JENNIFER T. THOMPSON’S STOR ORY
I began attending Hope City in October 2022. I had watched services on TV a few times on Sunday mornings and I was in the process of making big changes in my life...better choices and a huge part of that working was to grow in my faith and in my relationship with God. The first day I attended was with my mom and my 2 granddaughters who we took to Kids City. Ages 7 and 8 at the time. I’ll never forget that day as they were asking to come back even before we made it to the car. One of them said, “Grandma, did you know God is my Father?” She had this glow in her eyes because she learned that on her first day of coming to Hope City... something we assumed she already knew!!!
“It’s never too late, they are watching you grandma.”
So we came back. Week after week, everything from the music, the people, the atmosphere, all of it, felt different. The message Pastor Q would give felt like it was meant just for me but that’s impossible in a room full of so many people, right? I found myself reading the bible in the morning before work, praying more, and just feeling better about life. I was BELIEVING MORE! I heard about Growth Track and I knew I wanted yet more out of my faith journey so in March 2023 I went and soon after I signed up to get baptized. On March 26, 2023, I was baptized. It was absolutely the BEST DAY! I can say from my heart that I truly felt reborn. My old life was over and this new life and new love and walk with Jesus is happening. I publicly chose Jesus that day and I have continued to do so everyday since. I’m loving God, loving people and trying to be a good example to my granddaughters. When I got baptized my granddaughters were next to me watching and Pastor Q told me in my ear, “it’s never too late, they are watching you grandma.” I took that to heart. After that day, I began serving. I serve every Sunday and at the Community Meal every month with one of my granddaughters. It brings me joy and strenghtens my closeness with both God and my church family. I love it. I’m finding my purpose......FINALLY.
ANNUAL REPORT 2023
25
