Kim’s Journey from Brokenness to Baptism

Fighting through a life marked by pain and struggle, Kim had been longing for something to fill the emptiness. God met Kim in her brokenness and led her to a place of freedom and forgiveness. This past weekend we had the honor of celebrating with Kim as she was water baptized—letting go of a lifetime of hurt in exchange for a new life in Christ.

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It’s so easy to look back and see now how much God loves me, and always has. At the time though, it was hard to look up and see anything other than the pain I was experiencing. Growing up I experienced a lot of abuse, which made me believe the lies that I was unworthy of love, and would never be good enough for anyone. These lies created a trail of destruction in my life, leaving me a divorced, single mom raising three boys on my own. My father passed away, then a couple short years later my mother passed away, and then only a few short weeks after that the relationship that I was in fell apart unexpectedly—I was left alone and empty!

“I was left alone and empty”

I remember thinking how alone I felt with no one left to support me or love me, telling  myself “See Kim, you truly are unworthy and unlovable!” All I could do was roll out of bed, get on my knees and just sob as I cried out to God and beg Him to take away the pain I was feeling in my heart. The loneliness I was experiencing, and the realization of how far I’d strayed from God—It was the most horrific heartache I had ever felt.

“I realized how far I’d strayed from God”

Then came the day that my life changed forever. It was a Sunday morning, and I heard God clearly telling me “Get up, and go to Milestone”. Ever since that first moment when I walked through the doors of Milestone Church, I haven’t been the same. I went straight to the Guest Suite and was greeted by Amy. I looked at her and said, “I’m lost and need help!” Amy walked me through how to find the help I needed, and how to get plugged in where I could meet others and experience life change. I decided to go all-in and take the Financial Peace University class and the Freedom study at the same time—it was LIFE CHANGING.

Coming into Freedom Weekend my heart was surrounded by thick, strong walls of guilt, shame, worthlessness and unforgiveness. As long as I kept these walls up they would protect me from further pain, hurt and disappointment—but it also meant keeping out God’s love. I had started the weekend feeling so undeserving of God’s love, as I held on to the secrets and sin that were truly causing the destruction in my life. But by the end of Freedom Weekend, my life was changed forever. I stopped listening to the lies, because I finally knew and believed the truth: God is powerful, and He loves me! He tore down the walls I had built up and lifted the burden of guilt and shame that I had been carrying for so long. I was able to forgive not only myself, but those in my past that I had refused to forgive as well. For the first time in my life, I felt the Spirit of God replace all of the weight and emptiness with true freedom!

“I am truly free”

NO ONE has the power to define me but God. His love is never-ending, all-consuming, merciful and powerful! I have fully surrendered my life to Christ, and from this point on I am living my life HIS way. I am proud to have publicly shown this through water baptism last weekend, and I am so excited for my new identity in Christ.

—Kim