After losing her father and walking through her granny’s final days, Kelly found herself searching for something more. What began with a marked-up Bible and quiet curiosity became a journey toward faith, hope, and a life transformed by Jesus.
1. What first sparked your curiosity about Jesus or the Christian faith?
After my granny passed, I took her Bible. I opened it at random and started reading the verses she had marked. I Googled meanings and wanted to know more.
2. Describe the moment when you decided to follow Jesus.
I reached out to family members, and my aunt encouraged me to attend Christianity Explored at Woodlands Church Carrick. We studied the book of Mark and the cross, which marked the beginning of studying God’s word more consistently.
In that moment, I said out loud that I wanted what she had, faith.”
3. Who or what helped you as you explored faith?
As I explored faith, I went through a darkness that felt bigger than I could handle, filled with grief and despair after my daddy died. Eight months later, I was with my granny in the NI Hospice. Even in her final days, she held onto her faith, singing her chorus in the hospice gardens on the way home. In that moment, I said out loud that I wanted what she had, faith.
4. What difference has following Jesus made in your life so far?
Following Jesus has transformed my life in ways I can only describe through two verses that have come to define my journey.
1 Peter 2:9 speaks of being called out of darkness into glorious light, and that is exactly what I have experienced. There was a time when the darkness and despair felt overwhelming, when I didn’t think I would survive. But through God’s love and hope, I was given a new heart and a new perspective, brought out of that darkness into a light and a joy unlike anything I had known before.
Genesis 50:20 says, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.” Looking back on the events and patterns in my life that nearly brought me to the brink, I now see them differently. I am grateful, and I believe God has used even those moments for a greater purpose. He has rescued me and refocused my life on what truly matters, showing me the difference it makes to put Him first.
The power of prayer still amazes me.”
5. What would you say to someone who is curious about Christianity today?
If you’re curious about Christianity, follow that curiosity and seek out people of faith. Come as you are. There is a common misunderstanding that you need to be a certain way first, but you don’t.
The power of prayer still amazes me. Talk to God and ask Him to guide you. Be honest about where you’re at, tell Him you’re curious, share your doubts, and bring your troubles to Him. Watch how He shows up, often in the most unexpected places. Don’t leave it too late.
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Belinda shares how looking for a sense of belonging led her to finding Jesus
