GETTING PLUGGED IN...
My boyfriend first invited me to Eastside for Easter. My first thought was: so many smiling faces. It wasn’t just the Change Makers—everyone I encountered seemed genuinely happy to be there and to be part of something bigger than themselves.
I was nervous. I was meeting my boyfriend Chris’ dad for the first time and walking into a church service for the first time in who knows how many years. But with every smile I received, I felt more at ease. It became hard to hold onto my nerves with all these new experiences happening at once. Then Pastor Gene began his message, and it was like he was speaking directly to me. In a packed auditorium, somehow it felt personal.
So I came back. And then I came back again. And again. That’s one of the things I love about Eastside—it’s so easy to feel at home here. These days, I can spend hours on campus with my kids, grabbing dinner at the grill, letting them play on the playground, and just enjoying time around kind, genuine people.
When I first started coming, I was in a place where I felt disconnected. I had finally met someone amazing—someone who was open and honest about how important his faith was. He shared that he hoped one day I’d want to attend church with him. But I held back for a while. I hadn’t been to church in a long time, and deep down, I didn’t feel ready. I wasn’t sure I belonged. I was carrying shame from choices I’d made, and I often felt angry, lost, and far from peace.
Reflecting on this past year, I can honestly see how much has changed in my life and it’s amazing to me to know that by the grace of God I have the opportunity each day to be grateful for the life that he’s given me. My heart feels so much lighter.
I had built walls around my heart to keep people out—especially God.
But walking through the doors of Eastside began to change something in me. It wasn’t overnight, but little by little, my walls started coming down. I began to feel something I hadn’t felt in a long time: hope.
Eventually, I decided to take another step—I went to First Step (which I later learned used to be called Next Steps). I was nervous all over again, but I’m so glad I did. It was a chance to hear more about the heart behind Eastside, to meet other people starting fresh, and to discover how I could get more connected. It was just the right next move for me.
I find myself more at peace now than I’ve ever been. Even when I get angry, I find myself praying on it. Big things aren’t so big anymore. I honestly feel like I have such a brighter outlook on life. Reflecting on this past year, I can honestly see how much has changed in my life and it’s amazing to me to know that by the grace of God I have the opportunity each day to be grateful for the life that he’s given me. My heart feels so much lighter.
Eastside has been an amazing place to call home and as Chris and I start building our lives together, one thing we know for certain is that no matter where we go, we want to continue going to Eastside because being a part of Eastside has been nothing short of amazing. If you’re even thinking about checking it out, I’d say go for it. You don’t have to have everything figured out. You don’t need to be perfect. Just take one step. It might change everything—just like it did for me.
If you were inspired by this story, we would love to tell you more about Eastside. We have a relentless love and commitment for all to know God. We are committed to finding unique ways to serve in our local communities and help our global neighbors. We are passionate about finding solutions, building bridges, and bringing the love and hope of Jesus to hurting communities. We would love to invite you to join us in person or online. At Eastside we believe that this is a place for everyone, wherever you are on your journey. If you would like to find out more about Eastside, please visit eastside.com.