By Paige K Slighter
Justin was not raised with religion, so his world was rocked when he first came to understand God’s character. Around 2006, he was open to believing in a higher power, but had no understanding of God or the Bible. Later on, in an AA meeting he was invited to a service at Woodland by his friend, Kevin. He remembers feeling welcomed and experiencing church in a completely different way than ever before.
While attending, he heard about “unsurpassable worth.” We use this phrase a lot at Woodland, and it’s the idea that God calls us to love others and ascribe the highest value to them in light of the cross. The matchless price God paid for us means that we ALL have unsurpassable worth. As followers of Christ, we are called to love others with the same perspective. This concept helped Justin learn more about God’s true character and his love for humanity.
He also learned that God meets us where we’re at in life. He says, “I’ve witnessed countless times when God has worked miracles and guided me through traumas that could have easily derailed my life. God kept fighting to make a connection with me.” As he continues to connect with God, Justin is learning that God doesn’t expect perfection from him. It’s more about a relationship, and through that relationship comes ongoing transformation.
Justin says that WH transformed his life and as a direct result, he’s able to help others. His friend Kevin recently fell on hard times and almost lost his home. Justin says, “Through the grace of God and Woodland Hills, I’ve been helping him get back on his feet.”
At Woodland, we like to say that we’re learning to love – together. Justin’s story reflects this perspective beautifully and is a great testament to God’s love. We’re so glad he’s part of our community.
Do you have a story about how you got connected to Woodland? We’d love to hear from you! Just shoot us an email at info@whchurch.org.
