In this heartfelt testimony, Jim Stom shares his remarkable journey of faith, conversion, and God’s providential guidance. His story illustrates how God’s grace can transform lives, heal broken relationships, and open unexpected paths toward love and vocation. From his spiritual renewal to his marriage with Yuli in Indonesia, the narrative offers a powerful reminder that God’s faithfulness accompanies us through every challenge and blessing. May this witness inspire readers to deepen their trust in the Lord and recognize His presence in their own life journeys.
By Jim Stom
A Cry for Help and a New Beginning
I was born and raised in the Catholic Church and attended Catholic schools from kindergarten through eighth grade. My parents were strict about faith, church attendance, and religious values. For high school, I attended public schools, and after graduation, I joined the United States Army.
During those years, I gradually drifted away from church and religion. For nearly twenty years, I lived as though I did not need God. Like many young adults, I believed I could handle life on my own. Looking back, those years were filled with struggles, disappointments, and a lingering sense that something important was missing.
By the age of 41, life was not going well. In a moment of desperation, I cried out to God and said, “If You are really real, then please show me.”
And He did.
On October 25, 1989, I gave my heart to the Lord Jesus Christ. The change was immediate. The first thing I noticed was an overwhelming peace deep within me. It was unlike anything I had ever experienced. More than three decades later, that peace remains with me today.
What I was not prepared for was the reaction from my family. For the next three years, I faced criticism and rejection because of my new faith and the lifestyle changes that came with it. Eventually, my wife at that time gave me an ultimatum. She told me that I could not love both her and Jesus. I tried to explain that I could love them both, but she disagreed and ultimately asked me to leave.
A pastor who had been mentoring me told me that I had gone beyond the extra mile—he said I had gone three extra miles.
I found a place to live and began rebuilding my life. Being separated from my family was one of the most painful experiences I have ever endured. The absence of my children was especially difficult. To stay connected, I began sending each of them regular emails, sharing what I was doing, letting them know I was healthy, and reminding them that I loved them.
I continued this practice for many years. Then, when my daughter had a baby girl, the door to reconciliation opened, and I was reunited with my children.
During those years alone, my relationship with my Heavenly Father grew stronger than ever before. I learned what it meant to trust Him completely. Over time, my character changed, and I became someone I genuinely enjoyed being around.
When God Opened the Door to Love and Family
After about three years, I began dating again. Before long, I realized that I was once again trying to take control of my life. So I stopped and humbly prayed, asking God to choose a mate for me. I asked Him to open the right doors and close the wrong ones according to His will.
And He did.
There were times when I planned dates and unexpected events prevented them from happening. Cars broke down, schedules changed, and opportunities disappeared. Looking back, I believe God was closing doors that were not meant for me.
One day, I shared my story with a pastor who had spent eighteen years serving in Indonesia. He mentioned that Indonesian women were known for their commitment and devotion to marriage. That conversation stayed with me.
Later, I joined an online service called World Mates. There were more than 600 women listed on the site. Using filters, I narrowed the search to Christian women and then to those with master’s degrees or higher. Eventually, I selected six women and sent each an introductory email.
Four had already found someone. One communicated only occasionally. The sixth woman wrote back every day.
Her name was Yuli.
For three and a half months, we exchanged emails daily. Our relationship developed through words alone. There was no physical relationship, only conversations that revealed our values, beliefs, and character. As time passed, our feelings for one another grew deeper.
Around that time, I participated in a mission trip with thirty other people to help build a church in another country. While I was away, Yuli and I decided it was time to meet in person.
Before traveling to Indonesia, I remembered the story of Gideon in the Bible, who asked God for confirmation through a fleece. I did not have a fleece, but I did have a 1971 El Camino.
I prayed, “Lord, if Yuli is the woman You have chosen for me—the one You want me to marry—let half of my El Camino be wet and half be dry.”
The next morning, as I prepared to leave for breakfast with friends, I walked into my garage and was stunned. Half of my El Camino was wet, and the other half was dry.
My knees nearly buckled.
The car had been completely dry when I parked it in the garage the night before.
I had asked, and God had answered.
Although I now believed Yuli was the woman God had chosen for me, I still needed to meet her. On May 2, 1999, I arrived at Jakarta airport. The heat and humidity felt overwhelming. I looked around but could not find her.
Then she found me.
Yuli was unlike anyone I had ever met. She was peaceful, kind, generous, caring, and deeply devoted to God. During my fourteen-day visit, she showed me her country and introduced me to her closest friends, all highly educated professionals. They carefully questioned me about my intentions and character.
Afterward, I jokingly asked Yuli whether I had passed the interviews.
During that trip, I asked her to marry me three times. After the third time, I told her I would not ask again.
And I didn’t.
On the final day, as she accompanied me to the airport, we said our goodbyes. Then suddenly she smiled and said, “Yes.”
Confused, I asked, “Yes, what?”
She replied, “Yes, I will marry you.”
We immediately began planning our future together. Our wedding date was set for December 18, 1999. As the date approached, Yuli became concerned that I might not return.
But I did.
I arrived in Indonesia on December 17, 1999, and we were married the very next day.
Soon after our marriage, I discovered another wonderful quality in Yuli. She was wise and disciplined with finances. She organized our household, managed our resources carefully, and brought stability to our lives.
Over the years, I have come to realize how greatly God blessed me through her. Like all married couples, we have experienced disagreements and challenges. Marriage requires daily compromise, patience, humility, and selflessness. It is a continual process of giving and receiving, listening and understanding.
Today, more than twenty-six years later, we are still happily married. We have a son, Timothy, who is now 25 years old. We still enjoy each other’s company, still laugh together, and still thank God for bringing us together.
When I look back over my life, I can clearly see God’s hand at work. He answered my cry for help when I was lost. He carried me through rejection and loneliness. He restored my relationship with my children. He guided me to the woman who would become my wife.
Through every season of life, God has been faithful.
And for that, I am forever grateful.
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