Hi, I’m Ammiel and am 17 this year. I’ve known God my whole life and have been going to church since I was a little kid. Like anyone else, I’ve had many ups and downs in my walk with Him.
In my previous church, I really struggled with my faith. At first, my small group (cell group) seemed very calm and nice. But then, many of my closest friends in the group left. New people joined, and I just didn't stay in touch with my small group members anymore.
My life journey hasn't been a straight line. At thirteen, I struggled with habits like vaping while my faith began to waver, eventually leading me to walk away from God entirely. By fourteen, I was lost in a cycle of pornography. I was not sleeping well and felt the weight of isolation and loneliness.
I hit a breaking point in early 2025. I was fifteen, desperate for love, and consumed by an anger that I often took out by hitting the walls in my room. But even in those dark moments, God’s grace was working. My family had recently started to attend Woodlands Evangelical Free Church and I was also getting along better with the people in my new small group.
How I got closer to God this year is because of what is happening to my grandma. She is battling a recurrent cancer. I found myself praying almost every time I felt the urge to talk to God. I remember being on my bed, weeping at midnight, begging God that my grandma would survive her brain surgery. The day after the surgery, my prayers were answered. She was conscious, and I thanked God for that miracle.
The push to re-establish a relationship with God kind of started as a bargain — “Lord, I will be a better Christian if you will heal my grandma”. But I now understand that salvation is not a bargain with God that way. I now can say that no matter what happens to my grandma, I have a relationship with God because of what he has done on the cross. I have received the free gift of eternal life with him that he has given me.
I understand that while my past is marked by mistakes, God’s forgiveness is deeper. I am finally standing on solid ground, stable and happy in my walk with Him. To me, baptism means giving everything I have to Jesus and starting a new life as a Christian.
