About Karyn

My parents brought me to church, ... sometimes. I remember, when I was about 7, at Sunday School, one of the teachers asked where I had been. The question seemed odd to me and I said so. After a few seconds, I answered truthfully. “Well, my parents don’t bring me every Sunday, and it is certainly too far to walk! 

I was surrounded by the faithful – my parents, grandparents, friends and their parents. So, when I gave my life to the Lord at 11, no one was really surprised when I made my way to the front of the church. 

What happened next, I didn’t expect. My mother had been diagnosed with diabetes several years after I was born. For the first 13 years of my life, she was my fun, charismatic, intelligent and amazing mother. But all of that suddenly changed. 

Wild blood sugar level fluctuations, heart problems, kidney failure, blindness. In less than a year and a half, my mother experienced it all. And me? I prayed. I prayed for her recovery. I prayed for wellness. I prayed for a miracle. It did not come. At the end of 10th grade, at the age of 15, my mother passed. My fledgling faith faltered. I was still a believer, but I didn’t trust God. If he could take my mother when I needed her the most, how could I trust him. 

So for the next 25 years, I believed but I prayed with one eye open. Always waiting for something to happen. It is hard to have faith when you don’t have trust.  

It took a conversation with a friend for me to change. I friend had lost her father at 20 (5 years after I had lost my mom) and she told me that my mother’s death had nothing to do with me. It was between my mother and God. She pointed out how the Lord had protected and provided for me over the years. 

I couldn’t deny what my friend was saying. She was right. This started me along the road I am still on now. The past 13 years have been arduous. Depression, a suicide attempt, questioning my faith and dogs (lots of dogs). 

It has been difficult because I have decades of experience being self-reliant and doing things myself. Now, I am trying to rely on and trust in Him. 

I am committed to learning to hear and listen to the voice of God. He has led me to change the course of Beach Time Courses. Instead of focusing on women over 40+, the focus is now on helping Christians learn and understand more of the Bible.  

Let’s do this!

Amen!