I Found the One Who Made Me A Better Man
Brother Felimaur Flauta: Thank you, Stevyn, for reminding us that God always, always has good plans for His chosen. Now let me ask all of you a question, whether you are a brother or a sister inside the Church, or a guest. Let me ask you: How many of you are looking for guidance? Maybe you’re trying to figure out your next step.
Our next speaker looks back on his life and he’s able to see how God connected all the dots for him, and realized that even if he experienced pain, God also allowed him to find joy. Welcome, Godfrey Dement.
[On-screen text graphics]
I FOUND THE ONE WHO MADE ME A BETTER MAN
GODFREY DEMENT
Godfrey Dement: So for as far as I could remember, I have always been surrounded by strong and resilient women. I never had a father figure growing up because my dad passed away when I was 8 months old. And my step dad abused me and my mom. And my mom left him. Good job, mom.
She found another guy that was worse than the first. What’s up with that, mom?
I remember one time I was going to a cub scout meeting and I decided to hang out with a friend instead. My step dad found out and he was so furious. He grabbed me and he pushed me up against a wall. I guess that was his way of disciplining me.
I wish he would have used his words instead. But that kind of “discipline” was common in our household, and life was tough. I know mom kept moving forward.
I never knew the Church Of Christ at the time, yet I was so lucky growing up. My grandparents lived a house away from us. My Papa and my Tutu.
Tutu would always say, “E como mai,” or, “come inside,” in Hawaiian. Everyone felt so welcomed and there was always Pupu’s hors d’oeuvres out on the table. A bowl of poi and some dried aku.
Tutu was old school and she had old school rules like no swearing, no smoking, no swearing, no premarital sex. She had the moral compass of the family and everybody had to listen.
But despite being surrounded by strong women, I was kind of lost, like I was without a rudder in the sea of life, just going through the motions.
I had one goal in life and that was to become a good bodyboarder. And I became one! I spent twenty-one years in the sport, paid my dues, yet I had no clear goals and no way to take care of a family.
Until I met Shanarel.
She moved here from the Philippines in search of a better life, and I met her through some mutual friends. She was a Church girl who was devoted to her faith in the Iglesia Ni Cristo or Church Of Christ. I was both amused and impressed by her ambition. But I was most inspired by her faith and dedication to her membership inside the Church Of Christ.
I remember learning that she was from a small province in Ilocos and that she was bullied a lot for being an introvert. And she heard other kids saying things like, “Don’t be her friend, she’s weird. She doesn’t talk.” So you know what Shanarel did? She maxed out her GPA, studied harder, and proved that she wasn’t weird and she could talk. And on her graduation day she stood up in front of everybody and spoke as their valedictorian. In Hawaii, it’s a little different approach when it comes to bullies. You know what I am talking about… Nah.
Anyway, she asked me like to join some few Bible studies, but I wasn’t committed yet to signing up as a Bible student. And one time we were hanging out with some friends, I wasn’t feeling so well and I told Shanarel, “Oh I can’t attend worship service with you today.” And it was too late for her to find another ride, so she said, “Fine, I will walk.” Okay… “Shanarel, that’s a sixteen mile walk!”
Her conviction inspired me. The way she was so motivated and had a plan in her life. I wanted to have that kind of purpose in my life.
Before entering the fold I was seriously staring down a cup with a hole in it. I was looking and searching for the most powerful answers anyone can ask one’s self. Mainly three: Who am I? Why am I here? And how does the universe work? I read a lot. From Freud to quantum mechanics to shamanism. What is really going on in the world? My pursuit was endless. And my search for the ultimate meaning suddenly stopped. The cup had a bottom. I found all my answers in the Church Of Christ. And ultimately that our purpose is to serve God. And I would not have found that out had not Shanarel introduced me to the Church Of Christ.
Oh man. The Bible lesson that really stood out and impacted me the most was about the apostasy and how the true Church Of Christ was reestablished. It made so much sense to me! Ask a minister if you have any questions about this.
I joined the Church Of Christ in 2010 and it had completely changed me! After joining the Church Of Christ, God blessed me with the girl of my dreams! I courted Shanarel, she reciprocated, and now, we’re married.
But she’s not just the girl of my dreams. She’s a true partner in righteousness and good works. You know, I’m so grateful. I learned how to be a good Christian because of the teachings inside the Church Of Christ, and Shanarel makes sure that I put all those teachings into practice.
Remember I said I had no clear goals? Well, Shanarel prayed for me, encouraged me, and challenged me to pursue bigger and better things. And because of her encouragement, I became a head deacon, and because of our prayers and our faith, I now have my real estate license and together we own a few businesses. Even my family from Hawaii, they were so surprised, dumfounded. They’re like awestruck in disbelief of all of the positive changes that are occuring in my life at this time and beyond. They probably thought I wasn’t going to do anything with my life, and I don’t blame them. But I thank God that He had another plan for me.
I learned how to put my work into Church first, to be prayerful everyday, and to be close to the minister who is caring for my faith. I’m so thankful that God put such strong women in my life at an early age. And ultimately, I thank God that he allowed me to cross paths with that poor, bullied girl from Ilocos that was determined to have a better future in America because while she was trying to build her life, she helped me build my faith! I love you, guys.
[Show close]
