This is a testimonial of how Bruce Marchiano’s portrayal of a Joyful Jesus in the movie entitled "Matthew" changed my life and resulted in a ministry I never would have envisioned myself in. To God be the Glory.  

 

Let's go back in time to July 1971, I was 14 years old at a Methodist summer camp. I was a total non-believer, until one night at a service I felt the unmistakable awesome presence of the Holy Spirit and I no longer was a non-believer, I became a knower!
 
"Jehowyada", "Jehovah Known". He is the God who makes Himself known.

I immediately excepted the Lord Jesus Christ as my Lord.  Jump to the future, 1996, I was about to turn 39 years old, I was a wife, a mom twice, had the job I always wanted, attended a great Bible teaching church...yet felt there was something more for me to do in serving the Lord...I asked the Lord to reveal what that "something" was to me, then went about my normal life as usual...until:

It wasn't long after I had watched the "Matthew" movie that the Lord used Bruce Marchiano's portrayal of a Joyful Jesus to spark the beginnings of a new ministry He was about to birth.

One evening while I was at a nearby mall just sitting on a bench, along comes this guy all dressed in black.  As he walked by I asked myself, "Now what would Jesus do with that guy?"  The answer was so clear, I could see it in my mind's eye!  Jesus who was beaming with so much joy would walk over to the Goth guy, with the biggest smile on His face, put His arm around the Goth's shoulder and walk around the mall talking and laughing with him and sharing the Gospel. He would shower that guy with so much unconditional love, totally ignoring what he wore and how he looked. He would look right past the makeup and piercings, and so on.  1 Samuel says: "For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 
 
 It was at that unforgettable moment the Lord spoke to me: "I want you to go to them."  You can not imagine the shock I had upon hearing this. I literally looked around to see WHO He was talking to, and I said "Are You talking to me, Lord?!" It took quite a while for it to sink in that 'yes' He WAS talking to me.  (After all, I did ask for Him to reveal that 'something' to me.) My first thoughts were "oooooooooh man...what am I gonna do now?!"  Yet in my initial horror of it all, i soon experienced the immense love that He has for these Gothic souls, that was also sent into my own heart, and it made the unknown task before me somewhat less daunting. It was then that the Lord opened my eyes and heart to how very much He loves these people, I was consumed with something I had never felt before....it was an all consuming love, that only a Heavenly Father could feel for His children...I believe that He let me feel only a glimpse of that love, if I got the full impact of that love, of His...it would have blown me away......

So, after many confirmations from many different sources, that 'going to the Goths' was what He wanted for me, I said "Yes, Lord."

still 1996 ~ The ministry started out as a trip to the mall every Friday night, or as the locals called it: "Freaky Friday."  The Punks and Goths would show up every Friday night, and now, so did I. This was a crash course in learning what my mission field was to be!  The mall ministry lasted two years, and during that time I met some pretty fascinating Goths!  It didn't take long before 'the called' (meaning: me) found that she was actually one of these Goths...but a 'Christian Goth'! Go figure.

 
During the time of the mall ministry the Lord led me in a different direction, the Internet. 

1997 ~ ChristianGoth.com was born! The web site started out small and simple for the Christian Goths that were out there. At the time there were very few true to the Gospel of Jesus Christ web sites out there for Gothics, the other ones that did exist were questionable, at least to me. I vowed in my heart that ChristianGoth.com would be and remain the template for which future Christian Goth web sites would be.  2009 ~Twelve years later it has become one of the largest Christian Goth web site ministries in the world, so I have been told - to God be the glory. I believe 'CG.com' was the pioneer flagship of all CG ministries online. Web sites have come and gone in the twelve years, but 'CG.com' continued to grow and update regularly and meet the needs of the CG community as a source of inspiration and encouragement to members of a Christian subculture of folks who felt they 'were the only ones' (as in being Christian and Goth.)  I receive emails almost on a daily basis telling me of the overwhelming joy that people experience at finding such a web site made just for them. Stories of how their relationship with the Lord have taken on a wonderful new path, or how their families now understand them. Then there is the occasional story of suicidal thoughts/plans ending because of being led to the web site.  To God be the glory! 

 
Who would have thought that the idea of a joyful Jesus divinely placed in the mind of a director named Regardt van den Bergh, and the artistic God-given acting talent in Bruce Marchiano who the Lord used to play this type of Jesus, would not only change so many lives world wide, but be the cornerstone for the calling of ChristianGoth.com into being, and the profound change the Matthew film made on the web site's founder, me!

In February (2008), I had the joyous honor of meeting Bruce Marchiano in person for the first time after eleven years of letter writing back and forth. (see picture below)  So, there you have it, THAT is how ChristianGoth.com was born.

 

May 2009, I was ordained as a pastor by Heartlight Ministries; Pastor Frank Minucci (see below) to God be the glory!

2004 to present- Through the years other wonderful Christian Goth ministries have developed. We have had exciting godly gatherings because of the efforts, love and finances of a few who were called to bring us together in one location. (David Dellman and Donna Sheehy). Folks gathered from all over to be together with like minded faith in the Lord Jesus Christ adorned in black while enjoying the things that were special and unique to us! Truly a wonderful experience for anyone attending. I have met the most fascinating people. I have made life long friendships. The list goes on and on. This ministry has truly changed my life and to that I praise the Lord Jesus and His wonderful plan for all of us in this unique community. In between gatherings ChristianGoth.com has hosted two 'Goth Day' picnics in the New Jersey area...perhaps this summer there will be a new one.  A few years ago ChristianGoth.com joined the world of Face book, please join us there!

'World Goth Day' picnics hosted by ChristianGoth.com

Gothicon hosted by Donna & Mike Sheehy

The very first Gathering (hosted by David Dellman) a very special and exciting time for all of us.

 

2014- I hope to put up a Picture Gallery page of all the events that ChristianGoth.com has been at.  It is also my prayer and hope and desire that ChristianGoth.com will continue to bless all who purposely go to this site and to those who stumble upon it. I never tire of hearing folks say "I just found your site, I thought I was the only one!"

To GOD be the glory!

 

 

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