Growing up, Ana Alonso attended a Catholic Church, but for whatever reason, she never really felt connected. She thought she couldn’t have a relationship with Jesus. This all changed when her aunt invited her to a new church. Ana was struck by the beauty of this new church. The way they worshipped God and talked about Scripture opened her eyes and heart. It made her want to start going to church more.
But soon after this, she found herself in an unhealthy relationship. This relationship eventually led her astray, and she stopped going to church. She focused so much on this relationship that she quickly lost herself. She wrestled with depression and anxiety during this season, and to make matters worse, her mom was also going through her own mental health battle. It was a difficult period in Ana’s life. She felt like everything was spiraling out of control.
One day, she had a terrible argument with her mom, and in a moment of intense emotion, she found herself yelling at her mom. She had become someone she didn’t recognize. “I don’t yell at my family like this,” she thought to herself. She was devastated and heartbroken that she had let things get to this point. In a state of despair, she left and headed to a nearby park, alone. At the park, she just cried. “There’s no hope left for me,” she thought. She felt like the only way out was to end her life.
Amidst her desperation, she turned to God and whispered for help. She apologized for distancing herself from him and asked for strength to endure. Moments later, two older ladies walked towards her. As they approached, Ana couldn’t stop crying, until one of them reached out her hand and placed it on Ana’s shoulder. The woman spoke softly, saying, “I’m so sorry.” Ana knew God had answered her prayer. It was the spark of hope she needed.
Since then, Ana’s relationship with Jesus and her faith has grown tremendously. Of course, it has been a journey, but Ana has seen God’s faithfulness time and time again. She set a goal to begin reading the Bible daily, and now she can’t wait to read it every day. Even in times of frustration or bitterness, she will pray or go to her Bible, asking God for answers.
But her journey didn’t end there. She eventually found her way to The Grove, a young adult gathering at Champion Forest. She started attending regularly. Now, she serves at The Grove as part of the weekly hospitality team. She continues to meet new people each week who share her hunger for the Lord. When asked about her time at The Grove, Ana said, “We worship Jesus together and discuss Scripture, and I’ve even had the chance to pray over others. Being part of this community has been a huge blessing for me, and I believe it was completely the Holy Spirit guiding me to this place.”
Ana’s testimony is a good reminder that no matter how lost you may feel, God is always with you. He will guide you and give you the strength you need to get through even the toughest of times. It’s okay to ask for help, to pray, and to turn to God in moments of desperation. It’s also important to surround yourself with a community that shares your faith, where you can grow together in Christ.
Sharing your story is a powerful way to encourage others. Our team would love to hear from you at stories@championforest.org.
