Our Unveiled Testimonies

By Vera Murrell-Isom

Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Together, in their book, Our Unveiled Testimonies, Jerome and Vera reveal events of their lifetime relationship as intimate and personalized stories to share how Jesus Christ changed their individual ungodly lives to renewed spiritual lives of stewardship with a divine purpose in God's predestined marriage. From singleness, divorce, separation, and marriage, their steadfast and unwavering faith in the Word of God have empowered them to be witnesses of the profound revelation of the Scriptures. "For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lust, and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another; but, after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done. But, according to His mercy, He saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior that being justified by His grace. We should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." They both genuinely share remembrances of how they were able to endure life's hardships and trials for many years, separately, yet together, no matter how traumatic and ungodly those life experiences were. They both experienced God's unmerited grace and mercy through the biblical meaning of forgiveness and hope, their God-fearing parents, and other godly persons who have had an impact on their journey to spiritual wholeness and God's best for them. Jerome and Vera's godly background, life challenges, purposeful and spiritual lives, and covenant marriage are their unveiled testimonies.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 29, 2020
• ISBN: 9781098006464

Book preview

Vera’s Testimony

My Day Has Come

If I ever needed the Lord, I sure do need Him now!

I remembered a biblical scripture used in a message taught by a church mother that conveyed, What you do in the dark, God will bring to the light. Without a doubt in my mind, God brought me to the light. I knew I was guilty; no defense!

I knew this day was coming after my parents, as leaders of the church, told the pastor. The pastor told them what I had to do according to the bylaws of the church. I remember my parents told me that I had to stand before the church and the pastor and then ask for pardon for my sins.

What could I say when I knew that I had no choice and no voice in the matter. In my parents’ house, the bylaws of the church governed most of the decisions my parents made to raise their children. We were taught and expected to love, to honor, to respect, and to dedicate our lives to your parents, the church, and God.

As I waited for that dreadful day, I had time to rehearse all the bylaws of the church that spiritually groomed my life as a church girl for the past sixteen years. I became a church girl designed by bylaws. So the church had the right to judge and sentence me for my sins.

I recited the church’s orthodox bylaws like reciting John 3:16.

Do not wear men and women pants apparels.

Do not wear jewelry, excluding wedding bands.

Do not wear any red-colored apparels (Jezebel color).

Do not wear open-toed shoes, including flat sandals.

Do not wear revealing or seductive clothing, undergarments, and swimsuits.

Do not wear short- and no-sleeve blouses.

Do not hot comb and perm the hair, including no wigs.

Do not wear makeup, excluding ChapStick.

Do not wear nail polish, including clear polish.

Do not go to movie theaters or watch ungodly movies at home.

Do not go to secular parties and dances.

Do not listen to ungodly music especially love songs with sexual lyrics.

Do not participate in school events, programs, and recreational activities (excludes males).

Do not befriend people who aren’t a member of the church denomination.

Do not talk or kiss boys. (You kiss a boy, you’ll become pregnant.)

To all parents, do not give permission to date until the adult age of eighteen (excludes males).

I officially started dating with parental permission at sixteen to my first boyfriend, James Lumsden.

Then I reflected on how much I loved my parents and regretted what I had done to them. I had a thorn in my flesh. How can I make all my wrongs right!

As the oldest daughter of parents who presided in the most prestigious positions of the church as head deacon and a church mother, I loved and honored my parents. My parents’ marriage had been a ministry of their love, devotion, submission, commitment, and respect for each other and God. I admired my parents’ marriage, their love for God and the church and their children. I knew they didn’t have a perfect marriage, but they made it work, and divorce wasn’t an option nor was it discussed.

At sixteen, I didn’t know that my parents had plans for me, especially my mother. As godly parents and leaders of the church I think the spiritual grooming according to the church bylaws was her way to make sure the plans happened. I knew the most important achievements were being a godly church girl and to get a high school education. That’s what my mother expected of me, her oldest daughter.

I had my own dreams and plans to one day marry a man like my father. I had a deep desire to have a life like my mother. My mother had a man that loved, listened, and respected her; a man who was loyal and devoted to her; a man who worked and took care of her and their children; a man who praised, reverenced, and worshipped God; and a man who humbly served the church and helped others.

I remembered I heard a television minister say, As a Christian, you can have your plans, but God’s plans supersedes all plans. God isn’t a forcer. he instituted freewill and choice.

As a child, I’ve been taught by the church you do what you’re told and don’t ask too many questions; that’s being defiant and disobedient to adults and your parents according to the Word of God. So what does God’s freewill and choice have to do with his plans for me.

I kept questioning God—why me, instead of why not me?

How did I find myself in a sinful situation waiting to be sentenced by the church?

Now that my life-changing news had made headlines, the fear had begun to consume my mind and heart. I have heard and seen how the church treated and conversed about each other, especially if the offense was against the spiritual bylaws of the church and the Ten Commandments of the Bible. I was given no sympathy. I had experienced the sexual act of an adult. I was no longer a child but an adult. I wasn’t prepared emotionally for what did happen at the church.

The day had come, and I was called to the front of the church by the pastor.

I remembered my sentence for my sin of fornication with the evidence of being an unwed and pregnant church girl. It was more than I could bear. And I deserved it! Each time the pastor said those words, I felt the casting of stones with every spiritual connection I had with God, the church, and my family, especially my mother.

I stood there, humiliated and demeaned, in front of my parents, siblings, and church friends.

I stood there as a disgraced church girl—a backslider! It was like salt to my wounded spirit.

I stood there to be used as a pastoral message to all church girls who disobey the bylaws of the church, their parents, and the Word of God.

I stood there nervously in my brokenness and shame. I tried not to look at their faces, especially my mother. As tears flooded down my face, with no voice to defend myself, I was alone. Within my mind, I kept telling myself that my mother loves me, and Jesus loves me no matter what. Then I heard the words of the Pastor say, you will no longer…

You will no longer be a member of the young adult choir.

You will no longer be a Sunday school teacher.

You will no loner be a Sunday School Secretary.

You will no longer preside as director of the youth department.

You will no longer be able to lead praise and worship.

You will no longer be able to play any instrument during service, including the tambourine.

You will be silent during praise and worship.

You will no longer be able to participate in church programs.

You will continue to be a member of the church.

I remembered, after I was given my sentence, I was asked if I had anything to say. I said, I’m sorry, and I ask the church, my parents, and God to forgive me.

Privately, the last words were spoken to me from the head church mother. She told me, I made a mistake, and my child was a mistake. The pastor was right in what he did.

God will forgive me. Her words tormented me.

Jerome’s Testimony

God Answered My Prayer

There’s not much that I can say. I prayed and asked God for her, but I wasn’t ready for her.

It happened too fast, and not the way I had it all figured out!

I was eighteen years old, and I have one child already. I was a young man with a mind of my own, but I did ask God to bring a young lady in my life that would help me settle down.

I knew my life was on a fast track. I was quick, smart, and a risk taker! So I liked the challenges that came with having it all, and to conquer what I can have, there’s no cannot. As for Vera Murrell, she was a challenge. At first, my intentions were real because I knew she was a church girl, and I sincerely prayed to God about a wife. With her, it wasn’t about the game to conquer her mind and body like I did with other females. Vera Murrell was my answered prayer, and she didn’t know it.

I was given a nickname Po Pimp. The friend who gave me that nickname said that I had a style and swag that commanded attention from females and males. So that nickname became a part of my identity. I defined it well. I had the nickname proudly on a vehicle’s plate so a rider knows the driver. From the outside world, I was told that I was conceited, selfish, arrogant, and a male chauvinist. My mentality was that with people who didn’t know me, their opinions didn’t matter; they judge me and don’t know me.

I was told that my family was rich, and everything was just given to me. Unfortunately, I wasn’t given everything; I had to work. I was blessed to have parents that showed my siblings and I how hard work paid off with the necessities of livelihood and quality materialistic things. My parents taught me spiritual and practical life values to reverence God, always pray, pay your tithes, go to church, read the Bible, support your family, be the man of your house, take care of your children, respect your wife, treat people the way you want to be treated, always tell the truth, speak your mind directly, admit when you’re wrong, ask forgiveness, work, and be independent. My father was a lifelong Baptist deacon, and my mother was a church mother.

As for being rich, my father was an entrepreneur, a produce farmer. He learned how to increase his production to invest his products in packing houses as a partner. My mother was his bookkeeper. I worked for them. I learned everything about farming and the farming business from my father. It was natural for me. My siblings and I were fortunate to have had opportunities to attend college with aid from our parents. I didn’t go to college or finish high school. I didn’t like being in the classroom. I had high school teachers that told me, I earned an A, but my attendance was poor. I knew I needed an educational document, so I did earn my GED in an adult program at Miami Community College.

As for Jerome, aka Po Pimp, being in committed relationships, most of the females that I spent time with were interested in what I drove, my appearance and attire, and my family’s name and fortune. Most of the relationships were casual, with a mutual understanding of a physical attraction and to have fun. When I met Vera Chris Murrell, I knew it was going to be different. First, she showed no interest in me, and I became more interested in the church girl.

Strangely, I was drawn to her when I would have dismissed her! I liked her.

Our Testimony

We Have to Deal with It Like Adults

It was a like an unexpected bombshell that dropped and exploded—Vera’s pregnant! I was told by my parents that her parents wanted to know what I planned to do.

What do they mean what I plan to do, I didn’t impregnate her! I knew I did.

I remembered the intense conversation I had with my parents. I knew it was a serious matter because it was the first time my parents were involved or questioned me about a relationship, especially if I didn’t go to them for their advice. I was somewhat offended, being a man not a boy. I lived in and out of my parents’ house, and I took care of my own business.

In my mind, I was thinking she told me that she was using birth control. I wanted to use a condom, she told me not to. She wanted to get pregnant, and I’m not ready to marry her. I tried to figure it. My mother told me about the phone call from Vera’s mother to them. Vera’s mother was extremely upset about her daughter being pregnant. She didn’t know her daughter was dating Jerome. Her mother explained to my parents how their daughter’s pregnancy was going to change things with them and the church if we didn’t get married. I felt the pressure, and I didn’t like it. I told my parents, nobody was going to tell me what to do. I was finished with the