GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer

After almost 50 years of being a Christian, Valorie Tinglin is enjoying her time serving God. According to the woman who is in charge of mission outreach at the Bethlehem Moravian Church in Malvern, St Elizabeth, so good is the feeling she gets from serving God that she cannot find words to explain it.

"I have been a devoted Christian since 1951. Serving the Lord is a wonderful experience. One which I cannot explain. You should feel like nothing if you are not serving God," said Tinglin.

The devoted Christian said it was the death of her husband that led her to Christ. She said she did all she could to cope with his passing, but failed.

"One night I was in my room with my two little girls around me, and I said I had to make it for these two children, and I cried unto the Lord, I literally cried, and I said, 'Lord help me. Lead me so that I can find the way'," said Tinglin.

She said when she got up from her knees and opened her bible, the first thing that came to her was, 'They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint', and she jumped up and sang praises to the Lord thereafter.

Tinglin said when she became a devoted Christian, she got involved in church activities including being a Sunday-school teacher. She said mission and outreach has been her passion, because she likes meeting people, regardless of their denomination.

"I saw the males in my church blossom out of the work I and the members of the mission and outreach group have been able to do. The mission and outreach ministry has brought several men to the church," said Tinglin.

She said whenever she thinks about giving up, she does not allow such thoughts to linger in her mind. She added she always tries to remember for whom she is working, and that keeps her going, because it does not matter what persons may say, because it is what God says that matters.

Tinglin wants the Church in general to come alive. She believes the Church is doing a lot, but it needs to come alive and get out of its four walls and be more proactive. She believes the work of the Church needs to be more visible.

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