I grew up in a Pentecostal church and was involved in the Sunday school ministry as well as the youth ministry from a young age. I was a typical “good girl.” I repeated the sinner’s prayer a few times in my childhood, and I believed that I was actually not that bad. I could “speak in tongues” and “was slain in the spirit,” and I felt super spiritual. I even married a pastor’s son, who was a musician.

From then on though, my life began a major downward spiral. I was still involved with youth and Sunday school ministry, but my husband was searching for fame and fortune. Many things happened that made me question God, so much so that after my husband’s death, I “departed from the faith.”

I lived a reckless life and the only thing that kept me going, or so I felt, was my then-five-year-old daughter. (It may seem at this point that I am telling my love story of how I met Mario, but this part of my life and my conversion go hand in hand.) In October 2004, I met my dear husband, Mario Maneville. By that time, I had told myself that I would never trust a man again, due to repeated past hurts and disappointments; I was also far from God. But Mario’s love for the Lord drew me closer to him, and he shared from the Word of God with me. I remember crying before God and repenting from my sin one day while he shared with me. That was the beginning of new things for me, and I knew that Christ had saved me.