I grew up in a Christian family and have been going to church ever since I was born. I did all the things a typical Christian kid would do, attend Sunday school and go to Vacation Bible School in the summers. I was raised in a Chinese-dominated church, surrounded by aunts, uncles, and cousins. Many times, I had to be separated from my cousins because we fooled around too much during Sunday school. Still, I loved being around my family at church. It felt like a time to hang out and have fun with my cousins.

This was how things were for many years—going to Sunday school, hanging out with my cousins, and memorizing Bible verses for candy. Around 2018–2019, we started attending Cornerstone occasionally because it was a church close to home. Every time we came here, I wasn’t happy. I didn’t want to be here; I wanted to be back at my old church with the people I knew.

One day, my dad asked me why I didn’t want to go to Cornerstone. I told him I just liked our old church better. Then he asked, “Do you go to church to learn and praise God—or just to hang out with your friends?” Being the stubborn kid I was, I answered, “No, it’s not to hang out with my friends.”

After COVID, we started attending Cornerstone every week—it had become our new home church. I still wasn’t thrilled about the change. At this time my relationship with God was at an all time low, I never wanted to go to church because I wasn’t with all the people I used to go to church with. Eventually, I got used to it. I pretty much stopped complaining about being here. Looking back now, I realize what my dad was really asking. The truth is, I had only gone to church to be with my cousins. I wasn’t there for God.

At Cornerstone, things began to shift. I found myself more focused during Sunday school and because of this, I was learning more about his word, I made new friends but my relationship with Jesus was also a lot closer. When my parents heard about the Friday night youth group, they encouraged me to go. Even after having spent quite some time at Cornerstone, I still didn’t want to attend. I wanted to spend my Friday nights playing online games with my friends.

For a long time, I felt like I was forcing myself to be there. When a retreat was mentioned, I didn’t want to go either. I thought it would be boring, and I had better things to do with my weekend. But when I ended up going, it turned out to be one of the best three days of my life. It was so much fun, and I got close to a few new friends while learning about God’s word and praising Him.

It was during that retreat and the youth group nights that followed when I truly saw God’s love through the people at Cornerstone. I began to feel like I belonged. I grew close with my small group, and there was always something meaningful to talk about during our Friday nights together.

Even though I still feel anxious about change and the future, God constantly reminds me that He has a plan for me—and it is always good. It might not happen the way I expect or want, but His plan is perfect. A verse that reminds me of this truth is Jeremiah 29:11, which says:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

I’ve decided that I won’t live life based on what I want—but rather live the life God wants me to live. I now see how God is working through others and through myself to share His Word and show His never-ending love.