Hey Friends!

I am not typically in these spaces; the ones of teaching and sharing. I am more a behind-the-scenes kinda girl, the one scheduling others, making and executing plans, organizing, communicating, and creating. Just doing the things that need to be done to make things happen! And in all honesty, I LOVE IT! I would never change my career for the world because I truly feel it perfectly fits me. It fits my personality, my heart, my enneagram, and all. Like I said, it fits me. So, the fact that I am here, in your inbox today, is just a step outside my ideal comfort zone.

Now, this hasn't always been true for me. Growing up I had the honor of being in a church that empowers and equips their young people. They are the kind of church that holds a crown above your head and will help you grow into it. Even when that means allowing you to do the uncomfortable things while growing. The things that take grit and hard work, some that not a lot of people are willing to do.

For me, that growth point was teaching and shepherding! But every Sunday, in a small classroom with some Jr. High students, I did it. That eventually snowballed into so many more growth points that I will always hold near and dear to my heart.

As I got older, I felt like God was calling me out. I responded to that call. And I got to learn SO MUCH! My heart and eyes were opened, and my faith was challenged in more ways than ever been before. Through that, I had some really great experiences and made some of the greatest memories! I met and fell in love with my husband. I made friends and found leaders I will carry with me for the rest of my life!

Now over these years, I also experienced churches and people that hurt me, who took advantage of my servant's heart, my generosity; I sat in services that were not teaching God's word, and I was put in some very unloving environments. I had lost all trust in "megachurches," I was bitter and broken. I was in an emotionally abusive job, that felt like I could never leave. One bright spot must mentions the really great community of believers we had around us.

But I held onto my hurt, I was not letting myself heal. And this kept me from letting anyone in. Because how? How could I trust anyone if I couldn't even trust the church?! A place where all my life, all I have ever had experienced was people who believed, invested, and sacrificed SO MUCH for me. Who only wanted the best for me.

Because of these experinces I fell into my comfort zone. Organizing, cleaning, just truly threw myself into my work. To a point where the only time I spent with my husband was if I saw him when I got home when he was going to bed. I didn't know myself, God, or my husband anymore.

Then, one phone call changed it. One moment of letting someone in, letting someone hear everything I was carrying, changed my world.

I called my mom.

And just like that, five years and a few interviews later, God called me home. Not only that, he called my husband too! Never in my wildest dreams would I have expected to see such a thing happen.

God provided!
He provided jobs for us!
He provided a home for us!
He brought me out of my abusive job!

I am back to the church that simply desired for me to grow into my crown. They saw that little girl who was fearful, but wanted to be loved, and they loved her right there. They taught her to trust, to have faith, to be bold, and to honor God. I got to go back to that church! I was undone by God's faithfulness!

That home church? It's Cornerstone!
Cornerstone has always been my home, even in the years I had left. I had come back a few times to visit, to be at the last service in the old building, to attend Pastor Charlie's funeral, to see my Jr. High Students graduate from high school, to see my mom. Cornerstone was that one ray of hope for me, while I was trying to gain trust in churches again.

My prayer for you, is that my story can provide you with hope in this season. To tell you that you can have faith even when you feel hurt, alone, scared, hopeless, or bitter. To tell you how God provides! Friend, if He did it for me, He can do it for you!

Cornerstone is not a perfect church. We will never claim that. But we are a church that will love you. Just as you are. Bring your brokenness, bring your hurt with you. We can't heal it, but we can introduce you to a God who can.

My mom? She is a special woman, who fights for her children. She makes us feel known. Encourages us on the days we feel less than and will never let us go a day without knowing how loved we are. Just as we are! I hope you get to meet Debbie Ring one day if you haven't already. She will make you feel the exact same, I can basically gaurentee it.

For me, I am not perfectly healed. I am not perfect. I am constantly failing. But I'm growing. I am learning what it means to trust your church. I am becoming open again. God is providing me with joy, a new community, a renewed hope in the world. All through my community at Cornerstone. And I hope you will open your heart to this same community that is waiting for you!

This Sunday begins spring semester cGroup registrations. I encourage you to take a look at them, really read over them. God has something he wants to provide to you, to give you. Whether that is hope, healing, a community of like minded believers, a chance to learn and dive deep - whatever it may be.

There is something waiting for you, just from Him.

Jordan Sanchez
Cornerstone Church
Communications Director