eWell: July 21, 2010

by Rebecca Stewart

As my senior year in college is rapidly approaching, I look back on the past three years in awe of how God has and will continue to work in my life through The Well. I remember my mom nagging me in September of 2007 about finding a church in Tallahassee...she obviously had no idea how much fun I was having partying and haw far back God was in my head. You see, I'd been a Christian since 1st grade but I never felt any conviction to respond to the gospel with my life. I was always "that girl" in high school who was so "cute" because she didn't do certain things as a Christian, but I would never consider my faith to have been a living one.

And then I found The Well in October 2007, and I met the people who would forever be some of the biggest influences on my life. I remember Dean coming up to me for the first time at the Christmas party in 2007 and laughing at me when I called him "Pastor Dean" (he's still in my phone as "Pastor Dean"...who wants to accidentally text the wrong Dean on a Friday night)! Shortly after, I got plugged into Sarah Graves's small group where I met girls that would transform my life and show me that being a Christian is so much more than abiding by rules, yet how important it is to respond to God's grace with a living sacrifice. I can remember hearing them (my now best friends) share serious troubles in their lives in such a Godly and strong way. These girls had a peace I couldn't understand or relate to; I think that probably lead to my decision to proactively seek God and a relationship with Him. One of my favorite verses now is Philippians 4:7, "And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Until my sophomore year, my faith had been like a label--something I'd take off and on when convenient. Simply acknowledging the Creator wasn't getting me anywhere. This verse hits really hard, "You believe there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder." (James 2:19). I guess putting "Christian-NKJV only" on my facebook was not going to separate my faith from the devil's. I needed to respond and make God the leading force in my life. This whole response lifestyle is still a work in major progress.

The past few months have challenged my faith in so many ways. It has been a God-sent trial period for me to prove myself to Him and put to work all these things I claimed to believe or follow. As Matthew recently tweeted (can I mention the pastor's Twitter here?), "Embrace the seasons of pain that God takes you through--He needs to know He can trust you." Now THAT was well said!

In our times of uncertainty, trial, and pain it is so comforting to know that God is in control and will be faithful. The Well's staff show their faith in God in such an exemplarily way. I have personally seen the church grow from 200 to 1200 in attendance. Each Easter and Christmas goals are set and prayers are said continually for the gospel to reach numbers of people we would never have realistically thought possible. Oh yeah... and hello! We are about to move into a brand new building that we don't have the money for...yet! How is that for some serious faith! August 22nd could not be more exciting. God has shown himself in ways we never could have imagined, and I am so ready to see what overwhelming things God has planned for The Well's next chapter!