H7 Story: 5 Years of Pillar
On Aug. 18, Pillar celebrated five years of ministry! Nearly 50 people gathered for the occasion, and it was a joy to celebrate all that God has done through this beloved community.
Over the past five years, approximately 500 different people have visited Pillar, with more than 200 attending in the last year alone. Today, Pillar averages about 40 people each week. Even more exciting, 38 adults who have attended Pillar have taken the next step of placing membership or being baptized.
During the celebration, Pillar also recognized faithful attendee Kaylee Brooks and the way she has embodied what it means to be a “pillar of the truth” this year. Kaylee is there week in and week out—making coffee, leading breakouts, and welcoming others with a bright smile. She also pours into the members of her group beyond Tuesday nights, intentionally connecting with them throughout the week.
Pillar’s mission is Helping Young Adults Find and Follow Jesus, and perhaps the best way to see that mission in action is through the lives of the young adults who call Pillar home. During the celebration, three people shared their testimonies, including Allie Loveless, who shared how God has used Pillar in her own life. Below is an excerpt from her testimony:
Over the past five years, approximately 500 different people have visited Pillar, with more than 200 attending in the last year alone. Today, Pillar averages about 40 people each week. Even more exciting, 38 adults who have attended Pillar have taken the next step of placing membership or being baptized.
During the celebration, Pillar also recognized faithful attendee Kaylee Brooks and the way she has embodied what it means to be a “pillar of the truth” this year. Kaylee is there week in and week out—making coffee, leading breakouts, and welcoming others with a bright smile. She also pours into the members of her group beyond Tuesday nights, intentionally connecting with them throughout the week.
Pillar’s mission is Helping Young Adults Find and Follow Jesus, and perhaps the best way to see that mission in action is through the lives of the young adults who call Pillar home. During the celebration, three people shared their testimonies, including Allie Loveless, who shared how God has used Pillar in her own life. Below is an excerpt from her testimony:
"When I first started coming, I really didn't know what God was going to do with it. I thought I was just walking into a young adults group on Tuesday nights, but God knew that I needed community. He knew I needed people who would pray for me, encourage me, challenge me, and point me back to Him.
This past year hasn't necessarily been an easy year in every area of my life. God has had me face things within myself—things like pride, anger, my self-worth, wanting to have control, and learning how to surrender things to Him when I don't understand what He's doing. And one of the biggest things He keeps teaching me is that my identity has to be found in Christ.
Pillar has given me a place where I've been able to grow in that. I've learned that following Jesus doesn't mean you have everything figured out. Sometimes it looks like showing up and saying, "God, I don't know what You're doing, but I'm going to trust You anyway."
And probably one of the most unexpected parts of this year has been getting the opportunity to serve the girls here. Because I came into Pillar needing people to pour into me, and somehow, in less than a year, God has already started allowing me to turn around and pour into somebody else. That has taught me something I don't think I'll ever forget: God doesn't waste anything. He can take things you've struggled with, things He's taught you, and even seasons that you didn't understand while you were walking through them, and use them to help you love somebody else better."
Five years, hundreds of young adults, and countless stories of God at work. We are so thankful for the ways God has used Pillar in Allie’s life and in the lives of so many others. We look forward to seeing how He continues to use this ministry to Help Young Adults Find And Follow Jesus in the years to come!
This past year hasn't necessarily been an easy year in every area of my life. God has had me face things within myself—things like pride, anger, my self-worth, wanting to have control, and learning how to surrender things to Him when I don't understand what He's doing. And one of the biggest things He keeps teaching me is that my identity has to be found in Christ.
Pillar has given me a place where I've been able to grow in that. I've learned that following Jesus doesn't mean you have everything figured out. Sometimes it looks like showing up and saying, "God, I don't know what You're doing, but I'm going to trust You anyway."
And probably one of the most unexpected parts of this year has been getting the opportunity to serve the girls here. Because I came into Pillar needing people to pour into me, and somehow, in less than a year, God has already started allowing me to turn around and pour into somebody else. That has taught me something I don't think I'll ever forget: God doesn't waste anything. He can take things you've struggled with, things He's taught you, and even seasons that you didn't understand while you were walking through them, and use them to help you love somebody else better."
Five years, hundreds of young adults, and countless stories of God at work. We are so thankful for the ways God has used Pillar in Allie’s life and in the lives of so many others. We look forward to seeing how He continues to use this ministry to Help Young Adults Find And Follow Jesus in the years to come!
Posted in Tell the Story