It was hot in Lewisville Texas in May which gave Conny Jenkins an idea. So for the next few weeks she made over 200 gel neck coolers for the field of anglers in the Lake Norman North Carolina. The 'Cool Hugs from FOCAS' were given out free along with a Christian tract at the registration. Jen Carroll treated the group to a solo and Susan Dameron shared her testimony. Denese Freeman provided guitar music for the group praise songs.

The devotion was given by Sunny Carpenter who gave away free inspiration stones with various inspirational words etched in each one. (Look for her story that goes along with the stones in a future article.) The group is growing in membership and attendance. Conny said she "knows God is working and blessing people" through the FOCAS group.



Sunny Carpenter tells story about the Inspiration Stones

The next FOCAS meeting will be at 5:30 PM immediately following the registration. The membership patches and certificates are in for those who joined in Lewisville. The patches will be available for pick up prior to the start of the FOCAS meeting.

Susan Dameron's testimony follows:

Hello! My name is Susan Dameron. I am a co-angler with the WBT. I am from Chattanooga, Tennessee. My husband, Don, and I just celebrated 22 years of marriage, and I feel privileged to be able to say that I know he loves me as Christ loves the church. We have two wonderful teenage boys Drew, 18 years old, and Derek, 15 years old. I am a housewife and have been a homeschool mom for the last nine years. I would like to share with you all how I came to know Christ as my Savior.

I grew up an only child in a home plagued with the problems that stem from alcoholism. My dad was a good man, a tough man, and had high expectations. He was a workaholic and an alcoholic. I never questioned my dad’s love for me. I knew he loved me, but he couldn’t express that love easily so we were not very close during my childhood. My dad was a Christian and would tell you himself that he had made some poor lifestyle decisions. My mom worked hard to keep our lives together as a family doing her best to help my dad and I along in our relationship. I am sharing this with you only because I wouldn’t have a testimony without it. I went through my childhood with a constant hurt and confusion, and when I was a Junior in high school my parents finally separated and divorced. It was around this same time that I was invited to go to Bible camp with a friend and accepted Christ as my savior. I had been searching for something to fill a great void that I had in my life, but didn’t know what I was searching for until I heard of God’s love. I found the Dad that I needed and had wanted more than anything. I had someone to hold hands with during the fun times or when I needed courage. I had someone who would nudge me out of my comfort zone but be standing there with me to encourage me in case I failed. I could close my eyes and imagine sitting in His lap with His loving arms around me – a safe haven. I could talk to Him about anything and when given enough time He would guide me with an answer.

I could easily have turned to drugs and alcohol but felt that I had already experienced enough of that. I was more excited about having a Dad who could show me His love even though I couldn’t really see Him – just the thought was enough to hang on to. I knew in my heart He was real. As I began to study the Bible and learn more about God and our relationship, I began to understand what a wonderful thing had been set before me, and I had accepted. I really had no idea in the beginning how good it was going to be, but I chose to open my heart and my mind to everything about Him. It wasn’t going to hurt to search through it compared to the pain and disappointment that I had experienced through my life. Some important things that I learned about were unconditional love, honoring our parents, and forgiveness. Because of these things, my earthly dad and I, after many years of prayer and a silent love, were able to finally have the relationship God created us to have as father and daughter. Dad became a reformed alcoholic four and one-half years ago and we were so very proud of him as he was of himself. Tragically, he died in a car accident in October 2005. Because I know that we both accepted Christ as our Savior, I can know that we will see each other again one day. My prayer is that each of you will find, as I have, the love, peace, and hope that comes from a relationship with our heavenly Father.

Denese Freeman on guitar, Beverly Dickson and Jen Carroll
leading the group in a praise song.