A Journey of Faith – An Interview with Sister Charmane
In this powerful testimony, Sister Charmane shares how the Lord drew her out of darkness and into His marvellous light. From her early years in Jamaica, through seasons of searching and near tragedy, Sister Charmane speaks of the moment she accepted the call on her life.
Q: Sister Charmane, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Charmane, and I am a member of The Well (Bethel United Church of Jesus Christ, Apostolic). I gave my heart to Jesus in Jamaica on 3 May 1998. Although I stepped away from my faith for a period in 2001, I returned to God in 2005 and have been a committed member of The Well ever since. As for hobbies, I love cooking. But when I was younger, my real passion was performing. I loved acting and reciting poems in school. Growing up in the Methodist church, I was always the one asked to open rallies or special services. So yes, performance and expression have always been part of me.
Q: What led you to seek a change in your life? Was there a specific moment?
Definitely. As a child, I knew there was a God, even if I didn’t know Him deeply. My grandfather would read to us, and in the countryside, that sense of God’s presence was always there. Later, when I moved to Kingston in the 1990s, life changed. I would attend church only on special occasions like Christmas or Easter, not regularly. Then in 1987, a traumatic incident happened — my family almost lost our lives in an attack, but God protected us. At the time, I didn’t understand it fully, but it stayed with me. Years later, after a breakup in 1997, I told myself I wouldn’t get involved with anyone else. I decided instead to focus on church. I had only two suits to wear, but I was determined. Around that same time, a young man in my community — only 17 years old — was killed. That really struck me. I realised that death doesn’t wait for age, and I began to think seriously about my soul. One night I prayed, “God, I can’t choose on my own. Help me choose.” That’s when He gave me a dream.
“I realised that death doesn’t wait for age, and I began to think seriously about my soul”
Q: Tell us about that dream — was it your turning point?
Yes. In the dream, I was in a crowd of people lining up to be baptised. Someone pulled me aside and lifted me onto a roof. Suddenly, I saw two roads before me: one dark and frightening, and one small but full of light. I chose the lighted path, and as I walked, I heard the song “He Knew Me” specifically the part “When He was on the cross, I was on His mind.” I woke up deeply moved. I knew God was calling me. Not long after, I found myself at church, ready to be baptised — even though I didn’t know much about baptism at the time. That very day, they gave me clothes to change into, and I was baptised in the name of Jesus. It felt exactly like the dream I had seen.
“That very day, they gave me clothes to change into, and I was baptised in the name of Jesus”
Q: How did your life change after that experience?
At first, I didn’t fully understand it. People around me would say, “You need the Holy Ghost,” and I wondered what that meant. I started fasting and praying and reached out to God and I was told I had the Holy Ghost but I was not sure, I didn’t feel anything. I remember one particular service where I cried out to God, asking for confirmation for myself. At a meeting where Dr. Colin Cawley (from Mount Zion Apostolic Church, Toronto, Canada) was preaching in South Camp Road (Kingston, Jamaica), he dared us to turn to our neighbour and “call the name of Jesus three times”. As we prayed, I suddenly began speaking in tongues, and I knew for myself that I had received the Holy Ghost. That moment changed everything. On my way home, I felt as if I was walking on air! When I arrived, I found out there had been gunfire nearby, but God had protected me. No one had to convince me anymore — I knew I had truly received the Spirit.
“As we prayed, I suddenly began speaking in tongues, and I knew for myself that I had received the Holy Ghost. That moment changed everything.”
Q: How did your life change after that experience?
I felt so different, so renewed. It was like stepping into a new world. I didn’t like arguments or conflict — I wanted peace. I felt an overwhelming desire to share Jesus with others. Of course, I realised over time that the Christian walk isn’t about instant perfection. There are still struggles and things to work through, but I knew I was on a new path with God’s help.
Q: What does your faith look like today? How do you continue to grow?
Over the years, I’ve realised the importance of studying God’s Word. At first, I didn’t spend much time in it, but around 2007, my sister introduced me to the Blue Letter Bible, and it opened the Scripture to me in new ways. Now, I study more deeply, even looking into the meaning of individual words. I’m dedicating more of myself to God’s Word, and it helps me grow spiritually.
“I’m dedicating more of myself to God’s Word, and it helps me grow spiritually”
Q: If you could encourage someone who doesn’t know the Lord, what would you say?
My salvation story and what my life was like before and how Jesus transformed me, is my testimony of the powerful encounter I had with God. The Bible says we must be born again (John 3:3) and live a holy life. I pray that the change in me open doors for you to believe that God can change your life too.
Closing Thoughts
Sister Charmane’s journey is full of real-life challenges, moments of fear, and hard choices. She has faced danger, loss, and uncertainty, yet she found direction and peace in Jesus Christ. Her story does not present life as perfect after conversion, but it shows how commitment to God can bring purpose and a sense of peace that carries through even during difficult times. For anyone reading, it is a reminder that as Paul said “we die daily”, which simply means it is a process of denying our own selfish desires and this process is sometimes gradual, sometimes sudden, but always transformative. Once you have experienced the Living Water; Jesus Christ, your life will never be the same again.
