The RAMP

I’ve gone to church all my life, but the Lord never seemed real to me. I couldn’t live my life for some “pretty boy- boring- distant” Jesus, so i looked to worldly things to satisfy me. I tried everything, from drugs to relationships, until finally i had hit rock bottom, and had no friends, and a terribly broken heart. Luckily, my die-hard Christian parents didn’t give up on me, and my mother dragged me- MADE me go, to this place called “The Ramp”, in the Oneighty building in Cleveland, TN. It was the first time I had ever been, and I stood in the very, very back, just watching. And as I watched, I just saw the glory of the Lord all over the faces of the kids who were worshiping, and i had finally found what I was looking for. A REAL God. I saw him all over these kids, and just couldn’t deny that he was real anymore. Even though i was so moved, and convicted, I stayed in the back to watch. However, the Lord had different plans. Karen Wheaton was also at the meeting. I don’t know if she remembers, but she took the mic and said “There’s someone here who hasn’t really decided if God is real or not (something along those lines)”. Well, I new she was speaking to me, but i didnt move. I saw a guy go up to the altar (phew! its not really me..). She looked at him and said “No, it’s a young girl”. I thought “fine, fine, im going!”. She prayed for me, and at fourteen, i gave my heart to the Lord for the first time.

Cleveland, TN

I have been using drugs from the age of 10. By the time I was 16 I was locked up because of it. Dope brought me to the point that I sat in my room with a gun ready to pull the trigger and kill myself. My mom asked me every week to come to church. One week I finally did and got saved and baptized. I prayed and read my Bible but there was no fire. Well, Saturday at the Ramp I was baptized in the Holy Spirit and felt a height that no drug can fill. I left on fire for the Lord.
Today a man that I have been praying for came up to me. I told him how the Lord has changed my life then I asked him if he was saved. Mrs. Karen, for the first time the Lord used me and brought a man that I have been praying for to salvation. You and the Ramp gave me what I needed – the wood for my little fire, and now there is a fire.
Rande

Two summers ago I fell to my knees high on cocaine crying out to God…This meant the biggest thing I was to surrender was not the drugs and alcohol, but my [homosexual] relationship. My only hope was this God. My plan was to purposely party until I died if He wasn’t real. I was seeking the truth, not a million different interpretations on what the Bible says about homosexuality.

I was going to give up on trying not to be gay anymore. I wrote a prayer to God and ended the letter by asking for a sign about the relationship. The next day I saw Mrs. Karen and Chosen on TBN. For the Ramp to even be on the TV when I turned it on was a small miracle because I haven’t been watching TBN. You said that someone had asked for a sign about a relationship and  “This is it!!” I cannot believe God did this!!! He really does care for me huh?! I am truly amazed and thankful!!