I AM THE CHURCH

We believe that the church is not just a building you come to on Sundays to worship. We believe that the church is a body of believers pursuing Christ, loving people, and making disciples. One way we do this is by sharing our stories. Here you will find redemption stories of God’s grace and our obedience.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

Growing up, Vacation Bible School introduced me to Jesus and I started to believe in Him. However, I did not have a relationship with Christ. When I was in fourth grade, my mom was diagnosed with brain cancer. My dad was often at work. So at 10 years old, I was left to care for my sick mom and little sister.

My mom’s cancer continued to go in and out of remission. When I was 14, I met Allen and our relationship consisted primarily of drinking and partying. During this time, my mom was saved and always begged us to go to church with her. I traded the relationship I could have had with Christ for a life of partying and impurity.

Allen and I broke up when I was 16 and I entered into an abusive relationship. Drinking became a consistent part of my life. I was continuing to care for my mom. This included helping her learn to walk, talk, and eat again. When I was 17, my mom passed away. I was devastated and felt broken. After my mom’s death, I continued my dysfunctional relationship with my boyfriend. Finally, I left the relationship after calling the police as he tried to commit suicide. I sank to a low point. I spent every day drinking for an entire month.

Soon, Allen and I got back together and continued to party heavily until I became pregnant. Hudson’s birth changed me. When he was one, Allen agreed to go to church with me. He wanted to go to Lakeview but I did not. It was too familiar and I was certain people would judge me. However, I agreed to go just once.

The Sunday we visited Lakeview was Youth Sunday. I broke down in tears. I wished that I had had that growing up. I agreed to go back again the next Sunday. The sermon that week was on Luke 7:36-50- A Sinful Woman Forgiven.

“Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much…” Luke 7:47

I could not help but see myself as that woman. If Jesus forgave her, he would forgive me. I wept and truly gave my life to Christ.

I began serving in the nursery. After serving for a while, I was hired as the preschool director. I was working in a toxic environment at the time, so I was extremely grateful for this opportunity.

At 4 years old, Hudson was diagnosed with a rare skin cancer called DFSP. I was understandably crushed. I kept thinking my only child could be taken away. The morning after his diagnosis, I flipped open my Bible and opened to Psalms where I repetitively read to trust in God.
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.” Psalm 56:3

I was able to give Hudson and his future over to God. Fortunately, that sense of peace continued through all of Hudson’s cancer journey. He had surgery that was perfectly orchestrated by God. There was no denying that God’s hand was on this situation.
For years, Allen and I had been struggling with infertility. Seeing my friends get pregnant was such a bittersweet experience because I was mourning for the baby I deeply wanted. I found hope in Hannah. She continued to grieve because she was unable to conceive but she stayed faithful to the Lord.
“And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, “I have asked for him from the Lord.” 1 Samuel 1:20

Addilynn was an answer to prayers. I am grateful for the prayers and community provided by God through our church family.

When Lakeview started The Gift, I was thrilled to grow our community of young families. True authenticity became the norm and we found our community group. We have formed bonds with families that pray with us, mourn with us, and celebrate with us; but most importantly have a deep love for Christ.

I can now say I am proud of the struggles I have gone through because each one has brought me closer to Christ.

I grew up in what I thought was an ideal normal life. I went to church and perused the Lord as a young child by reading my bible and praying. I was a high energy active kid but wanted to be good and always had a strong moral compass. The church was the foundation of my early childhood.

When I was 10 years old, my parents were in a car accident that fundamentally changed our family. My mom and dad were t-boned at 60 mph. This was the beginning of a series of loss for my family. Within weeks, we lost the father we knew. He had many infections, multiple operations, and near-death experiences. We lost my dad’s income and ultimately my parents’ marriage. After their accident, we stayed with different friends and family often and the only place I felt safe was at church.

Although I had parents, by the time I was in high school, I was practically an orphan. My mom had to work and my dad was disabled and living away from us. I threw myself into sports, specifically soccer. Fortunately, I was gifted in soccer and played successfully throughout high school which led to a college scholarship. There was a competition in my heart between self-centeredness and Christ. Christ was relegated from the primary position in my life. I was trying to serve two gods at once.
During college, I continued to make decisions that were not pleasing to God. I hadn’t willfully turned against God, but I was drifting away from Him. This was a season in which I found myself largely outside of Christian community as I was not intentional about plugging into campus ministry.

This was until the Holy Spirit reached out in an impactful way. For the first time in my life, I felt the weight of my sin, primarily my sin of prideful self-reliance. I broke down in tears because not only was I was mournful over my sin but also incredibly grateful that the Lord never left me. He was waiting for me to welcome Him fully back into my life again. Although I started to drift from my Christian faith and practicing convictions, God never let go of me. I never ran from God but I did start to conform to the patterns of this world. I was blinded by my lack of awareness of my sin and the Holy spirit removed the veil from my eyes.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” Romans 12:2

During this season, I found a mentor who discipled me through the rest of my college years and finally connected to a Christian community. My cares and concerns for the secular world faded into the background.

I met my wife, Katie shortly after college and we quickly married and moved to Germany for my professional soccer career. While in Germany we had our first daughter, Kyla.

When we left Germany, we moved to Texas and found a church in the area. We served full time while raising a family and running a business. The church at the time had an unbalanced focus on serving and lack of discipleship. This along with the busyness of our personal lives we lacked rest and it took a toll. We started to go to church with my mom. This church focused on how God can bless you. After a while, I realized they were preaching a false gospel.
One day I passed Lakeview, as I did every day, but this day the sign caught my attention. I went home and listened to a sermon and felt God leading me to Lakeview as a safe place for our family.

My wife, Katie and I have been attending Lakeview for eight years. While raising our family alongside the church, I have had the honor of serving in multiple ways. I started serving as part of our finance team, then as a deacon, and most recently as an elder. Each of these roles have challenged me and ultimately strengthened my relationship with Christ.

It is an honor to be able to serve the church and community. I am excited to be a small part of showing people the salvation of Jesus and His healing hand.

Julian– I was raised Catholic but we did not attend church regularly. My mom was abusive in every way and my dad was working most of the time. There was zero unity or love in my life. My childhood and honestly most of my life, was chaos. Growing up, even though I did not know who I was praying to, I prayed that God would take me away from this world.

Sandra– My dad was an alcoholic. He cared about his kids but was an abusive husband. My dad did not work so my mom was working a lot to support us. Catholic church was a safe escape for me growing up. I was a “good” Catholic girl. I was 14 my dad passed away and I was able to attend a Baptist church with some friends. This was the first time I was introduced to Jesus. Loosing my dad taught me independence, what I wanted in relationships, and allowed me the freedom to find another church. However during this time, I continued to go through and finish all the Catholic Sacraments. I knew of Jesus but did not know Him.

Julian– Sixteen years ago, I lost my mom to breast cancer. While she was suffering, I was suffering. I did not understand why it hurt me so much when she had been so awful to me. Even as she was dying our lives continued to be full of chaos and hate with my siblings. However by God’s grace, I was able to forgive her and for the first time in my life I did not feel like the outcast.

Three years ago, Sandra and I were headed to divorce because of my anger and hate. Again, I felt like I did not want live. I didn’t care about anything. These feelings led to affair and broke my family apart.

Sandra– When Julian had his affair, I was broken in more ways than one. I was hurt by him but also by my Catholic community. I felt judged and received limited resources or support. I had dedicated part of my life to this church and they were not there for us when we needed them most.

Julian– After my affair, I was on a walk and felt like I had lost everything. This was my darkest moment full of suicidal thoughts. Right before I walked in front of a car, my knees shook and buckled and I fell on my knees crying and praying for a second chance. The person I was, was not the person I was called to be. It was as if God lifted some of the weight from me.

Our son who was still living with us at the time, kept inviting us to his church and we continued to say no until he confronted me with a scripture. I cried and apologized for the way I had been treating our family. He invited us to church again. I knew I wanted to learn what he was learning.

The first time we visited Lakeview, we both felt at home. We could feel the joy of the Holy Spirit and felt called to come back. Very quickly we started counseling and ReEngage. Through this we were able to find healing in our marriage. After some time in ReEngage, we started ReGeneration and the true healing within ourselves and other relationships began. Each of us finally found Jesus and began true relationships with Christ.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Matthew 5:6

We are so grateful for Lakeview and these two programs. We have served as ReEngage and ReGeneration facilitators. Our family dynamic has completely changed. We pray and talk with our kids frequently and our first response in any relationship is always prayer.

Julian– I went from wishing I was no longer on this earth, to now loving others by asking myself “How would Jesus react?” before I respond to anything.

“What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”
Matthew 18:12-14

Sandra– I went from following rules because my church told me to, to having a true hunger and thirst for Jesus.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

My parents are from Central America and raised my sister and I to have a strong work ethic. They appreciated the opportunities this country had to offer, but stressed that it was for those who worked hard. I was raised to be an active member of my church- playing in worship bands to preaching.

Although I believed everything in the Bible as truth, I still never fully surrendered all of my life. Success was the only time I really received compliments, affection, and affirmation growing up. So I pursued success with everything that the world offers. I bought into, if I worked hard enough and performed well enough, then I deserved to have my dreams. Failure was too painful and embarrassing, so I avoided it at all cost.

When my expectations didn’t deliver, disappointment and depression set in. I saw success as the cure for the pain of rejection, sacrifice, and dissatisfaction I felt. I began to idolize success- “making it” in a band, degrees, body-image obsession, and beautiful women. From a young age, I was exposed to pornography and this ushered in a shame filled life in which I worked hard to keep hidden. In my mid-twenties, viewing images turned into seeking sexual encounters outside of relationships. I was broken and I knew this was not who I was meant to be. I had too much of the world in me to fully enjoy the blessings of God, and too much of the Spirit in me to feel comfortable in the things of the world.

“For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” Romans 8:6

Fortunately, I had great mentors and pastors. I confessed my failures and created a plan to get healthy. I also entered a time of strong accountability not only with sin struggle, but also a very routine time of discipleship. After a year, I was encouraged to serve outside my personal interests. I discovered missions. I was reluctant at first, as paying money to do manual labor was just not appealing to me, but this ended up being a catalyst to discovering my spiritual gifts and ultimately my calling.

While serving in Haiti, I shared a message. After that message, it became clear teaching was one of my spiritual gifts. I was exhorted in the fact that I had been chasing a musician dream because that’s not what God was calling me to do. I began seeking God’s calling rather than my own. God opened the door for me to go to pastor ministry school. I had constant accountability and had abandoned my past sinful habits. I was surrounded around Godly men at school and served with amazing peers.
Around that time, I reconnected with a girl from my previous missions, Kapri. We started dating and serving together. We had the privilege to serve traveling the USA with a kids choir from Uganda. God provide us the means to get engaged and get married shortly after the tour was over. It was also during that time that we were extended an offer to move to Fort Worth with the intentions of serving Lakeview Fellowship.

As a new husband, God continued my sanctification process with my bride through the ministry Regeneration. I was able to find my true identity in Christ alone, confess and heal from past sin, make amends, and continue on a path of reconciliation.
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” Titus 3:4-5a

I find my identity from being a son of God, a God who has washed away every failure I would ever make. I am grateful God made me aware of all the blessings I had neglected. My dissatisfaction was based on what I didn’t have and ignoring what I did have. Now, I am faithful one day at a time. I pray consistently throughout the day, asking God, to give me the strength to be faithful for another 24 hours.

Serving alongside the people of Lakeview has been a privilege the past several years as I have led missions, ministries, and taught.

I was raised in church and baptized at an early age. For as long as I can remember, I have believed in God but as an adult stopped going to church and slipped off the path that would hold me accountable for my actions.

In June of 1993 I was a flight attendant, had a great boyfriend, awesome friends, and a cute apartment. I thought I was living the dream! Living on this earthly high caused me to make the most selfish decision I have ever made. I became pregnant and decided that having that baby would inconvenience my life and devastate my family. I immediately thought, “I can’t do this, no one can find out.” It was a rush of emotions that were overwhelming.

I was 8 weeks pregnant the day I went in for the abortion. At 8 weeks, the baby is a little over half an inch in size. Eyelids and ears are forming, and you can see the tip of the nose. The arms and legs are well formed. The fingers and toes are growing longer and more distinct. I was shown a sonogram of my baby, which I barely looked at because I didn’t want to see and face responsibility for what I was about to do.

It was the worst experience of my life. I cannot begin to describe the noise of the machine and what it does- it will be forever engrained in my memory. Just when I didn’t think it could get any worse, I started having some complications which lead to a second abortion. I had never experienced anything more painful and heartbreaking. I stayed away from everyone for the better part of two weeks. I was so ashamed.
For years after, I put my abortion out of my mind, almost entirely. I felt like if I told myself, “It didn’t happen”, then it didn’t. I went on with my life, worked as a flight attendant for another 7 years, moved to Texas, met someone new and got married. We found out we were pregnant in September of 1999. I was terrified. I was concerned that my abortion in the past would prevent me from having a healthy baby. That I would be punished.

”Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8: 1-2

Because of God’s mercy, on June 7, 2000, I had the most beautiful baby girl. She was healthy and perfect! I remember the tears that flowed when I held her for the first time. This was God’s grace, my redemption for the many sins I had committed: pre-marital sex, unplanned pregnancy, and taking the life of my precious baby. Unfortunately, my marriage started to crumble, and a neighbor invited me to Lakeview. That was the beginning of a new life in Christ.

For the next two years, my only safe place was this sweet church on the hill. Christ’s love for me was so evident with so many loving believers that helped and supported me through many difficult times. While it was several years before I followed conviction to share my secret, I felt God’s presence in my life. I began to see Him working in my life, instead of feeling ashamed and like I was being punished for all the wrong I had done.

God gave me Lakeview, a home, a job, and a church family that would love me and help me through difficult times. God has set me free with His grace and His love for me. He died on the cross so that I could be forgiven. I gave my life to God again as a public testimony in Baptism on May 5, 2002, as my little baby, Sophie watched from a pew in our chapel.

I’m still a sinner and the pain of that decision never goes away. My baby would have been 28 years old this year. Because I have put my faith in Him, I have eternal life and will see my baby one day! My story is not one I am proud of, but because of God’s amazing grace I have been forgiven. God has continued to bless me with 16 years at Lakeview as the secretary and serving in the children’s area as the AWANA secretary. I am grateful for the most loving, caring, and Godly husband, three more amazing bonus kids and four precious grandchildren! His love never fails!

When I was two years old, my dad died due to injuries from Vietnam. Growing up, I was always talking to my earthly father in heaven. I would get so excited to share things with my dad and wanted him to be proud of me. After my dad’s death, my mom remarried and I knew my stepdad loved me but he was abusive in many ways as he attempted to prepare me for life.

After my dad passed away, I spent a lot of time with my grandad. We went to church where he was a deacon and spent most nights with him as he toured and sang in his gospel quartet. From an early age, I understood who God was and my life was surrounded by the church. I surrendered my life to Christ at the age of seven. I knew then that I wanted to live for Christ.

By the time I was 16, my mom and stepdad had divorced and I was completely on my own. By 17 years old, I had abandoned my faith. I started abusing drugs, living for myself and pursuing absolutely anything I wanted. I yearned to please myself, others and worldly desires. I married at 17 and we had three children over the next five years. God has called men to be the Priest, Provider and Protector of our Families. During that time I was providing and protecting but I was failing to spiritually lead my family.

When I was 27, I lost my granddad to emphysema and it devastated me, as he was a pillar of my faith growing up. I saw my granddad become completely dependent on cigarettes and suffer from lung disease. I knew I did not want any fleshly dependance to hold me any longer. After his passing, I started to pray again and prayed fervently for the Lord to take away my addictions to the world. I felt God say, “why did you stop talking to me like you did when you were a child?” It was then I realized that all the time I thought I was talking to my earthly father, I was praying to my heavenly Father. After this experience, I rededicated my life to the Lord and quit using all drugs.

“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” Ephesians 6:18

However, between the ages of 30 and 33, I was back to smoking marijuana and rationalizing it. In reality I was living for me instead of the Lord, again. I was trying to run from sin but was not giving God my all. Thankfully, God never gave up on me and He used this time in my life to burn off the dross and refine me into the man I am today.

When I was 42, my wife and I ended our 25 year marriage after trying to reconcile three times. Ending our marriage was painful. I finally had to leave all that I had at the alter of Christ and pour all I had left into Him. The only way I avoided jumping back into my old ways of the flesh was by taking it hour by hour with Jesus and the discipleship and accountability of my pastor.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7

During this time, we had started coming to Lakeview. I was attending church regularly and avoiding my old sin pattern, but I was still searching for something to make me feel whole. One Sunday morning, as I was praying in church, I told the Lord I was going to step out of His way and quit searching. I was committing my devotion to Him, alone. In God’s perfect timing, as I was leaving church, Sharon handed me her number. I called her within a few days and we dated for three months before I proposed to her at Lakeview. Three months later we had our wedding at Lakeview, said our vows and I took her as my bride.

Over the past 11 years, I have seen God work in my life and work in the lives of my children and grandchildren. I have seen them surrender fully to Christ and now serve His kingdom. I have seen God moving and working in the lives of the people at Lakeview. I am grateful to the people of Lakeview who have accepted me for who I am in Christ by loving me and trusting me with the opportunity to serve. I was ordained as a deacon and now serve as an elder. This has given opportunity for Christ to use me in a new way by allowing me to speak truth with love.

I was blessed to grow up in an environment that was stable and loving. My family went to church most Sundays. I had a great childhood and was living the American dream.

When I was eight, my family and I were attending Oakridge Baptist Church in the Woodlands. This was the first time I truly heard the gospel and responded in faith. I walked the isle, asked for forgiveness of my sins, and was baptized.

When I was 10 years old, my dad lost his job and all of our savings. I was going into the 5th grade when lost everything and moved to a new city away from my friends. We lost the American Dream and it was rattling for all of us.

How was the period after the move until you met your new friend?
At the end of 5th grade, our church hired a new pastor who had a son my age. We became great friends, and this changed my view of church. Before having this friendship, I went to church because I “had” to not because I wanted to. As my friendship with the new pastor’s family grew, I saw a family that really loved God, and lived out their faith throughout the week. They didn’t just go to church; they were the Church all week. This example spurred my love for Christ and the Church. I was now at the church anytime the doors were open.

Although I was saved at the age of eight and surrendered my life to the ministry at the age of 13, the truth of the gospel really took hold of my heart in college. I began to realize that my church attendance and ability to look good in public did not make me right with God. I was a Pharisee, outwardly holy and prideful, all the while inwardly struggling with self-doubt and lust. I lived in an endless cycle of sin, guilt, and shame, then promising to do better, only to fail again and again. I wondered if God could really love someone like me and if I would ever be right with God.

In college, Romans 8:1 changed it all for me.
“There is now therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

The gospel tells me I am a sinner, deserving death, condemned already, and God died for me knowing my sin and my shame. I AM RIGHT WITH GOD ALREADY! That news rocked me to the core. Jesus loves me so much; He died the death I deserve. I AM A CHILD OF GOD! God knows me, all my flaws, and still saved me, adopted me, and is in the process of changing me to look more like Him.

I have felt loved and welcomed by the sweet and passionate people of Lakeview Fellowship. I have surrendered my life to serving the Lord as a Pastor of His church. I am honored and humbled that God would use me to share his love and grace with a lost and hurting world. I am excited to see all that God has in store for this incredible church.