I stepped into a relationship with God at the lowest point in life, and He began to show me that following Him would mean leaving my old self behind and becoming new in Christ. Before God, I was raised in a Christian household, but it felt forced upon which led to me rebelling and going my own way. I knew Jesus existed and I believed in Him, but I had no real relationship with Him. That gap lingered into my early 30s. I drifted in and out of church, but it still wasn’t personal or transformative. I knew there was something more to this life but I had not quite discovered what that looked like.

There were a few defining moments that started to change things. I was in a dating relationship and I sensed God drawing me closer, but a decisive moment came when we moved in together after about a year. Thirty days later my sister sent me a sermon about the wide road and the narrow road. It hit me hard. I was on the wide road, comfortable but heading away from Christ. The conviction was piercing, I realized there was no way forward apart from surrender to God. It was the moment I finally chose to go all in with God. Where I thought surrendering to Him would put me in chains, it was quite the contrary. I had been living in chains and Jesus broke them and gave me a new life in him which led to an incredible sense of freedom and a heavy burden lifted.

I started serving, stepping fully into what it means to live for Him. After eight months I moved to a new apartment and started to get plugged in. I became hungry for God’s Word, and joining a bible study became a turning point, not just learning, but experiencing Scripture with others. Equip Bible Studies became one of the biggest ways I experienced Him, as the Holy Spirit used conversations, questions, and shared experiences to deepen my understanding and make Scripture come alive in community. Through these classes, I have been able to get to know Jesus better and understand what God wants for me.

Today, I am where I am by staying close to God and leaning into His Word. I’ve learned that life doesn’t pause for us to get our act together. There are good days, painful seasons, unexpected blessings, and overwhelming decisions, but following Jesus points me toward His Word, the place where I truly encounter Him. Being in community has been a game-changer. Bible studies aren’t just about reading, they’re about seeing how God is at work in real people’s lives. The Holy Spirit uses our conversations and shared experiences to deepen our understanding of God’s Word, and Scripture becomes real as we see God moving in each other’s stories. God is revealed within community as we were designed to walk alongside each other.

If you’re looking for the same chance to grow in Scripture and community, Hoboken Grace offers Bible Studies every week, an open, welcoming space for anyone and everyone. If you’re curious about who God is, if you’ve never read the Bible, if you’re taking your first step in faith or you’ve been following Jesus for years, you are welcome to learn. Come as you are, bring your questions, and be part of a community where Scripture comes alive, where you’re encouraged, and where you’ll hear stories of God at work in real life. There’s a place for you and a story waiting to intersect with yours. Life is lived most fully when we walk with Jesus, soak in His Word, and share that journey with others.

To learn more about our current Equip studies, click here.