Peace with God

Our Journey with God – The Berbari Family

It’s a privilege to share with you the journey God has lead us on. It’s certainly had many ups and downs and we hope that you may find it interesting and beneficial.

Kim and I were raised in completely different environments. She, being raised by a Christian father, attended church, bible study, and bible camp regularly. She was one that loved the Lord so much that, at the age of 5, when her bible teacher asked “Who would like to accept Jesus in their heart”; she was the first one to raise her hand. Kim learned who Jesus was at an early age and became a fun-loving, faithful girl.

I on the other hand, never attended church unless it was for a wedding or funeral. However, I was taught that there was a God and I should always respect people and be considerate of others. My parents’ main focus was to raise us with good morals and values. My mother did teach us to pray to “God”, before dinner and bed, but it never became personal.

How I Found Peace with God – Peter Clayton

Growing up in a disciplined and loving home in northern England, I had a wonderful childhood. My formative years included weekly visits to church where I first attended Sunday School, then “Boys Brigade” & finally confirmation classes leading to my “first communion”.

In my view, church was simply something we did as a family.

I don’t remember hearing a clear and compelling explanation of God’s love for me. The Bible was simply a “big storybook” with wonderful characters like Daniel, Noah, Moses, Samson and Jesus. I just didn’t see how any of them were really relevant to my life…

Leaving home for University at 18 years old, I was looking forward to my new found “freedom” and didn’t give God or attending church a second thought. I was too busy pursuing my dreams & dove headlong into the student party lifestyle and making new friends. I indulged in many of the excesses that went along with this and was becoming more intently focused on living for enjoyment and pleasure – definitely a self-centered lifestyle!

I did manage to work hard enough when it mattered to graduate with a degree and was also able to spend 3 wonderful summers living and working in the USA during my time at University. Within a few years of graduating I had decided that my future lay in the US and I pursued this new goal and was able to begin my life here.