"I still felt like a baby Christian—still learning, still being poured into by my mentors. I didn’t feel worthy enough. But the Lord still provided..." 

My journey to Gateway Woods has been an incredible one. It truly shows how the Lord hears our prayers and answers them in His perfect way. 

At one point, I was working at a restaurant, and things were getting tough. People were leaving, and the friends I used to go to for encouragement and gospel truth had moved on. It became very difficult for me to want to stay there. Eventually, I was offered a director position at the restaurant. All I could think about was the money and the authority I would have. Honestly, that was all that was on my mind. I told them to give me two to three weeks to make a final decision, and that’s what I did. 

During that time, I spent a lot of time in prayer. I also went to church with a friend who attended the Kingdom Collective. We went during the Easter service, and toward the end, we broke into small groups and prayed for one another. They asked if anyone had anything specific to pray for. I shared my situation with them. As we began to pray, I clearly felt the Lord say, “No.” I felt a deep sense of peace—like, okay, that makes sense. I had heard advice from friends and family, but hearing from the Lord so clearly truly impacted me. It pushed me to start looking elsewhere. 

At that time, I was looking for a job that would either pay more or allow me to pursue my creative passions. I applied to a few places; some responded, some didn’t, and some just didn’t feel right. The same friend who took me to the Kingdom Collective later told me his employer was hiring. They were hosting a job fair where you could interview and get hired on the spot. I thought, okay, let’s go. 

I went to the interview, but something inside me didn’t feel right. Nothing was wrong with what they were doing—it just felt like I didn’t belong there. It felt different.  As I left that interview and drove home, I prayed, asking the Lord to help me find something that truly resonated with me—something that would use my creative passions and where I could make an impact. I asked Him to make it, very obvious, bright as day, so I would know it was from Him. 

The next day at work, during my lunch break, a friend was talking about where she was planning to go next. She mentioned a place called Gateway Woods. At the time, I had no idea what Gateway Woods was. She was doing some recruiting, and my friend remembered that I had gone to school for design. She said they needed someone who knew graphic design. For me, that was the light-bulb moment. It felt like the Lord was making it very clear: this is where I want you to go. 

But that’s when insecurity started to creep in. I began doubting whether I was qualified enough. I almost ruled myself out before even trying. After more prayer and honest reflection, I felt compelled to apply and keep pushing forward. 

At that time, I still felt like a baby Christian—still learning, still being poured into by my mentors. I didn’t feel worthy enough. But the Lord still provided, and I got the job. Now, having been here for over three years, I’ve grown so much. My design skills have developed, and the work I get to do here has stretched me in the best ways. But the biggest growth has been in my faith. 

Being surrounded by God-fearing men and women has helped me become a stronger follower of Jesus, even when I fall short. When things get hard, they are here. They pray with you, they cry with you, and they laugh with you. That is something I truly cherish. Working at Gateway Woods has given me more than a job—it has given me a new family. 

“So, in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith.” 

— Galatians 3:26