What was life like before you met Jesus?
I grew up in a Christian home going to church every Wednesday and Sunday. It wasn’t until high school where I started to find Christ. Every day I was growing stronger in my faith. I went on mission trips to share the good news. It was a great life. Then I went to college. I fell into the party life drinking 3-4 times a week and blacking out about half of the time. I was so scared of not making friends that I would do anything to fit into a world where I did not belong. I felt as if this was the only way to feel accepted by peers and men.
How did you meet Jesus?
As the year went on I knew what I was doing was wrong but I could not find a way to escape it. I couldn’t find a church and there was no college ministry on campus. I had dug a grave that I could not get out of. All of a sudden everything was taken away. I had lost friends, I was being threatened to change my career path, and my track career was becoming more miserable than ever before. I was now standing on a campus that I hated which I once was so excited to attend. I was heartbroken. All of my dreams were beginning to disappear. That’s when I went home to Cedar Rapids on Christmas break. I broke down shouting to God to help me. I was lost and I had nothing left. I was looking to God and questioning him about what to do.
After being saved by Jesus what is your life like now?
I was sitting on my bed crying when a thought came to my mind. I felt an urge to transfer schools. I ran up to my dad yelling “Dad, I need to leave St. Ambrose. I can’t do it anymore. I can’t even recognize myself.” God took everything away because I couldn’t listen. But He proved so much more for me. Within 48 hours, I was accepted into Mount Mercy. I was offered a huge scholarship for track. Everything was taken care of. I had disregarded God but even in my darkest moments he was there and provided for me. Six months into going to Mount Mercy I was still struggling. I hadn’t found a church or a community to grow in. God led me to a student leader named Cal Wright, who helped me get connected in The Salt Company. Through community and reminders of the gospel, I found myself set free from the bondage of my past. Because of what God did in me, I have been able to use my past sin to help show others that it has no victory over you. I get to tell people that God is bigger than your sin and you have a purpose. I became a student leader for Salt Company so that I can proclaim to all that Christ is King and help raise up other disciples. I still struggle everyday but know I am able to put my trust in the Lord. I know that His plan is greater. After all He saved me in one of the darkest times of my life.