The Lord's Faithfulness through Friendship:

In 2019, right before our country was rocked by the infamous COVID-19 pandemic, I met one of my closest friends. I believe God used that day to begin a work in my life that only He can do.

I accepted Christ as my Savior at a young age, but there was a period where, despite praying and reading Scripture, I wasn't living out my faith as I should. I struggled with frustration, and my speech did not glorify the Lord. While I am not proud of this, it was a reality in my life.

About halfway through my sophomore year of high school, I was in my weightlifting class for football. After the workout, I decided to head to the cafeteria—something I rarely did. I planned to sit with some guys I knew, and sitting with them was someone I had never met before. I sat down and introduced myself. In the midst of what had been a frustrating day, I used my words to express that frustration, saying things I shouldn’t have. My new acquaintance then pulled out his visitor badge, which read, “Student Pastor—First Baptist Church.” That’s how I met Seth King.

I was embarrassed and couldn’t believe what I had just done. Everyone at the table was laughing, and I quickly realized why. Seth then invited me to church that night (it was a Wednesday). I found a ride and went! I really enjoyed it. The people in the youth group were kind and made me feel right at home. So, I kept going.

At that time, my family and I were members of an incredible Bible-believing church, and I still keep in touch with people there today. In fact, I’m writing this from Kenya, where I’m serving alongside people from that very church. God has used them all to shape me into who I am today. However, back then, I wasn’t involved much—I’d attend on Sundays and that was it.

Once I started driving, I began attending First Baptist Church (FBC) full-time. My friendship with Seth led to friendships with many others over the years. Little did I know at the time, but my family was also considering a church move, so shortly after I joined, they joined too! I often laugh when I think about that day during my sophomore year, and how, since then, I’ve had the best friends and mentors imaginable, and I’m looking forward the fun times ahead with them! I’ve grown so much, and it’s all a result of the Lord’s hand in the details.

All of this is to share the incredible story of God’s goodness through friendship. This past Sunday, Seth announced that he has accepted a position at a church in Tampa, FL. While I’m a bit sad about the news, I can’t help but feel excited for Seth as he follows the Lord’s call on his life. I’m incredibly thankful for Seth and the impact his friendship has had on me. I know many of you reading this feel the same way, and I wish him and his family nothing but the best during this transition. God is faithful—and He always will be!