All Stories of Hope

"I was looking for my identity in everyone around me but I found hope that God created me, knew me, and still loved me. Now I am filled with hope and confidence to live out my identity in Christ"

Sarah B

"I barely considered myself a Christian in high school. I was hanging out with the wrong crowd and stuck in an unhealthy relationship. One night, crying in bed, I literally felt God pull me out of the pit and set me on a new rock. He showed me who he was and what it meant to know Jesus. From there, it’s been the most beautiful and wild journey to trust Him, know Him, and become like Him."

Griff G

"Growing up I had a knowledge of the Bible and of who Jesus was but lacked a relationship with him. In college, Jesus surrounded me with people who showed me that walking alongside Christ was living life abundantly. Although my faith journey hasn’t been linear, I carry the hope of Jesus’ return and restoration with me everyday!"

Katia C

"I went through a season of looking for love in all of the wrong places, trying to fill a void with substances, and partying every weekend. Nothing was fulfilling. I made a lot of poor decisions and fell deeply into depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. I thought there wasn’t much to life. Until I had a crazy encounter with the Lord and completely gave my life to Him. He’s opened so many crazy doors! Now I have hope in Jesus!"

Jasmine

"Growing up I knew of God, but the extent of my relationship with Him was praying during times that I needed help out of a situation. Towards the end of college I was involved in a very scary and serious car accident. I found myself untouched and unharmed despite my car being wrecked. The next morning I vividly remember weeping about the life that I was living, and suddenly receiving an overwhelming “download” or prompting of it’s time for a change. I knew instantly that this was the presence of God and that the only next move was to start pursuing Him — the rest was history! My life has been forever changed and I have found hope in the calling over my life."

Kirby

"I have seen firsthand how hope is truly the only anchor there in this life. Growing up in a stable home with a great family wasn’t even enough for me to find that anchoring - I realized I had to find hope in Jesus for myself! I went through many moments of heartache in life where I truly didn’t know how I would make it through the dark emotions. It wasn’t advice that brought me out, it was the moments I would meet God and that his Scriptures brought life back into my heart. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that we were all made to hope but ONLY in Jesus!"

Kenzie

"For a long time I was searching for my identity in the world. I thought my worth was measured by how well I could please others and whether they considered me enough. No matter how hard I tried, I always felt empty and unseen. When I encountered Jesus, everything changed. I found hope in Him as my Savior, the one who truly loves me, cares for me, and understands the deepest places of my heart. At Grace City Tampa, I have found a community of disciples who point me back to Jesus in every season and remind me of who I am in Him."

Natalie W

"Growing up I was verbally abused by my dad and my relationship with him was practically non-existent. Eventually as I grew older I got caught up in a pornography addiction mostly trying to fill that intimacy that was missing in my life and it almost destroyed my life. All my life my hope was found in what I could achieve for myself I never let God have COMPLETE control. Until I fully repented and made a complete 180 in the opposite direction following close behind Him. Now the old Cody is dead in the grave. I am a walking testimony to tell other men that they can conquer and be set free from pornography only through God’s strength! On Christ the solid rock I stand! All other ground is sinking sand!"

Cody

"I have had a relationship with God my whole life. In my early twenties, I went through a lot of trauma and pain in my relationship with my dad. I looked for acceptance and love from other sources. I hit a low point and realized that God needed to be the source of everything for me. I discovered what it meant to truly call Him Father. He is the true fulfillment of everything I could ever need!"

Sarah G

"Life with Jesus brings a whole new sense of purpose and joy. I was living trying to balance being a part of the world and following Jesus at the same time which just led me to hurt and relying on the wrong things time and time again. Once I surrendered my life to Christ, putting hope in Him and living according to His word, I felt a joy, strength, and peace like never before. We were never designed to do this life on our own, living with Jesus has always been our true purpose and I am so grateful for a God that loves us unconditionally despite knowing we will make mistakes."

Carolina V

"I’ve always known my Jesus as a solid rock. I’ve spent a lot of my life being let down by a lot of people and trying to figure things out on my own - and when I met Jesus, everything changed. I love seeing all the good things in my life and being able to point it all to Him, he’s come through for me and my family more ways than I can even count. Life without Jesus just doesn’t make sense and my life is better because of Him!"

Jordan W

"I was raised in a Christian home and have known Jesus for most of my life, but it wasn’t until I walked through a season of deep suffering that my faith truly deepened. In my darkest moments, the Lord drew near in ways I had never experienced before. His presence became more real, more personal, and it changed me forever. I can't imagine walking through this life without Him. Jesus is my hope, my strength, my everything."

Brittany M

"I grew up in church and Christian school, but for a long time my faith felt more like routine than relationship. It wasn’t until my first year of college that I began to realize I wanted more than just going through the motions—I wanted my life to truly be centered on God and His people. In that season of searching, God gave me hope and a renewed sense of purpose. Now, everyday, I try to live with intention—choosing to walk closely with Him, pursue His calling, and find purpose in the hope He continues to give me."

Eliana M

"I grew up in a household that didn’t practice their faith, let alone speak of it. I was / am someone who is full of questions, and I didn’t start asking myself questions regarding my faith and beliefs until I was 20 years old when COVID hit. I started going to church and reading the Bible to seek out truth of this life. Through that time, I had an encounter with Jesus that I couldn’t shake… I tried to deny and refuse the scary yet beautiful realization that there is a God who created us and sent his son to earth in human form to die for us. I fully dedicated my life and got baptized in 2024 and my life has truly changed in all areas. God has given me a passion, purpose and hope beyond anything I could have imagined."

Nate H

"After following Jesus at the age of 17, I spent a lot of my formative years unraveling my identity from the world and my upbringing. Over time I have been able to fully surrender my life and trust to Jesus, and his consistency and faithfulness has been so evident in my life. He has been the ultimate provider in difficult seasons, and has proven himself faithful in his nearness, love, and mercy. He has been the only satisfaction that my heart truly desires, and his security, love, and mercy never diminishes."

Dakota M

"I grew up in church and always knew about God, but when I got to high school I started to drift away. I looked for my worth and identity in relationships with guys, thinking that would fill the emptiness I felt inside. But it never did — it only left me feeling more broken. When I got to college, I reached a point where I finally said, “enough is enough.” I knew the only place I could truly find my worth was in God, so I started going back to church and turning my heart toward Him again. Since then, He has completely changed me. I can honestly say I’m more on fire for God now than I’ve ever been before. He’s shown me that my value is not in people, but in Him alone! Living in that truth has given me freedom, joy, and a whole new passion for life."

Caitlin E

"I didn’t have the best upbringing growing up, and finding my identity in the midst of brokenness in my family, drugs, physical abuse, and everyone around me not being the best examples, I myself was wandering and broken. I remember finding Jesus when I was younger and having unshakable experiences with God that marked my life, but as life continued to get harder and as more and more trauma happened through my teenage years, I fell right back into what I knew and saw around me which was partying, drinking, substance abuse, and living for myself to try and fill a void in my life that only Jesus could fill. Through a few deep and really life-changing experiences, I came to the reality that Jesus is the only true hope in this life. I have tried the world and what it has to offer, but there is nothing like the presence of God who is all loving, who provides, who sees me and seeks me, and who wants relationship with me! Jesus is my hope, and is the true hope of this life!!"

Manny G IV