Church. A community that builds, reaches, and encourages others. A place where restoration, healing, and growth occurs. A house of God where His presence meets ours and continues to walk with us throughout the rest of our weeks. It’s amazing to be involved in this church - Hillsong.
I’ve been attending the mesa campus since I was a baby, and I feel a special attachment to it considering I basically grew up alongside it. As I grew in my relationship with Christ, the church was rapidly growing as well. In June of 2016, I dedicated my life to Jesus and this was when I truly began having a personal and intimate relationship with my creator. It was the best decision I had ever made! At this point in my life, however, I hadn’t been making much of an appearance at church. I was a young life student at camp who thought she was going to be leaving for the Air Force soon. But when that door randomly shut on me, I felt lost and confused. That all changed when Jesus reached down and I let his hand be at work in my life. After that summer at young life camp when I started my walk with Jesus, He guided my steps and lead me through season after season… crossroad after crossroad. I felt called towards going to college and becoming a young life leader, first. After my first semester, I went through a rough season of questioning my faith and the path I was on. I fell back into old habits, couldn’t resist against different temptations, and I felt angry towards God.
I thought, “I literally just got out of a rough season, and now I’m in another one? Why is He doing this to me?”
Looking back at this and how my life used to be, all I can see is how God used that towards my advantage. He let me go through the storms and struggles I did to become the person I am today. You see, God has a time and purpose for every season under Heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1) and has placed these specific desires in our hearts. He’s already working behind the scenes; it’s up to us to use our challenging seasons and press on with faith to use them towards our advantage. It takes a lot of strength to be able to lift your hands up in worship and praise your heavenly father when everything else around you seem to be falling into pieces.
In January of 2017, I founded my strength somewhere along the road again after having to remind myself that our God is loving and He has our best interests at heart. I had come to the realization and figuration that I had to trust him – He was really all I had. I was starting my second semester of college and working a new job. Meanwhile, I was feeling called out of being a young life leader. I wasn’t quite sure why at the point in time but I knew I had to obedient to what God was telling me to do. I was in the mindset of going to school until I got my bachelor’s degree, and then I would try to enlist in the Air Force again, but as an officer. Now only focusing on myself, work, and school, praying for God to lead me on the path he wanted me to be on, it was early February when I was going to my marine workout like normal, and the Air Force recruiting office had brochures sitting outside (which I had never seen before). I stopped for a second to browse over them seeing if they had any for becoming an officer. They did not, and I started walking away, I heard a voice behind me asking if He could help me with anything. It was a Master Sergeant of the Air Force, who unexpectedly lead me back into the process.
I felt it as God telling me, “Hey, I put this desire in your heart for a reason. So try this again, but this time with me.”
Now relating this back to Hillsong. I started going back to church again the beginning of 2017. I had been going for a while now around the point where I restarted the process for the Air Force. It almost felt like everything started playing a role in my life simultaneously. I was used to going to church alone every Sunday, sitting up in the front, and saying hi to a few people here and there or meeting someone new for the first time. I didn’t feel truly involved and I didn’t have the community aspect that I wanted. Now while praying for God to lead me into a profound community, I still remember after one service when a MSA Powerhouse leader ran after me all the way out of the building, tapped on my shoulder, and asked me if I would like to become involved in the young adults group. Since the first time I attended the group, everyone there became a family to me. I’ve been so beyond blessed with community and people who genuinely love, support, care, and want the best for me. A community that supports me all throughout my weeks instead of just on Sundays. Now when I go to church on Sundays, I’m carpooling with groups of friends and greeting almost anyone and everyone in my path. It’s where I feel the happiest and most joyful just to be there and see everyone’s smiley faces every Sunday.
On September 17th, 2017, I rededicated my life to Jesus through baptism at Hillsong. This was a big moment for me and my relationship with Jesus. It was an outward declaration of my love for Him and how I will live my life only for Him and with His approval. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17). Life is a huge rollercoaster ride, and no matter what is thrown my way, I know I have the strength, power of the Holy Spirit, and faith to get me through it. We decided to strap ourselves into this ride when we dedicated our lives to Jesus. And because we chose to follow Jesus, we chose to have our lives on display as well. Being baptized at the church I grew up alongside with is something I’ll never forget and something I’ll always be thankful for. Coming out of the waters and having groups of people who are in support gives me hope that no matter where life takes me in the military, I can always look back at my Hillsong family and know the importance of having community wrapped around you. God blessed me so abundantly with this second family. Hillsong is one I will always be a part of.
