I grew up in Lancaster City and I did not attend Church. I had family that were regular attendees at Church but it was not something that seemed to draw my interest at the time. As a child I never read the Bible or had a clear understanding other than the birth of Jesus from the Christmas Eve Service.

As I became an young adult and began working as a Police Officer in Lancaster City in the early 2000’s, I began feeling called to find a church but didn’t know where or how to look. In the summer of 2004 my now husband, Steve and I began dating and he invited me to a service at his Church. I feel this is the first time God began working in my life, when he found me a life partner who was a follower of Jesus. I became a regular church attender. Steve and I eventually joined the church, in 2007 we were married in the Church and began raising our three children, Brianna 16, Addison 13 and Benjamin 11 to be followers of Christ. Though we attended regularly, but I felt like we were fighting to get the kids to want to go to church. I felt like during this time I was just going through the motions just to say we went to Church but didn’t feel I knew God or was truly following him, although I believed God had a purpose for me. I had a Bible but rarely opened it.

In 2020 I went through my first shoulder surgery that led to being hospitalized several times within a few months. I remember Addison, at the age of 8 worried whether mommy was going to be ok and reminding her that God had a plan for us and to believe in his plan. The issues with my shoulder brought additional unexpected hardships to include a bone infection, 5 additional surgeries. In March of 2023 my employment with Lancaster City was terminated due to these issues. I began really questioning God’s plans in my life and why he was putting me through all these trials. I questioned “Why me”. This was undoubtedly some of the worst times in my life, I struggled with why God was allowing this to happen and my relationship with him. I became very depressed and thought my career was over, although I still felt a calling to help people and serve the community. In June of 2023 a friend had recommended that I put an application into a department near me. I thought there was no way the Chief would hire me, after just being terminated, but I PRAYED for God’s guidance. I ended up applying and let it up to God. In July of 2023 I was interviewed by the Police Chief, I don’t remember a single question he asked. I just remember he leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms and said “God brought you here for a reason, we’ll figure out the reason later”. I was immediately in awe and knew this was part of God’s plan. I left the interview and hurried home eager to tell my husband about the experience, as I felt God was there in that moment. In August of 2023 I began working for a Chief and a Lieutenant, who had a strong relationship with God and encouraged me to become stronger in my walk with him. Today they are two great friends.

In July of 2024 I received news that God worked again and my termination from Lancaster City was changed to reinstatement. I had no desire to return to the City as I loved working for my current Chief so I made the decision to retire with 23 years.

During all this, I struggled with our Church as I felt I wasn’t getting fed God’s word and didn’t really have a strong faith. I saw what my new friends were getting and felt I wasn’t getting the same thing. I mentioned changing churches to Steve and he seemed not interested. I remember one Friday in October having lunch with the Chief when we had a deep conversation about our faith journey and he mentioned LEFC and how he ended up here. That Sunday I tuned in on LEFC’s YouTube and Pastor Tony was preaching on how God protected Noah from the storm by telling him to build the Ark. At the end of the sermon, I had tears in my eyes as I believed that’s exactly what God did in my life when he moved me from Lancaster City and took me to work for the new Chief. After this sermon, I began praying that God would speak to Steve and help him to see the need to change churches. We visited LEFC that January and never looked back. LEFC has helped our family become stronger followers.

Looking back, I am deeply thankful to see how God walked with me through every season—a journey that led my family to LEFC, blessed me with incredible friends and a growing relationship with Christ. Psalms 118:29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. I have fully surrendered my life to Him, thankful for His faithfulness in my life. I have surrendered control, because his plans for me are better than I could ever imagine. The best part is knowing He isn't finished with me yet; He is still writing my story.