Some people have a come-to-Jesus moment. I have a come-back-to-Jesus moment.
I was incredibly blessed to be born to loving parents of faith. I grew up in the church and came to Christ at a young age and led a favored life, even if at the time I thought it rather unremarkable. I was active in church, did the right thing for the most part, and was even encouraged to consider a future in ministry by my parents and pastors.
When I left home to attend school at Liberty something changed. It was a slow process, and looking back I'm not sure how it started, but I became bitter and disenchanted. I saw what I perceived as hypocrisy surrounding me and grew more and more uninterested in participating in the worship that was around me. I stopped going to church except when I visited my parents.
I started quitting and losing things. I gave up my debate scholarship and left the team, my relationship with my girlfriend ended horribly, and then I left school. I sat in a pit of misery and self-pity and thought that things couldn't get any worse.
But then they did.
I had started trying to get my life back together on my own and during this process got involved with a married woman. It's tragic how in the moment we are so willing to make excuses in order to justify the sin we want to commit. Looking back at it, all I can do is be thankful for grace. Unsurprisingly that didn't end well, and I reached what I sincerely hope was my rock bottom because I don't ever want to feel worse than that. The pain, the guilt, and the disappointment were nearly overwhelming.
Fortunately, I had wonderful friends who had started bringing me to Blue Ridge with them. Healing is a process, but I slowly started getting excited for Jesus again. Listening to Woody's sermons and just seeing his authenticity was such a blessing. I had been wanting to get involved in a small group or Bible study when my friend suggested I try out Single Focus. I like to say that Single Focus saved me, but really it was God using Single Focus.
I am so thankful for the leaders, Terry and Barb, and the love and support they have provided me. They have created a group that is just incredibly welcoming and genuinely caring. To have a group of people supporting you makes all the difference in the world. Just to have people to have an earnest conversation about our faith with is so uplifting.
It didn't take long to get my joy back. I found contentment in serving, and it started with simply helping put away the chairs. Then it was the monthly service events, providing snacks, hosting a game night, and before I knew it they asked me to be a table leader.
It seems like it's been much longer than just the year I've been in Single Focus, but I already can't imagine not having our Wednesday night group. It's my favorite night of the week. It's kind of counterintuitive to think that we would gain so much by giving, but I have found myself doing more and giving more because it makes me feel better. That is the kind of environment that Single Focus fosters.
It has been so encouraging to watch others in the group grow in their walk, and humbling to hear the other leaders talk about how much they've seen me grow. I am so very thankful for Single Focus.