Triumph was introduced to me in 2000 at the age of 16 by my
best friend, Lauri Williams. As a teenager, I struggled severely with
depression and suicidal thoughts and was at a turning point in my life. Lauri
had invited me to church on multiple occasions, however depression had such a
grip on me that I had declined her every time. One night alone in my room,
Satan had such a hold on me that I knew I could no longer handle the pain that
I lived in silently every day. I had grown up learning about God, even being a
member of Triumph as a child in the early 90’s, so I knew that He existed but
had not yet discovered Him in a personal way. That night I cried out to God
with everything in my heart for Him to please save me from the pain I was in.
Though it has now been almost a decade and a half since that night, I still
remember vividly waking up the next morning with an overwhelming sense of peace
I had never known! I knew immediately that it was God and knew that the
change in me was real and permanent. That very week, I felt the freedom and
desire to step out and accept the invitation to church, something I had never
been able to do because of the chains that Satan had wrapped tightly around me.
I attended Wednesday night youth group and was introduced to
then youth pastors, Deamon and Kristine Scapin. They immediately treated me as
if they had known me forever! They brought me inside the youth building and
Lauri introduced me to all of her friends. I remember for the first time in my
life feeling welcomed and a part of something. I started regularly attending
Triumph on Wednesdays and Sundays and began to build relationships and a life
there. Pastors Deamon and Kristine were a huge part in building my foundation
with the Lord. As a ‘baby Christian’, I made many mistakes in the beginning of
my walk with the Lord, and the enemy took every chance he could to threaten my
new found freedom.
But God did not give up on me! At the Triumph Youth and
Young Adults Conference 2002, Cara Clark Lewis took a hold of me at the altar,
held me close and whispered into my ear that God had already forgiven me for my
mistakes, and it was time to forgive myself. Every wall inside of me crumbled
at that moment, and I embraced the forgiveness that God was offering me. My
relationship with God at that point solidified and became very personal to me.
I threw myself into ministry, auditioning for DFD (something that had been a
true dream of mine since joining Triumph!) and also signing up to go on a
mission trip with the youth group. That summer was a whirlwind, and at the age
of 19, I knew I had been called into ministry. Shortly thereafter, Pastor
Renee’ Clark gave me an incredible opportunity by asking me to become an intern
at Triumph Church. I was exposed to the backside of ministry and allowed to see
how a church functions outside of church services. I loved every moment of it!
My skills as an administrative assistant, which would serve me well later in my
adult life, were shaped and molded during this time. Over the next couple of
years, I served Triumph Church in every capacity that I could. Pastors Deamon
and Kristine had become like family to me, allowing me into their personal
lives as well as professional ones. We had a great youth leadership team that I
had become a part of, and eventually God gave me an opportunity to minister to
the Jr High students along with Jared Miller.
At 21 years old, I felt that seasons were shifting, and I made
the choice to leave Nederland, and move to Dallas. That season of my life still
remains dear to my heart, and is the foundation for everything that I am today.
I am now married to a wonderful man of God, with four stepchildren and one
child of my own. God continues to minister to me as I move from season to
season in my life, but I know that at the root of it all is Triumph. Triumph
Church will always be family to me and I am so proud of where they are and how
many lives they have completely changed, mine being one of them. Happy Birthday
Triumph!!!
Sabrina Torres
Nederland Campus
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