Jess is a podrishioner from Alaska who shared her story of coming back to Jesus and finding her identity in Christ. We hope you’ll be encouraged!
I’m a shy introvert, but I feel moved to share the positive impact Woodland Hills Church has made in my life. I grew up in a conservative Christian church (attendance was mandatory in my family) that left me feeling basically like I was inherently an unworthy, poor, miserable sinner and if I did not do all the right things, then forget it. My feeling of my own worth never grew. Somehow the message of love and forgiveness was never loud enough or clear enough. So I left the church as soon as I turned 18.
After a couple decades, I found myself experiencing some large life challenges that were just getting unbearable. It’s hard to describe it but I often felt like I was being swallowed up in a dark black pit of despair. I turned back to praying, and it helped me see the Lord, and he lifted me out and saved me. The Holy Spirit led me to Natalie Hoffman’s program Flying Free, and through her I found Pastor Boyd’s sermons. I listened to them almost constantly for a while! It helped me see things in a totally new light; a totally transformed view of Jesus and how I might actually mean something to him, and how, with his help, I could heal and then help others. This took the focus off of me and towards aligning my life in his service. Even though I still have struggles, the world has been a much brighter place ever since.
I live far away from Minnesota, and finding an in-person worship community is important to me. After a couple tries, the Holy Spirit pointed me to our local Quaker meeting which I found through their sign “Love thy neighbor—no exceptions.” I have found that the Quaker values of a personal relationship with Jesus, simplicity, pacifism and helping others, is exactly where I belong. Each meeting is like an hour long imaginative prayer time for me and it has really helped me develop my relationship with Jesus and heal from many things. I often leave feeling ecstatic and just glowing with the love of our Lord.
Your recent sermons on Revelation touching on our troubled times and how the cult of greed, power, and money (and other unhealthy things) in our current culture is Luciferian have impacted me. It is a difficult message, but a vital one. As a result, I am actively working to simplify my life, give things away, avoid large purchases, and learn to be content with what I have. I am reducing my time on screens, though it is a struggle some days! I look forward to when I have more time to volunteer when I retire.
Thank you so much for helping me come back to Jesus and helping me learn about my identity in Christ! I had never heard anyone in other churches share such a wonderful message. Your sermons helped point me to Jesus, who has truly transformed my life.
Thank you Jess for sharing your story with us! If you have your own story to share please contact us here.
