The story of Beth Warlick's journey...

 

 
I was the youngest of three children and the only girl. Both of my parents worked full time and Dad traveled out of town often. We moved every couple of years until I was in 4th grade. Although, God and church were not a big part of our family life, we did celebrate Christmas and Easter and usually went to church on those days each year.

 

When I was 11, my neighbors began taking me to their evangelical Lutheran church. I liked going to church and sang in the choir, went through catechism and was baptized. By the time I went to college, however, I had lost interest in God and decided to become an atheist.

 

When I was 19, my parents decided to get divorced. Not long after that, my brother, Rick, died in a motorcycle accident. Somehow I managed to get through my next semester in nursing school, but my grades were suffering so I dropped out and went to Sun Valley, Idaho and lived with some other college dropouts. After a few months of lots of drugs and drinking, I was chronically sick and knew I needed to get out of that lifestyle. Thankfully, I did and was able to finish college while living in Texas with my Mom and her new husband.

 

By the time I turned 25, I had been married for a little over a year.  My husband was a medical student and nearly always busy going to classes or studying. I felt isolated and alone. For years, I had secretly suffered from an eating disorder and it got much worse resulting in severe depression and increasing thoughts of suicide. It was then that I was able to hear Christ calling me to invite Him into my life and I did.

 

Immediately, God began changing me, little by little, beginning with my foul language. Within a couple of weeks, I joined my first ladies Bible study and I quickly developed a voracious appetite for God and His Word.

 

For the 34 years since I asked Jesus to come into my life, God has brought much healing, peace and joy into my life. In addition, by God's grace, I have healthy relationships with God and others. God's grace has been truly amazing!

 

My husband and I have been married for 35 years, now. He is an unbeliever still, but we have a good relationship of love and respect. God blessed us with four great children who are now grown and on their own. Our first grandchild was born in June 2010.

 

I have had the privilege of leading Bible studies for the past 29 years. During that time I taught Precept Bible studies for about 10 years and served as a Precept Area Trainer in Virginia and Kansas for several years.

 

Being part of the team developing the Establishing God’s Peace (EGP) Prayer Journal (in 1990) and EGP studies (the first one in 1993) has given me greater joy than I could have imagined. God uses these studies to change lives. I want women everywhere to know about EGP and to learn to use the tools that have made all the difference in my life and in the lives of hundreds of women in the US and elsewhere.

 

I love to spend time getting to know God, read, write studies, walk our dogs, run with my husband and visit with family. My 83 year old Mom lives with us and God has given me the privilege of serving her as she ages.

 

Life is always a challenge, but with God and His unending grace through Jesus and His Spirit, it is the greatest adventure! 

Beth Warlick and Verna McCrillis, 11/30/2010