Debbie Ryan-Zacharoff
Salvation Experience
I went to Neighborhood Church, Castro Valley as a child. I attended Children's church, where Ed Hubbard was the church director. I had a medical emergency at 6 years old, where I had a fast-acting staff germ and infection, where I stopped breathing. My dad found me in my bed, all blue in the face, and not breathing. He called the Fire Department, for the paramedics to come and resuscitate me. The Fire Chief rushed me to St. Rose hospital in Hayward, CA. The doctors said that they had to operate on me. They said it wasn't quite an emergency surgery, but it was close! The doctors gave me a tracheostomy to open up my airways. I then had an out of body experience! I was totally knocked out for the surgery, not to mention not being able to breathe! However, I felt myself floating above the operating table, and I was floating up towards the bright lights. I looked down and saw the surgeon and nurses working on me, operating on me. I was embarrassed, because all I had on were some blue shorts! They Then resuscitated me! Then the next thing that I remember, was that I woke up in an oxygen tent in the hospital. As soon as I woke up, a beautiful blonde nurse came over and told me, "Happy Halloween!" She gave me a yellow plastic kitty cat, and told me that my brothers and sisters were trick or treating for me, that night, and they were going to save a big orange pumpkin full of candy for me!
So, then I thought about that experience for several years. Then one night, when I was 8 years old, while I was trying to pray to God, I started crying. I felt like my prayers were hitting the bedroom ceiling, and coming back down again! Then my mom came in and asked me; "Debbie, why are you crying?" Then I told her how I was feeling. She gave me some Bible verses, such as John 3:16, and then asked me if I wanted to invite Jesus Christ in my heart? I said, “yes", and then, right there, my mom prayed with me to receive Christ as my Savior! I kept going to church, and church camps. At my senior high school church camp meeting at Mt. Hermon, I committed my life to follow God wherever he wanted to lead me. Ron Story, the youth pastor, gave the altar call. The altar call was, "Here I am, Lord, send me." Then I attended San Diego Christian College in El Cajon, CA, where I met my husband, Peter. I majored in Education, and taught at Redwood Christian Schools, Fremont Christian School, and now I am a Public School 5th grade teacher. I love to share with others what the Lord has done for me! Since I received Jesus, I have never had that feeling of my prayers being blocked again. Now, I know that Romans 3:23 is true: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. However, I John 1:9 says; If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If you are a senior and would like to submit your testimony, we invite you to contact us for details on how you can participate. We would love to include your story!
