Annie Impson's Testimony

Today, I am sharing the testimony of a brave woman who was led to share her story with me and with you. I believe there is something in every story that encourages others to keep going as it reminds us that we can never go too far that God's loving redemption can't reach us. I hope Annie's story gives you hope. She reminds me that we are all gifted for a certain mission. If you have a story you wish to share, please contact me at JenniferLTravis76@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you.

The Personal Testimony of Annie Impson

I grew up in a preacher's home were the Bible was taught to us on a daily basis, and we went to church every time the doors were open. I made many professions of faith when I was a child, but it wasn’t until I was 18 a senior in high school on March 12,2001 that I truly accepted the Lord Jesus as my personally Savior!

After high school I went to a Christian college and that is where I met my first husband. My parents were not in agreement with me marrying him, but I thought I knew more than they did. They kept telling me it wasn’t God’s will for me to marry him. I didn’t want to listen. We married in the summer of 2003 without my parent’s blessing. I realize now this is never a way to start a marriage. Once we were married my parents encouraged us to stay married.

We got pregnant right way and had a little girl, Madelyn Grace, the following summer --June 2004. After we had Madelyn and been married for a couple of years some things were going on that were not right. We went to church only because I wanted to. He would only go because I wanted him to, not because it was right thing to do. I thought he was saved because of what he had told me. His actions spoke louder than his words. My husband thought it was okay to call me degrading names and to look at pornography. He tried to convince me that it was okay to look at it together. I never liked it but wanted to please my husband. But then he started looking at in secret. We would get into verbal fights about it, but it didn’t take long before he did hit me. I always said I would never let a man hit me, but it happened. He refused to give up looking at porn. I decided to leave because I wasn’t going to be in a mental and physical abusive marriage, or be in a marriage were looking at porn was okay. Looking at pornography is a form of adultery and it is wrong.

I moved back home and we were suppose to get counseling and try to work things out, but he refused to change and refused counseling. I filed for divorce. During that time I got away from the Lord, playing the prodigal child. It wasn't long before I found out I was pregnant. And I was scared because I already had one child, was working and living on my own, as well as going through a nasty custody battle and divorce. I wondered how I could I raise another child, especially without his father.

I confronted the father and he told me to get an abortion. I was 3 months pregnant before my I told my parents. They both just took me in their arms and held me and cried. Little did I know, they were praying and begging God to do something to wake me up and bring me back to Him because I wasn’t living right. I was hurting and doing everything I could to get rid of my hurt. I knew I needed to read my Bible and trust the Lord to handle it all, but I didn’t. I allowed Satan to wedge into my situations and work destruction. I thank God for a praying mom and dad, and that they didn't give up on me. I am very grateful for godly parents and for them being constant in their Christian lives.

I decided to leave the world alone and follow Christ. It wasn’t easy to do but with the Lord’s help on a daily basis, I stayed focused on getting my life on the right road again. About a month went by before I met Jason, a coworker at the time. Jason was also going through a divorce and custody battle of his own, and his wife had committed the adultery towards him and she would not turn from her ways either. He invited me over for supper to meet his girls. After supper we started talking and I told him I was pregnant. Even though the child wasn't his and we barely knew each other, he was excited. It was like I was telling him I was pregnant with his baby. I thought this man was crazy – mostly that he actually respected me. Very early into this relationship, I wanted him to meet my parents because I wanted this relationship to be parent approved.

After Jason spoke with my parents, they said I wasn’t in a place to be dating anyone but if they had to choose anyone for me to date, it would be Jason. They asked that we just remain friends and get to know each other first. During this friendship, we fell in love and he fell in love with my daughter and my unborn son. I had my baby in the spring of 2008.

Jason made a profession of faith earlier in life, much like I did. But two months before we were married, he realized he wasn't and accepted Jesus as Lord in his life. We were married in the fall of that same year. The first year was admittedly tough because we were combining two families, but with the Lords help we made it through it.

We both began serving in our church. I became the full time pianist and started singing in church again. Jason became a sound man, serving as the treasurer in our church. He also began preaching in a prison ministry on Tuesday nights. We sincerely wanted to be servants as it satisfied us. Jason also had mentioned the possibility of us as missionaries, but I was quick to say no because of hurts I had seen in the church. I didn't want my children exposed to them. So Jason stopped talking about it and started praying.

About a year later, we were invited to a prison revival in Mississippi. I was able to see what my husband really did every Tuesday night. I was also given the opportunity to sing my testimony song, “A Trophy of Grace.” I truly believe in the grace of God and what it has done for me.

I had never seen the Holy Spirit move like He did that day, as thirty souls or more came to Christ. I loved it! After the revival ended, I couldn’t sleep. The Lord was dealing very heavily with my heart about being a missionary and going and telling others about Him. After wrestling with it, I said, “ Lord I’m willing to go if that’s want you want me to do.” I slept well after that. On the way home the next day, I admitted to Jason that the Lord has called us to the mission field. Jason began crying with tears of joy because he already knew already it was God's will that we be missionaries. He didn’t want to go without me and was praying the Lord would change my heart --and He did. My next question was, “Where?” Australia was the answer.

We are still working in our church as we work towards the goal of Australia. I can’t wait to see what the Lord has for us over there. I’m honestly a little scared of the unknown but with the Lord’s help I know I can do anything. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

And Matthew 6:33 is our life verse: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

My personal life verse is Galatians 5:16 “This I say walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” I truly believe this to be true because I have to walk with Him daily so I don’t do what I want to do. I wholeheartedly want to be used of God and help others who are going through things I have been through. One of my greatest desires is to help others.