“I grew up in a Christian home, but for as long as I can remember, I always felt a sense of loneliness in my childhood even though I had friends. In elementary school, I was a pretty envious kid. Whenever my friends would go and play with others, I would feel left out and get jealous. This led me to isolate myself quickly from a young age. By the time I started middle school, I had no close friends, and I found solace in video games. This is when I started struggling with suicidal thoughts and questioned my purpose in life.
“In high school, I finally found a group of friends, but our time was spent drinking and using drugs – habits that would eventually become addictions. Right before I turned 18, my parents intervened by sending me to therapy. Through these sessions, my therapist recommended I receive a higher level of care. Therefore, I was enrolled in an outpatient program for teenagers struggling with substance abuse. Looking back, I can see the Lord’s hand in it all because if I had turned 18, I would not have been able to attend. In this program, I met a group of guys who wanted to know me personally without wanting something from me. This is the first time I experienced true friendship.
“As I went through this program, I started connecting more in my local church and attending youth group. I started developing more close friendships where we would share who Christ is and learn more about the gospel together. My youth pastor helped walk me through the pain, sorrow, and hurt I was feeling, yet I still didn’t fully understand what it means to have a relationship with Christ.
“After I graduated high school, I went to college at Texas Tech, and I joined their collegiate recovery program to help maintain sobriety and be a part of a community of people who were also sober. I struggled to decide on a church to attend, and with the freedom of college life, I turned my attention to other things like weightlifting and dating.
“When I was 21, a good friend asked me about my faith and what I believed. He knew I was a Christian, but when asked what the gospel is, I couldn’t articulate what I truly believed. He graciously sat with me for three hours, explaining what Christ has done for us and what it means to have a relationship with him. It finally made sense. Even though I still struggled with sin, Jesus started changing my heart. I still struggled with lust, isolation, jealousy, and fear of man. I still struggle with these things today, but I now know that I don’t have to do it alone anymore – I can fully rely on Christ to help me.
“Once I graduated college, I moved to Waco to pursue a Master of Divinity at seminary. I also started attending a local church, and I began serving in re:generation, a Christ-centered recovery program for those to find freedom and healing from any struggle they feel stuck in. This serving opportunity strengthened my faith and allowed me to help others who were experiencing struggles similar to my own. Though I was still struggling in my own sin and pursuing a relationship that wasn’t God-honoring.
“A few months later, I decided seminary wasn’t for me and so I received a job offer in Dallas and became involved at Watermark. After becoming a member and joining a community group, I realized what was missing in my life. I was finally connected to a biblical community of true friends who actually knew me and could speak the Word of God in my life. While walking with my community group, I've learned that confessing my sin in the safety of a group of trusted believers provides me with the opportunity to be sanctified in my race towards Jesus. Through this part of my life, I also met my wife, Megan. As someone who has struggled for so long with relationships, meeting Megan is truly God’s grace in my life.
“Since joining Watermark, I have served in Watermark Kids over the last few years. I wanted to serve in this ministry because if I had known Christ sooner, the trajectory of my life would’ve changed. Much of the pain I experienced was because I was living a life that was not honoring the Lord. I know that God has given me my testimony for a reason, but I want to pour into these kids and share the gospel with them so they can know and understand Christ as soon as possible. I started serving in the classroom, and now I serve as a host to help leaders and welcome families on Sunday mornings. As a host, I get to use my spiritual gift of hospitality to love families in our church well.
“Every week, we get the opportunity to share the gospel with these kids, and it reminds me of how simple it truly is. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve in a ministry that reminds me of Bible stories and continues to grow and strengthen my faith as we share God’s Word with the next generation."
We’re always looking for faithful servants to join us in Watermark Kids on Sundays to help kids learn and know more about Jesus in a safe and loving environment. Learn more about the serving opportunities and how to get involved.