONE told me to pick up the bible and read! Really, I can’t honestly tell you one person in all my years that told me to pick up the bible and read a chapter, a verse!

I thought I’m a good person, I’ll go to heaven. Not truly knowing, this is not how it works and not knowing the truth about Salvation.

Then in a stormy part of my life, I met John Tohline, who not only, was my director at Compaq Computers, but whom I suddenly learned was also a pastor at a local small evangelical church called the Seeds of Faith.

John and his wife Kay had often invited me over to their house for small gatherings like Christmas. I noticed that they had a sign at the end of their driveway that read The Lost Sheep Farm. I often wondered why? I never saw any sheep on their little gentlemen’s farm. Only chickens! Never questioned it – until a storm brewed up in my life. The rug was pulled under me that had drastically changed me forever. Years of going through this storm and no one ever knew what was going on my life, until one day John sensed something and asked me to lunch. His outreach to me to see what was going on and letting me pour my heart out to him in his small pickup truck that day changed my life. He never judged me, he listened with the most caring love I’ve ever met. He was my Shepard and providing me with shelter, like a lost sheep. He told me the goodness and the love of God. Then he asked that I give him a chance and attend his church to learn more about Jesus. This little, quiet and timid catholic girl, was in for a life changing experience with a small, bold evangelical church. BOOM, like a shock wave – Hallelujah’s being shouted so loud, it would make the roof vibrate on that little church. What a shock, what an experience, but my eyes were only starting to open and let the light in (just a little peak)!

Then many years later I met my wonderful husband Michael. We met and discovered we were both Catholic. I attended once again, mass every week. But then as we both started to realize there was no life in us when we attended mass, it seemed to political for us, we started to question a church who backed leadership that was going against what God wanted and I really started questioning why again am I right back at a Catholic Church. Thankfully my step son, Luke had convinced Michael to go to church with him. A little Baptist Church in Clinton, called Faith Bible Church. Michael agreed and attended about 3-4 weeks without me, then had convinced me to attend with him. Luke was our Shepard and lead us to this small Baptist Church. Then BOOM again, another shockwave. Words came so boldly out of Pastor Roger’s mouth. It was an awakening I’ve never experienced. I started to cry! I knew on that very first visit, that this was God, who I wanted to know and wanted a relationship with me! This was the love I wanted to enjoy. This was my shalom. This was my purpose in life. I was meant to take in all this Good News, Wisdom and Truth… and share with others. This was my hope!

My eyes are now WIDE OPEN and now I truly feel saved, thanks to the Baptist Church!