It could be as simple as sharing a cup of coffee with a friend, or deciding to spend time in God’s Word. It might have been the honest conversation you had about a struggle you’re facing. God uses many different moments and opportunities to move us closer to Him. Meet just a few people at Watermark whose lives have been changed in dramatic ways as they engaged with Christ. And consider how the Lord may be working in your heart right now and how you’ll respond to the next chapter the Lord intends to write in your life.
Time in God’s Word
“Spending time in God’s Word, and talking about what I’m learning with other men at Summit Men’s Bible Study changed my life. Until the day I came to church here two years ago, I’d never heard about a forgiving God. But something clicked as I heard the Truth about God’s love, and grace started to make sense to me. I started reading the Bible some time after that, and learning a lot about Scripture by taking part in the study. Since then, it feels like a million pounds has been lifted, and I have more freedom than I’ve ever had in my life. I’ve been able to talk about my struggles with people God has put in my life, and they’ve helped me understand what God’s Word says about sin and that I’m loved by Him in spite of it.” – Russ Mamoth
Living in Community
“One of my favorite times of the week is the time when the men from our group meet. For us it’s a time free of expectations and anxiety—where we don’t have to prove anything. It’s there that God speaks to my heart through these men. One of the ways they push me is to be proactive and take initiative with my family. I tend to manage my personal life like I manage projects at work. With this approach, I tend to order and control my household to my liking. But God has called me to so much more. He wants me to be passionate about His Word and raise a family that feels the same way. He wants me to serve creatively, lead inspirationally and set an example consistently. Without the spiritual cattle prod of accountability, I wouldn’t strive for what God wants in my life.” – Mike Netzer
“For a long time, I lived life on my terms, never thinking of others. When I got into community with others, I had men to hold me accountable to stay in the Word and away from alcohol. Watching these guys talk honestly about their sin made me look at my life. I started walking fully with Christ and He gave me a desire to live for something other than myself – a heart to truly serve others. I would never have been able to break the hold alcohol had on my life if it hadn’t been for the Christian men who walked with me through those transformative months of sobriety. Now, I find joy in Christ, and I’m both humbled and rewarded that God can use me to love and serve others.” – Ben Sanford
Serving Others
“Being available and selflessly loving the young man I’ve been mentoring, Deon, has opened the door for him to listen to what I had to say. I’ve been very transparent about challenges in my life and the Scripture I’ve sought to apply as I’ve walked through difficult times. The Lord has used this to make my daily life more consistent with what I believe, and that has given me credibility with Deon. I’m really grateful for what God has done, and the eternal deposits He’s allowed me to make in His Kingdom.” – Jordan Denzer
Learning What it Truly Meant to Follow Christ
“For me, deciding to be part of Celebrate Recovery was a turning point in my relationship with Christ. The framework was straight out of the Bible. I learned what it truly meant to follow Christ and the freedom that comes from exposing the sin in your life to people you can trust. I want people to know that it doesn’t have to take a decade to come around. Deal with sin – the past and present — as soon as you can, because God can be trusted to heal and restore. Today, I’m walking in peace, I’m walking in Truth and I really feel like I can trust God. I’ve made a lot of mistakes, but I know God has forgiven me. My marriage is stronger and my past has been redeemed.” – Heath Johnson
