Lives Are Changed through the Living Waters Program
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Living Waters is a Christ-centered discipleship/ministry program for men and women seeking healing in areas of sexual and relational brokenness; including relationship challenges, problems with intimacy, codependency, shame and self-hatred, hopelessness, abuse, pornography addiction, sexual addiction, promiscuity, unwanted sexual attractions, and gender identity challenges.
Our next program is starting October 12, 2026.
Here are some powerful testimonies from participants who had their lives changed through the power of Jesus Christ in the Living Waters program. They are used with the permission of the participants.
After 33 years of life, Living Waters has finally helped me learn to address the shame of my sexual abuse, learn to share with others, and lower my unhealthy defense mechanisms.
A male participant.
I love how the Holy Spirit brings such truth and is so gentle in His revelation.
A female participant.
After 33 years of life, Living Waters has finally helped me learn to address the shame of my sexual abuse, learn to share with others, and lower my unhealthy defense mechanisms. I no longer use my brokenness to defend the abused, taunted and teased child that suffered at the hand of shame.
Shame had crippled me by silencing my voice, then caused me to become a liar. Lying derived out of the need to hide and lock away vulnerability before others. The thing that helped me trust the Living Waters group was the safe space that it provided in feeling protected. Knowing that confidentiality agreements had been signed by all parties helped me open up to trusting others with my secrets and the courtesy would be returned in exchange. It taught me how to protect someone else’s trauma wound and life. I learned how to quiet myself to hear another’s pain, empathize and judge not, but to lead with love, understanding and support.
My group leaders have taught me the essence of what true community within the body of Christ looks and feels like. Healthy forms of accountability, being receptive to guidance and the wisdom of another who has gone before you, walked through the same fire of shame, burning away every unclean spirit and acknowledging the sin that took place in order to identify, grieve and give this shame of bondage to God. Now I am free
A male participant.
Coming to Living Waters, I was seeking revelation on why I was so content to be single. Looking to see if there were inner “lies” of past hurts. I was amazed at the things that were revealed in my heart that were there for my “self-protection”. I love how the Holy Spirit brings such truth and is so gentle in His revelation. I do not feel so self-protected and feel safer to trust my future to whatever He decides for me. Knowing He is safe, is so important to me.
A female participant.
I am a baby boomer. A product of the sexual revolution. My philosophy was, “No one tells me what to do!” I was a non-practicing Christian because of many slights from my religious upbringing, and the church’s lack of dealing with sexually abusive leaders.
About one year after college, I married my high school sweetheart. She was an atheist. I heard about not being unequally yoked, but, “No one tells me what to do!” She was amoral and quickly spurned me. She stated she didn’t love me and that was it. Our marriage lasted six months.
I turned to porn for entertainment and fantasy. I related love with sex. Never having true intimacy, until I met my second wife. We have been married for 43 years and have had many struggles with my porn addiction and unforgiveness from my first wife’s infidelity. I felt frustrated. I needed God’s forgiveness and love.
After taking the Living Waters program, I became aware of many misconceptions about relationships. The program has led me to Christ, my need to repent, turn aside my own thoughts and sins, and “fly right”. Restoring my relationship through the broken body of Christ, has led me to wholeness.
A male participant.
Joshua 4:19 marks something specific and profound. “On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho.”
This is the moment when the Israelites cross over. They’ve been wandering in the desert for forty years. They’ve lost an entire generation to doubt and fear. But now – finally – they’re actually doing it. They’re crossing the Jordan and entering the Promised Land. They’re leaving behind the wilderness and stepping into abundance.
What gets me about this verse is the specificity. The tenth day of the first month. They camped at Gilgal. These aren’t random details. This is saying, “Mark this moment. Remember this place. You’re on the other side now.”
And I think about my own crossing. There wasn’t a single moment when I went from broken to healed. That’s not how revival works. It’s a series of small decisions, small steps. It’s saying yes to Jesus when everything in you is screaming no. It’s speaking your truth when silence feels safer. It’s showing up in community when isolation is your default. It’s letting people love you when you’re convinced you’re unlovable. It’s asking for help when pride says you should handle it alone.
But there WAS a shift. There WAS a moment – actually many moments – when I realized I’d crossed over. I wasn’t in the same place anymore. I wasn’t looking back at the Promised Land from the wilderness. I was standing in it. I was on the other side of the trauma. On the other side of shame. On the other side of self-hatred.
And the joy of that – let me tell you – it’s not just happiness. It’s resurrection joy. It’s the kind of joy that knows what darkness feels like and chooses light anyway. It’s the kind of joy that says, “I’ve been through hell, and I’m still standing. I’m still loving. I’m still believing. That’s not optimism. That’s faith.
This is a faith that Living Waters has helped me to reconnect with. The knowledge that I am no longer in the wilderness but have crossed over the Jordan into the Promised Land. To be whole in Christ Jesus.
A female participant.
I grew up in a large family with two brothers and two sisters on a 200-acre farm in the thumb area of Michigan. My father abused me physically to discipline me. The physical abuse started at five and went through my teens. My mother covered up the abuse and it was hidden from everyone, especially the church. Because of the abuse, I became a victim. This was easily seen by predators. When I was eleven, a family friend raped me several times. Instead of getting help for me or supporting me, my parents hid this rape. So, I hid it from myself for most of my life.
The trauma continued as I grew to adulthood. I was again raped by a coworker in my early 20s and I buried it deep and moved on. I wasn’t able to have relationships with men or women. The trust issues always got in the way. Then came my marriage when I chose a man just like my father. The abuse started early in our marriage. As I had children, my husband also physically abused them. I did my best to protect them, but my paralyzing fear of my husband held me back. I was scared of having to care for my sons on my own, so I stayed in the marriage for 22 years.
I accepted Christ at the age of 50. My oldest son left for college and he was the stabilizing factor. With him gone, my husband became more abusive. My husband thought that I was having an affair and attacked me. With God’s help, this gave me the courage to call the police. My husband was arrested. After a year of courtrooms, I was finally divorced and now ready to be on my own. That was twelve years ago and I am finally healing to the point where I can have friends and take care of myself. God has been the constant presence that has healed and grown me to where I am now, and I am so thankful.
A female participant.
If you or someone you love is struggling with sexual or relational difficulties, there is hope and healing through the power of Jesus Christ. Call us and ask about attending the next Living Waters program at (586) 739-5114.
The pictures used in this article are not the actual participants. Photos acquired through www.unsplash.com. © Reconciliation Ministries 2026. This article may be reproduced and distributed as long as credit is given and no fee is charged.
