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Kathleen Watanabe can often be seen Sunday morning smiling and carrying a child in hand or volunteering in the toddler room. She shares her personal story, one of growth and change. Before coming to Christ, Kathleen says that she was naturally selfish and not about other people. She was also vengeful. It was a trial that led her to seek God, which in turn led her to Grace Bible in 2004. The thing that impacted her to stay was how she had felt welcomed. Explaining as if just yesterday, she says that one of our members welcomed her and remembered her name the second week that she attended.
One trial that Kathleen shares is her a difficulty she had with a coworker. After some conflict, she felt God wanted her to pray for her co-worker. After some resistance, she ended up praying for her co-worker. The result was a release of bitterness, a new friendship, and a better work environment.
Looking back on some of the things Christ has done in her life, Kathleen says that she has truly learned forgiveness. She now thinks about others feelings, and is more caring and compassionate. She has also been able to help friends with similar struggles as her. Further, her positive experience of being welcomed developed a desire in her to be one to welcome new people with Christ’s love and warmth.
