I grew up without going to church, and my family lived as if God simply did not exist. We were not allowed to attend church, being told it was something for adulthood. Throughout my life, I heard the word “Christian” again and again but never understood what it meant. When I was 18, I started attending a church with my boyfriend and his best friend, where the pastor's teachings helped me understand faith and what it meant to be a Christian. A music video at a 4th of July church event is what finally gave me clarity. It was about the decline of morals in America, and I knew that I didn’t want to be part of that lifestyle. I needed God in my life and I wanted to do my part in making the world a better place.

I had a conversation with my boyfriend’s best friend, and during our discussion, he took the time to explain the concept of sin to me. As he shared more about it, I realized that even though I had been living what I thought was a good life—avoiding drinking, smoking, drugs, and even swearing—I was still falling short in ways I hadn’t fully recognized before. I understood that despite my efforts to live morally, I still needed to seek forgiveness for my sins. I accepted Christ into my heart and acknowledged my need for His grace and forgiveness. This decision marked a pivotal turning point in my life.

Soon after, my boyfriend and I got married, and we were blessed with two beautiful children. Over time, my faith continued to grow deeper, and I felt a strong calling to serve others. I began teaching at church, leading Sunday School, AWANA, and Vacation Bible School. I even had the incredible opportunity to go on a mission trip to South Africa, where I was able to share my faith and serve others in meaningful ways.

However, after 14 years, life came to a screeching halt. My 13 year marriage had ended. I was devastated, feeling anger and resentment toward God, questioning why He allowed this to happen. I stopped attending church and grew very bitter. One day I just could not take the pain any longer. I fell to my knees in prayer, screaming out to God and layed on the floor in tears, when a sense of calm overwhelmed me. I realized God had a much bigger plan for me and I needed to have faith in Him.

Years later, I remarried, and after years of fluctuating between attending church and not, my husband and I decided we needed to find a church where we would be more than just faces in a crowd—a place where people would truly notice if we weren’t there and genuinely care about us as individuals. We longed for a community that would hold us accountable in our walk with God, one where we could build deeper, more meaningful relationships with others.

That’s when we found The Mill in January 2024 and we dug our feet in deep. I now volunteer in the Women’s Ministry, Kid’s Ministry and Prayer Team, but my main focus is behind the scenes, with the church website and Church Center.

While I still face many hard challenges, especially with our four young adult children, I put my faith in God, and trust that He has a plan for them, just as He had a plan for me when I was lying on the floor in tears with a shattered home and shattered relationship with the Lord. Throughout it all, my journey with Christ has been filled with growth, purpose, and a deep sense of fulfillment.