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Dear Church Family,
For the past 18 years, I have had the privilege of following Jesus. My story begins with a simple invitation. Two sisters from my work invited me to a young adults gathering one summer. At the time, I knew Jesus only as a historical figure from my catechism classes growing up. They welcomed me, patiently answered my many questions, and faithfully walked alongside me as I discovered who Jesus truly is—and, just as importantly, how to navigate church life. (Turns out, following Jesus was the easy part; figuring out church life, potluck etiquette, and all the wonderful church lingo took a little longer!) A few months later, at a youth rally, the Holy Spirit spoke clearly to my heart, calling me to surrender my life completely to Jesus.
That decision changed my life. Since then, my relationship with Him has continued to grow through His grace. Prayer has become an ongoing conversation throughout my day, and His Word continually anchors my heart—reminding me of His character and teaching me to extend the same grace to others that He has so generously given to me.
One of the things I love most about Jesus is His invitation: “Come as you are.” He meets people exactly where they are. Because I didn’t grow up in a home where Jesus was talked about, I have a deep compassion for people who are discovering Him for the first time. I know firsthand the difference faithful people can make when they choose to simply walk alongside someone.
Community has been one of God’s greatest gifts on my faith journey. If those two young women—and others later—had not invested in me, sharing life, answering my questions, praying for me, and encouraging me, I honestly don’t know where I would be today. God used their faithful presence to draw me closer to Him and to show me what discipleship looks like.
My prayer is that our church continues to be a place where people are welcomed, known, and invited to follow Jesus together.
Michèle Goulet
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