How I Made It Through

By Pastor Parthenia A. Stegall

We all have a path that we must walk in life that leads to an expected end. In this walk of life when we overcome situations, we are expected to share our testimony so that others may know how we overcame them. In doing so, it encourages others to keep going. Revelation 12:11 says, “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.”

How I Made It Through is a heartwarming and inspirational true living testimony from Pastor Parthenia Stegall that the Lord placed on her to share with the world. Her testimony details various points of her life, both highs and lows, and how God allowed her to overcome and become a beacon for others. It is the amazing story of how at a young age, she recognized the calling in her life and answered. In doing so, she learned to put God first in her life and recognized that it was Him who allowed her to overcome every obstacle that came her way.

This uplifting autobiography will encourage readers in their everyday struggles dealing with life as a young person, a sister, a wife, a mother, and most importantly a woman of God. We are instructed in Proverbs 3:5–6 to “trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.” It will inspire readers to trust in and always put God first. We invite you to enjoy and learn from her testimony as she shares with us the missionary work God called her to do throughout her life and prays it stimulates and encourages you to fulfill your mission.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 12, 2023
• ISBN: 9798888324530

Book preview

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How I Made It Through

Pastor Parthenia A. Stegall

ISBN 979-8-88832-452-3 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88832-453-0 (digital)

Copyright © 2023 by Pastor Parthenia A. Stegall

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

To my sister, Evangelist Mother Willie Mae Washington,

who has been an encouragement and source of strength in my walk of faith.

To my Faith Fellowship and Love Church Family, who hold a special place in my heart.

My children

Carol Moore

Maurice Stegall

Anthony Stegall

Jeanna Koetzle

Dianne Stegall

Grandchildren

Tara Banks

John Davis

Nakeisha Cotton

DeJeanette Gandy

Charlamonte Gordon

Collice King

Tamara Stegall

Alana Stegall

Tremayne Gandy

Sharnay Stegall

A Child Born into Adversity

Home

Mississippi

Childhood Memories

My First School Attendance (School Bullies)

Farm

Sundown

Disobedience

Straw Mattress

Christmas

Grandpa Goins

Grandma Louvenia

The Death of My Brother

Kept by His Power

Wagon

Dangerous Places

Meeting My Husband

Couch with Big Holes $1

Mama-in-Law

Nursing Home—Mama-in-Law

The Stinking Couch

He Brought My Son Back from Death

Eighteen Years of Rest

God Put My Husband to Sleep

Faith Temple

My Sister

Foreign Mission

Mission

The Miracle Soup Kitchen

A Miracle of Greens

God Fought for Me

Tumor that Passed

History of Christian Haitian Outreach Inc.

Foreign Missions—Haiti

Mission Next Door

Sons from Far

Testimonies

House Built on a Dream

Testimony

From Pastor Smith

Letter from Ellen and Joseph Dahnweih

Miracle Testimony

Song

About the Author

To my sister, Evangelist Mother Willie Mae Washington,

who has been an encouragement and source of strength in my walk of faith.

To my Faith Fellowship and Love Church Family, who hold a special place in my heart.

My children

Carol Moore

Maurice Stegall

Anthony Stegall

Jeanna Koetzle

Dianne Stegall

Grandchildren

Tara Banks

John Davis

Nakeisha Cotton

DeJeanette Gandy

Charlamonte Gordon

Collice King

Tamara Stegall

Alana Stegall

Tremayne Gandy

Sharnay Stegall

A Child Born into Adversity

We were raised on a farm eight miles from the city limit. I was the eighth child of thirteen children. Our home was a two-bedroom house. My mother was a dedicated woman who loved her children and husband. My early childhood recollections include me following my oldest brother who was on his way to cut wood. He warned me to stop following him, but I decided I would follow him anyway. As he was swinging the axe back and forth, I continued walking behind him. I was cut. The gash was deep enough to leave a lifetime scar. My parents were successful in stopping the bleeding with soot.

That same brother told my mother that he had a dream that he was in the water swimming, and he drowned. He said nothing they did could help him. Mama said to him, Bud, whatever you do, do not get in the water. The next day, my daddy and Bud went fishing. My dad decided to teach him how to swim. Bud got stuck in a suckhole, and my dad was not able to save him. He drowned.

Home

At this time at home, we went to the field where there were very long rows where we had to pick cotton. We had long cotton sacks. Some people could pick three hundred pounds of cotton. It was so hot that you could see heat jumping from the end of the rows. The rows were about one-fourth of a mile long. When we would get to the end, there would be a shade tree and a pitcher of water to cool us down so we could rest for a little while.

Mom stayed home and cooked. My mom always gave my dad his food first and some water because he worked in the field. We all sat around the table to eat. Mom did not eat until all of us ate. Sometimes there was nothing but crumbs left for her and a little bit of gravy. My brother and I would get into her lap and help her eat the crumbs.

We always had a mule or two that would take Mom and Dad into town or wherever they wanted to go. This particular day when they were coming back, you could hear the crackling from the wagon. So we would start cleaning the kitchen because we had gotten hungry, so we got a chicken, rang his head off, and cooked him. We had to clean up before Mama saw what we had done. That day we did not get a whipping.

Mississippi

Loneliness began at a very young age for me. I remember putting out a sign on the mailbox, Stop by the Goins, because I was very lonely as a young girl. God started working on His will in me