Creating a Legacy—a Mother/Daughter Story

by Angela and Keisha

"Creating a Legacy" Commentary

Angela and Keisha

Note: Angela participated in Generational Crossroads first. Later that same year, daughter Marquesha (Keisha) (17), joined Crossroads for Youth.

Angela:

I took Generational Crossroads as a new class at an organization named Samaritan Women.At the time I started the class, I thought I was raised pretty well. My mother and stepfather raised my two brothers,  my  sister  and  me.  My  mom  always providedwhat we needed, so  I  pretty much was happy. No problems. I really didn't notice that I had any issues until my mother moved away. I stayed to finish my last year of high school. I needed a job and housing. I was basically on my own and it was all new to me.

After graduating, my life started to go down hill. I made all the wrong choices. I became involved with crime and drugs. I ended up going to jail. While in jail, I read the Bible day and night. One day God came and stood on the side of me. I said to Him, “You’re really real. You’re a living God.” And He said, “Yes.” I became more serious about God’s Word. I wanted to learn more about Him. At the same time, I was also learning about myself.

At GC, I learned that I had come from a dysfunctional family. God was not in my family as I was growing up until I was about 14 or 15 years old. Even then, I didn’t understand the Bible and I didn’t want to be at church—I was just there.

I also learned at GC that God is my Heavenly Parent. I had a breakthrough as God showed me He is the Creator. People run after jobs or whatever else there is on earth. God says in Matthew 6:33 to seek Him “and all these things shall be added to you.” I began to meditate on what God was saying to me. God says to look to Him for everything. He cares.

A lesson in GC discusses standing generationally for our families. I could see some negative patterns that resisted change, also called strongholds, that passed down my immediate family line to my children. Through that lesson, I was able to pray and see areas of dysfunction broken and my family restored.

Another lesson about examining the power of our words helped me understand how our words can bless or curse. I found myself saying negative words to my children when they weren’t doing what I wanted or expected them to do. That lesson pierced my heart because I was guilty. Now I try to catch myself and to speak in a more positive way.

For instance, you might say my life is a mistake, but God says He planned for me even before I was born. I have to speak God’s Word to myself and everyone else; especially to my children, the next generation.

Generational Crossroads is truly a blessing to me. I have become more aware of myself as a person in Christ—who I truly am in Christ. The lessons have made me aware of how I treat my children and my family. They have also made me aware of all the negative feelings I grew up with but didn’t know how to handle. GC helped me to understand those feelings and to deal with them.

I have become more aware of my Creator. The Bible says God’s people perish for a lack of knowledge. GC gave me knowledge about myself and who I am in Christ. I definitely recommend it, as it is life-changing.

I had the opportunity to be a coach, or a small-group facilitator, and I enjoyed helping others. My teenage daughter, Marquesha, is a facilitator in Crossroads for Youth, and she is also learning more about herself and our Lord Jesus. She is a real encourager, speaking the Word of God. I thank God for her service in the Lord, and she is a blessing to me. I love you, Keisha.

Marquesha:

When I was 15 years old, I was really rebellious—talking back to my mother and not doing well in school—so I moved in with my dad for a few months. Living with my father was different. He lived on the other side of town. There was no one to hang around with, and I didn’t have many friends.

One rule my father enforced was going to church every Sunday and Wednesday. I didn’t have much to do, so I also began reading the Bible, attending church, fasting, and praying. God opened my eyes and I became a Christian. My life was radically and forever changed by Jesus Christ. I saw things differently, and He poured out his love and mercy upon me.

After I moved back to my mom’s, I met a lady named Peggy Stubbs at a retreat. She invited me to a Bible study at her house. The group was called Teen Aglow and they used as their study Crossroads For Youth (CFY). I enjoyed the Bible study and meeting the other teenagers. I also liked the activities we did. I now help facilitate at CFY meetings and I enjoy it. I like to encourage people with the things God has shown me.

A lesson I like in CFY is called The Ultimate Battle. This lesson shows the deeper side of issues. It discusses how sin creates strongholds and how war, crime and a lot of bad things are parts of a bigger, spiritual battle.

God revealed to me in Ephesians 6:12 that we do not fight against flesh and blood but against spiritual principalities and powers. For instance, when people are mean to me or say rude things, sometimes I have to think before I speak because it’s not really that person who is being mean, but the principalities and powers the Bible describes.

In a worksheet I like in CFY, we pray to break the strongholds that may have been passed down from generation to generation. A few examples would be patterns of suicide, smoking, histories of health issues, and drugs. I know teenagers are told “don’t do this,” or “you can’t do that.” Yet, a promise in Luke 10:19 that says God has given Christians authority over the enemy applies to teenagers, too.

In this worksheet, we can take a stand and say enough is enough. We are tired of the drugs, and we are tired of the devil trying to keep us and our families bound. We teenagers can stop the bad things that are happening to our families, and fight for our families. We can stop the generational curses in Jesus’ name.

I know Generational Crossroads helped my mom. When she took it, she had a lot of breakthroughs. I remember she would come home and tell us kids how God helped her, and apologize for any pain she had caused. My mother would even go over a few lessons with us.

I would encourage adults to go to Generational Crossroads, and older children and teenagers to join Crossroads For Youth. It will bring a lot of healing to families—and it is fun! God is moving—let him move in—and through—you.†

Angela: I could see some patterns, or strongholds, that passed down my immediate family line to my children.

Marquesha: We teenagers can stop the bad things that are happening to our families, and fight for our families.

A Transformational Ministry

Redeeming Our Futures by Biblically Resolving Family-of-Origin Issues