“Through highs and lows, the Lord has given me a purpose I can take with me wherever I go. But I didn’t know it right away.
“As a kid, I went to a Christian summer camp every summer from third grade to 15 years old. That camp was where I first learned what it looked like to live like a believer. I got to experience and watch role models who truly valued their faith and loved the Bible.
“During my first year at camp, I gave my life to the Lord. I remember it feeling like a big moment, like I was deciding how I wanted to live the rest of my life. Even though my faith stayed pretty surface-level for a while, that summer made a mark on me. I knew it was the right way to live, and I wanted to keep chasing after that.
“But after camp each year, I’d come home with this ‘camp high’ for the Lord that never really lasted. I didn’t have people around me to help me grow, and eventually that excitement would fade.
“It was challenging to deepen my faith when I was not actively reading the Bible or plugged into a church. I lacked a full understanding of the gospel.
“In high school, we moved across town. I tried visiting different churches by myself, but it was hard to find one where I could really learn and grow in my faith. Then I met a girl named Mackenzie through a student ministry. She took me under her wing and showed me what discipleship looked like. I didn’t even realize how much I needed someone like that in my life—someone who was following Jesus and invited me to do the same.
“Not long into my college experience in Dallas, I started feeling pretty empty. Nothing was giving me real life or satisfaction—not my sorority, not my dating relationship, not even my own plans for the future and my career.
“Then a friend from Watermark’s college ministry reached out and invited me to lunch. She also invited me to Rally, an event for college students. I was nervous about going alone, but the second I walked in, I felt so welcomed and seen. Even though I was the only girl my age there, I felt like this was where I was supposed to be.
“A few of the girls and leaders quickly became such a gift. They started as strangers, but they wanted to really know me and care for me. When they asked to hear my testimony, I wasn’t sure I had one yet. I was still figuring things out. But they listened anyway, and they followed up the following days and weeks, and built a friendship with me. I had never experienced that kind of care before.
“We started walking through Scripture together. When I went through a hard breakup, they were the ones who showed up for me, with truth from God’s Word and encouragement that pointed me back to Jesus. I had walked through hard things before, but never with a group of strong believers beside me. They helped me see that I could place my faith in God and trust him in every season, even the painful ones.
“For the first time, I realized that the comfort I was looking for could only come from the Lord. And that was such a sweet place to be—where God was all I had, and he was enough.
“Soon after, I learned and experienced the great purpose God had for me through a trip to Indonesia with the college ministry. The invitation originally felt totally out of the blue. I had a big fear of flying and had never been on a trip like this. But for some reason, I really wanted to go. The goal of the whole was to share the gospel with people who didn’t know. At this time, I was finally getting an understanding of the gospel, but felt intimidated by the idea of sharing it on my own. I didn’t even know how to share my testimony two months earlier—so this felt big.
“After praying and talking with my parents, we all felt peace about me going. That peace didn’t come from me being brave. It came from knowing God was leading me, and I was saying yes.
“We spent time with Muslims there and asked them questions about what they believed. Many of those we talked to didn’t really have answers. It made me stop and ask myself, ‘Could I answer these questions if someone asked me about my faith?’
“I got to share the gospel with people, alongside others on our team, and walk with other believers my age who were also finding their purpose in Christ. This was one of the most meaningful things I’ve ever done. Later, our group leader asked, ‘Do you think you could do this back home?’ At first, I said yes—but then I realized I’d never really done that before. I thought, ‘If I really love the people around me, how can I not share my hope in Christ?’
“I finally realized that my whole life is meant to be lived on mission—not just a week overseas, but every day. Every conversation, class, and friendship is an opportunity to reflect Jesus. I understood the gospel now and truly felt the urgency to share the hope I found in it.
“Looking back, I can see how faithful God has been in my life's easy and hard seasons. He made it easy for me to hear the gospel early in life, but also worked through the lonely and uncomfortable seasons, reminding me of his grace and comfort. He brought me into the lives of people who deeply love him. God has taken my plans and given me a bigger purpose: to live for him.”