My name is Sean Brizendine, and my sincere desire is to follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth (Revelation 14:4). May you be blessed by the testimony of Jesus who has saved me from sin and depression, as one who has been healed by the power of God's Holy Spirit.
I was born and raised in Modesto, California in 1987 to John and Elaine Brizendine, and first accepted Christ when I was five years old, praying with my mom. I grew up in a nondenominational church, but my mom taught me about the seventh-day Sabbath from the Bible as she had been an Adventist earlier in her life, as had been my dad. They left the SDA Church before I was born, but there were still aspects of their past connections with the SDA Church that affected me--such as a commitment to the health message to some extent, and an awareness of (but not consistently keeping) the seventh-day Sabbath.
When I was about seven, my dad started to show signs of a severe brain disease called Pick's disease. His illness professed to the point of his death by pneumonia in 2000, when I was 12. During this time, my mom had been homeschooling my sister and me, and we were experiencing a lot of stress. My mom found out that she had cancer about a year after that, and I remember being so frightened at the thought of losing her, since she was the only parent I had left. I really prayed hard for her to get well, but the sarcoma cancer was really taking its toll on her. She continued to share a strong faith in Christ with me, and in the early part of 2002, I remember her saying something to the effect of the following to me: "Sean, when I die, you are going to be sad. But do not sorrow like those who have no hope. We believe we will see each other again when Jesus comes again." I took hold of the hope in such passages as 1 Cor. 15 and 1 Thess. 4, trusting in God though the thought of losing her was painful. When I was 15, she died not long after in 2002, appointing guardians who were members of our local nondenominational church to be guardians for my sister and me. This was a transition with trials and tribulations, but God was faithful through the midst of it all--and would lead me to be where He wanted me to be to learn more about His truth and His remnant church. A text that became especially precious to me was Job 13:15: "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him." I struggled a lot with depression and issues with my moods--which seemed to a great degree trace back to shortly after my mom's death. But God is able to heal every mind and heart in His time and way! "For God hath not given us the Spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7).
Due partly to the fact that I had an uncle in the area of Pacific Union College, I started college there in 2005 (He was SDA, and prayed for years for me to become SDA). I was not a Seventh-day Adventist, and was not honestly planning on becoming one--but God had other plans! While there, in 2007 I became more aware of His truth and decided to become a Seventh-day Adventist by profession of faith (I had been baptized by immersion at age 10 back in Modesto). When I called to tell my uncle that I was becoming a member of the SDA Church, he had tears of joy--it was a tremendous answer to prayer!
That was the beginning of an incredible journey with Jesus of what it means to continue to follow the Lamb. In October of 2007, I strongly sensed God's call upon my life to pastoral ministry, and changed my major from business to theology. The following summer of 2008, I would experience my first time canvassing door-to-door--WHAT A LIFE-CHANGING EXPERIENCE!! I realized more deeply than I ever had before of how much it means to have a living connection with God, to trust the righteousness of Christ, and to pray for a deeper experience in being able to allow God to use me. He wanted me to live in complete surrender to Him, and realizing that some of the things I had held on to even after my profession of faith in 2007, I prayerfully was rebaptized in 2008 as I wanted to have a fresh start with Jesus. I am thankful I did.
God has continued to lead in my life. I have been completely healed from the ravaging effects of depression and mood issues, knowing that Jesus Christ is the Great Physician. I love how effective the NEWSTART (Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sunshine, Temperance, Air, Rest, and Trust in God) principles are when applied with a sincere surrender to God's will for healing by the power of His Spirit. Nothing is too hard for God! Take courage!
I am presently finishing my Masters of Divinity studies at The Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University as I am prayerfully seeking where God desires me to serve Him in pastoral ministry. My sincere desire is to be faithful to God's word and the Spirit of Prophecy, teach and live the true everlasting gospel, and to allow God's Spirit to work in and through me each day--that all the fruits of the Spirit may be revealed in my life abiding in Christ. So true this is: "When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing." {The Desire of Ages, 676.4} I enjoy writing hymns, singing Scripture songs, and witnessing to reach souls for Jesus. May God bless you each in your journey by faith working by love in what it means to daily "follow the Lamb." May the testimony of what God has done in my life be an encouragement to you in your walk with Jesus.