My Walk With Christ, And Where It All Began
by Melanie Diffee
My dad was an alcoholic and very abusive to mom, me and my siblings. I had a very difficult childhood. My parents divorced when I was five years old, and my dad completely left us on our own. My sweet mom raised us by herself. It seemed like we moved around so much growing up that I really never established close friendships until my mom remarried, and we stayed in one place.
I had never been to a church service until I was around 15 years old. We were not brought up in the church, so I did not know Jesus…yet!
Vickey Banks and Paula Bullard were among the sweet friends who brought me to CRBC in high school. I fell in love with Council Road and Wendell and Lynda Estep. But it wasn’t until I went to Falls Creek with CRBC and Norman and Denise Behymer that God got ahold of my heart and changed me from the inside out.
I gave my heart to Jesus at Falls Creek during my sophomore year in high school. I can’t say life was easier, but I knew that I wasn’t alone, and that God had forgiven me from all my sins.
Years later, I married my best friend, Court, during our senior year in college. Wendell Estep did our pre-marital counseling during our engagement. Court’s family was well grounded at Bethany First Church of the Nazarene, and I joined him there for more than 30 years. But when Court’s best friend, Rick Thompson, came to be the Senior Pastor of Council Road, it wasn’t long before we also became members of CRBC, a place we have grown to love.
As I have written this testimony, it has brought back some hard memories that I have suppressed for most of my life. Saying that makes me think of one of my favorite songs by Elevation Worship. These are some of the words:
All of my life, I’ve been carried by grace.
Don’t ask me how, cause I can’t explain.
It’s nothing short of a miracle I’m here.
I’ve got some blessings that I don’t deserve.
I’ve got some scars, but that’s how you learn.
It’s nothing short of a miracle I’m here.
It’s amazing to see life come full circle and to get to be part of the church where I found Jesus!
Author Bio
Melanie and Court Diffee helped start the “Come As You Are” Connection Class for younger CRBC members in 2013. They are also active members in a small group which they have participated in since 2003. They have four children and six grandchildren. She loves spending time in God’s word, being with her family (especially her grandkids), traveling and any type of exercise.