Sydney’s Changed Life
Holly had the opportunity to speak at our church’s women’s retreat, but her highlight was getting to know the six young women who came that were in her discussion group. Two of them were non-believers, hoping to just have a weekend away in the mountains. After hearing Holly’s talks, they said they’d be open to talking to Holly more about their questions about God.
During free time, Holly met with Sydney. Sydney said she had a hard time in middle school making friends and began to experience depression and she blamed God for making her depressed. Her story was as simple as that. As Holly reflected back, she shared how middle school is extremely hard for people to make friends, and how we were made for community where we are fully known and loved. But we cannot experience that community without God and without true followers of Jesus. Holly then asked permission to share the gospel with her by reading through the first chapter of her discipleship book. Sydney said yes. When Sydney read the prayer of repentance and surrender and she said she was willing to pray it out loud. Afterward, she was filled with such joy that she immediately went and told her other friends, even the one who wasn’t a believer! She stood up in front that evening and shared her new decision. The women surrounded her and prayed over her with tears of joy. It was a holy moment. Praise God for her changed life.
During their first discipleship time, Holly asked Sydney to write out why she decided to accept Jesus. Here was her reply, “I discovered it wasn’t as hard as I thought. It’s a relationship, not a religion. This resonated with me as I am good at relationships. Also, it wasn’t God’s fault I was depressed. It was my loss of community. This is something I’ve been searching for for a while: supportive, loving people. I believe the church will be a place for that. I’m excited to build this relationship with Him. ”
Sydney has already started reading the Bible, attending the college ministry at our church, meeting Holly for discipleship, and is considering going on a summer mission trip with Cru this summer!
Thank you for praying and partnering with us as we continue to impact and invest in this next generation! Your partnership is making an eternal difference!
