Sometimes you have to reach rock bottom, before God can come into your life and take it to new heights.

That’s what happened to American Kaitlin Pinkleton.

She was sexually abused at a young age and, as a teenager, turned to street and prescription drugs.

By age 22 she was homeless and had destroyed most of the important relationships in her life.

But thanks to the grace of God she was saved.

Ms Pinkleton, 29, will share her inspirational testimony with Island residents at 10am tomorrow during the Cornerstone Bible Fellowship service at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts.

Q: What led you to a relationship with Christ? When did that happen?

A: I heard about Jesus Christ when I was a child. My mother had started to take me to church after she found out I was sexually abused by a close friend of the family. Although I heard about Jesus, I never really understood that Jesus wanted a personal relationship with me. I continued to place the thought of Jesus in the back of my mind growing up. It was only after I got sober that I truly saw my need for Jesus because I was still empty even though I had everything on the outside that ‘looked good’ (job, money, career, relationships, etc).

Q: Had you reached rock bottom in your life? If so, what was going on to get you to that place?

A: I had reached rock bottom when I was in my early 20s. I had abused street drugs and prescription drugs starting at the age of 13 years old. Through my adolescent years, I had no supervision and the pain that I had experienced from the sexual abuse as a child lead me into many destructive behaviours and relationships. I had no job and was extremely addicted to drugs. I had burned all my bridges, including relationships with my family. I had no place to go, I was homeless by age 22.

Q: How did your life change or transform after coming to know God? Was it something immediate or gradual? Please explain.

A: My relationship with God has been a gradual process. I had believed so many lies. Not having a father in my life and growing up in an unstable environment, it was difficult for me to trust God. I experienced a lot of disappointments in relationships including my immediate family. This pain in my heart led me to seek this God that I heard was trustworthy and faithful. By reading the Bible and opening myself up to the Body of Christ [the church] my life has been transformed. I have shed many tears but the healing process has been an amazing experience. I have learned what love truly is from God and His people. I have learned to love myself because the Lord loves me with all my flaws.

Q: How did it come about for you to share your testimony in Bermuda?

A: Truly it is God! This will be my first time travelling out of the United States of America and I get to share my testimony. I attend the Brooklyn Tabernacle Church in Brooklyn, New York. My pastor Jim Cymbala connected me to Pastor Gary Simmons from Cornerstone Church to share my testimony.

Q: A testimony is a really personal thing. Why do you feel it’s important to share your story?

A: I feel that it is part of my purpose to share how Jesus healed and delivered me. There is so much pain and destruction going on in this world, so how could I not share about the hope that Jesus offers? Jesus’ love compels you to share. I have never experienced true peace until I accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour. I must emphasise that this is not a religion, this is a relationship. A scripture that I often refer to is Revelations 12:11, which says: ‘They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death’.

Q: What do you hope people in Bermuda get and take away from your message of hope?

A: Jesus is Lord! [I want people to know] you don’t have to live in fear and be crippled by your pain. There is hope. Jesus loves you just the way you are. He offers a way to overcome those hurts and gives an abundant life.