The Matthew 28:19 Project

Have you ever wondered how you got here? I have been thinking about that a lot lately. How on earth did I get here? I’m writing a blog about my faith in Jesus, my journey back to God, and creating biblical content for social media. If someone had told me when I was a kid that I would grow up, move to North Carolina, and become involved in online ministry, I would have laughed at them and told them they had the wrong kid!

But here I am, unsure how I got here, but sure that God masterminded this entire journey when I wasn’t paying attention. He’s sneaky like that. My mom likes to say that God lays stepping stones down in front of us, and it’s up to us whether we follow the path or not. Without even realizing it, I’ve been stepping on those stones for a while.

Looking back, I think the first stone God laid down for me was Regent University. After talking with several universities about their master’s in law programs, Regent was my least favorite because I found them too pushy, and I didn’t believe the program would be a good fit for me. God, though, had other ideas, and somehow, I found myself applying to the university. I was accepted almost immediately. Up until my first week of classes, I was convinced I had made a mistake. I didn’t, and attending Regent turned out to be one of the best things I have ever done. Regent University changed the trajectory of my career. Regent laid the foundation for my desire to return to God.

I am reflecting on some of the other stones that God laid down for me. I began creating digital content for social media because I wanted to become more involved in my church, but I struggled to find my place. I’m not good with kids, but when Awana started, I thought they might want photos, so I volunteered to be the club’s photographer. I posted the pictures on my Facebook page because I didn’t know what else I could do with them. I was reading the daily scripture from the Bible app, and I realized I could use those photos of the Awana kids to create my own Bible verse of the day. I started designing graphics with Bible verses and the pictures I had taken at Awana.

Last year, Pastor Buddy asked me to take over our church’s Facebook page, and I have been creating content for it ever since. God has blessed me with the talent to reach people who might not be reachable any other way through my digital content creations. There is something special happening on our Facebook page, and I’m so blessed to be a part of it.

I got into gospel music because Reba put out a gospel album. She sounded so good, her voice so pure, and the songs touched my heart in a way I hadn’t expected. It was like coming home again. I downloaded many gospel songs and added them to my commute playlist.

I got into southern gospel music because my mom and I attended concerts by Ivan Parker and the Hoppers. When I suffered from insomnia, I would lie in bed at night watching YouTube videos of Ivan and the Hoppers. I started buying even more music, and finally, I got a subscription to Apple Music because I had been spending too much money buying music.

I became interested in Bill Gaither, the Gaither Vocal Band, and the Homecoming concerts because, during one of my insomnia episodes, as I was searching for Ivan and the Hoppers videos, I stumbled upon an old Homecoming concert and started watching it. Now, I can’t stop watching them, and it doesn’t matter if they were filmed in 2025 or 1995; I love them all. I have a subscription to Gaither TV Plus and Singing News TV, and I watch them frequently. Every time the Gaither Vocal Band is in our area, my mom and I go. We attend the National Quartet Convention and Singing in the Sun every year.

I got into Dr. David Jeremiah and his Turning Point Ministries because he came to Raleigh a couple of years ago, and he had the Gaither Vocal Band with him. I enjoyed his sermon that night, so I began following him on Facebook. I joined Turning Point Plus, started buying his books, and then I became a Bible Strong Partner. I listen to his sermons all the time at work, and I listen to his radio broadcasts during my commute to work. I cannot stress enough how much I have learned about the Bible and scriptures from listening to His sermons and reading His books. Most of my Ah-ha moments, or my I wonder moments, have come from listening to one of his sermons.

Look at all those stones I’ve stepped on during my journey back to God. I’ve come across this scripture in John 13:7 multiple times lately. Jesus says, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” I didn’t know what God was doing, but He did. He wanted me to return to Him, so He started laying all those stones for me. Each step revealed something new about myself. Each step brought me closer to my church family. Each step allowed God to create a space for when I didn’t think there was a place for me. Each step brought me nearer to where He wanted me in my career. Each step drew me closer to God and to what He has planned for me.

If you have been out of step with God, don’t fret. God has been busy laying the stones; you need to take the first step. Each step you take will bring you closer to God and closer to what He has in store for you.