Growing up almost entirely unchurched, I’m not entirely sure what led me to seek out religion and God at 40. I went to church for a year or two in late adolescence, but it was for the fun of it and not the message. After not going to church or following God for almost 30 years, I think it may have been me wanting to validate what little beliefs I did have. I believed that there was a “higher power” because this miraculous world didn’t just happen by accident. But I didn’t believe in Christianity or religion at all for that matter. I read books thinking they would reassure me in my beliefs, but the more I read, the more I questioned. So I thought I would test drive a few churches. They were good and the people were nice, but they didn’t speak to my heart. Then I attended my sister and brother-in-law’s church in Iowa, for my niece’s dedication. It was like a breath of fresh air, the whole thing spoke to me, but I still had my doubts. I set out to find a similar church here in Arkansas.
Two different people led me to Northwest and it was more than just a coincidence. First, my massage therapist and friend, Veronica, was gracious enough to let me ask her questions about Christianity during our massage sessions. I told her what kind of Church I was looking for and she mentioned her previous church that met at the Boys and Girls Club. She told me the name, but I couldn’t remember it. I spent a couple of Sunday mornings driving by, looking for signs of a church, but didn’t see any. Then I reached out to my brother-in-law, Justin to ask his advice on finding a church similar to his in Iowa. Out of all of the churches in Northwest Arkansas, he randomly sent me to Northwest’s website. It was the same church that I had just been looking for. Once I visited the church, I knew it would be the place to help me find the answers I was seeking.
Then I met Will and right away he started giving me the answers I needed. He helped me realize that everything I thought I knew about Christianity was wrong. I thought God was a vengeful God from the stories I remembered from the Old Testament. Will explained the grace that God showed by giving His son to die for our sins and imperfections. That we only needed to seek out Christ’s love and try to live the perfect life that He did. He continued to explain that we can never obtain this perfection, but that Christ’s sacrifice would make us whole with God. These were the answers I needed in order to believe and ask Jesus Christ to be my personal Lord and Savior.
I am far from perfect and my life is a mess. I think this is the real reason I started down this path. Not growing up churched, it has been hard for me to be consistent with my faith. When I have rough times I withdrawal inward. I turn away from relationships and that includes my relationship with Christ. Will and others at Northwest have always been there and reach out to me when I’m at my lowest. They remind me that when in tough times is when I need to reach out for Christ’s love and guidance the most and also the love and guidance of the community here at Northwest.
