“Religion was not for me”
Changed By Jesus #56
By Brandon Prescott, Ballard campus
I was raised Mormon. Around age 16 my parents got divorced, and I began to question everything in my life.
Under Judgment
I began having premarital sex and when guilt kicked in I tried going back to the Mormon church to begin the repentance process, but I no longer felt welcome. I’m not sure if people knew the nature of my sin or not, but the other members knew I was dealing with sin, and I felt like everyone was already judging me for falling short.
It was then that I decided religion was not for me. For the next seven or eight years I was sexually active and heavily involved in drugs. I struggled with depression and was desperately trying to find my place in the world.
Word of Mouth
It was about two years ago when I met the woman who would end up as my wife. We dated for a several months living in sin before she suggested attending Mars Hill.
She was being convicted to go back to church and invited me to go with her. She had heard of Mars hill through an old friend that owned a tattoo shop. She had been there several times before we had met and was feeling that she needed to go back.
I agreed to check it out. After that first week I couldn’t help but be intrigued. We started going pretty much every week from then on, commuting from Auburn to Ballard every Sunday to hear what Pastor Mark would say next about Jesus.
The Gospel Routs Religion
Over the course of a few months or so, God began an amazing work in my heart. I heard exactly what I needed to hear. Pastor Mark talked about how religion doesn’t save anyone and it’s all about Jesus.
Although my life was filled with sin and folly, I didn’t feel ashamed for falling short. I felt welcomed by the church because Mark teaches that God loves me first, despite my sin–I don’t have to accomplish A, B, and C to earn God’s love. I learned that God pursued me first, and it’s through his love and sacrifice that I get my salvation–Jesus already paid the price for my sin.
Last summer, my wife and I got married. We are now blessed with a beautiful baby girl, and through God’s amazing grace I’ve been able to stop smoking pot; he has truly changed my desires. Although occasionally I am still tempted, the Holy Spirit is with me and helps me to remain strong in the Lord and continue to turn away from sin and toward Jesus.
What’s Your Story?
