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I'm going to give y'all the short but sweet version of my testimony just because I will eventually make a video to share it with everyone! :)
A quick little back story... I was baptized Catholic as a baby. I grew up going to Sunday School up until 6 or 7 years old where my mother decided she didn't want to force religion on her children so we stopped going to Church. We then only went on your usual holidays and funeral's. Growing up Catholic as a little girl, you went to Sunday School, you wear shorts that go past your mid thigh, you covered your shoulders, you would say the "Our Lord's" prayer over and over again. The priest would read directly from the bible, it was kind of repetitive. Even though my mom stopped forcing us to go to Church, growing up I still believed in God, I knew he was real, I knew he existed, I knew of him, but I didn't know him. This is where it all starts... (HOLD FOR DRAMATIC MUSIC).
I've struggled with depression and anxiety since around 2017, I fell into some pretty dark places on and off. There's been times I've cried in my mothers arms because I wanted to give up on life. Some of us experience pain that no one else feels or understands but I'd say for some of you, you've experienced depression and the toll it takes on you. Well, when I fell deep into depression I went through all the motions it came with but I knew staying in this dark place was not healthy... I remember when I moved to Dallas in July 2020 right in the middle of covid. I moved to a state and city where I knew absolute NO ONE, no family or friends. During the short but sweet 6 months of me living there I experienced some of the best and worst times of my life. I met some great people living there who I am still friends with till this day. But even though I made great friendships, I still felt lonely. I felt like there was something missing. I remember crying in my bathroom tub and having to call the suicide hotline because I was trying to commit suicide. But while on the phone with the sweetest lady, I just felt the presence of God with me. He was right there with me because he had bigger plans for me. Shortly after that phone call I started researching Churches in the Dallas area and came across Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas. Let me tell you when I walked into that Church, I knew that's where I was supposed to be. The community of that Church was like no other, it was truly a community of people who cared and didn't look the other way. The lead Pastor, Ed Young spoke a sermon like I've never heard before so I kept coming every Sunday. I then started getting connected, reading my bible, attending bible studies, young adult hangouts, doing all of the things. The thing was I was going to Church praising God on a Sunday yet the night before I was at the bar getting drunk and acting like a fool. I thought you could live this double life that God isn't going to judge, that he would want me to have fun. But God and I didn't last to long.. I moved back home December 18th, 2020.
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Moving back home was heartbreaking because I truly loved living in Dallas, like LOVED. Everything about Texas was exactly what I thought it would be. Now if it's in God's plans for me is to move back I would do it in a heart beat. Like i am packing bags and leaving! Though, moving back home was heartbreaking I got to be with my family and friends again. I was so excited because I am family oriented. Family means everything to me! When I got home I didn't continue going to Church. But I came across Skyline Church in La Mesa around June 20, 2021, I went to a service and fell in love. But guess what? I didn't continue going. I'd say I went to about 3-4 services in total from June 2021 to December 2021 and that was it. I think I wanted to know God but didn't want to fully surrender to him. Now throughout the time of me moving back home and attending those very few Church services I experienced some happy and sad times. I was going through a roller coaster of emotions because there I was still struggling with depression and anxiety. I never knew how to really "handle" it.
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I was living in a world of nothing but sin so in December of 2023, I thought my New Year's Resolution was to build my relationship with God.. On January 1st, 2023 I decided to return to Skyline Church and when I tell you that day when I walked inside the Church, the weight that lifted off my shoulder was something so UNREAL. It felt completely different this time. Now, I may be biased because this is my home Church, but seriously as soon as you drive into the parking lot you are greeted with such big smiles! Everyone is so welcoming, they don't care how you look or who you are. There is no judgement because they don't allow perfect people. They actually have sign(s) that say "No Perfect People Allowed". If you ask me, I am so thankful that anyone can walk in with their baggage and know that they belong there. After attending that January 1st service I kept coming back every Sunday and eventually asked one of the Pastors about a women's small group and he introduced me to his wife who held a small group in their home. A few weeks of attending the women's small group, I felt the Lord telling me, it's time to surrender yourself to me. On April 9th, 2023 I got baptized (on Easter) what a better way to get baptized then on Resurrection Sunday!! This day was the day my past was going to be washed away and Jesus was giving me a new life. Like how cool is that?! 2 months later after getting baptized I wanted to start serving and a few of the girls from the women's small group served in the High School Ministry. They put me in touch with the High School Pastor and Admin, I met with them and attended a HS service on June 20th, 2023. Let me tell you that HS Ministry is NOT for the weak, I mean c'mon we all know what high school was like. Serving in this ministry is one of the BIGGEST blessings that's happened for me. God led me there for a reason, because I sincerely don't know where I would be without this ministry. These students are at a point in life where they're starting to date, learn about their interests/hobbies, and mostly worry about what the future holds. As a Youth Leader you have to be willing to spend time with them and share life with them. You have to be able to share about your faith and your journey. Because I was new to my faith some of them were teaching me! It's all about building a relationship with them and being their spiritual mentor. Fast forward to June 20th, 2024, I've been a Youth Leader for a year!!​ Throughout high school ministry and being involved with the Church I met some AMAZING people. People who I consider my family. I had a community to lean on and experience life with. I had people who poured into me and wanted to help me navigate how you do this thing called Christianity because it was something I never knew.
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My faith walk was going so good, I was following Jesus 24/7 and being a good daughter of Christ up until beginning of July 2024 when I let the enemy get ahold of me. I gave up on Jesus completely. I stopped serving in high school ministry, stopped going to bible study, stopped going to Church on Sundays, stopped talking about or thinking about Jesus. I stopped talking to my friends who I consider my family. I thought "the heck with Jesus, I don't need him"! I got back into my old habits/way. For those that know my past know I partied a lot on and off throughout the years. I've done some things I am not proud of, I've hurt my family, friends, myself and most importantly my relationship with Jesus. I lived a life where I would try to find things that would take the pain away but it was never successful.. You know why? Because Jesus was right there watching over me. Now let's fast forward even more to February 2025, I was receiving little signs here and there and I knew they were from God. Since then I've been working on my relationship with God and I couldn't be more happier. I know I've gone on and on but seriously I can't thank Jesus enough for what he's done for me!
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Many of you might think your story isn't "good enough" to share but trust me it is! There is someone out there who can relate so much to your story, so share it! If you want to share it with me please feel free to reach out!
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WHAT'S YOUR TESTIMONY?