“5:35 p.m… I’m late,” I muttered to myself as I pulled onto the gravel road by the pavilion. I threw on a sweatshirt over my work clothes and ran across the field, the sun setting behind me. Two fire pits were spread around the space, and a few people lingered around them as they held marshmallows over the flames and chatted with each other. It was April of 2021, and the first event for the Young Professionals Ministry since the protocols of the pandemic had eased. At the time, I had only been a part of West Shore for about six months. That fall, I had what you could call a ‘faith crisis’ and had left the church I was raised in to make my faith my own. I reached out to the YoPro Ministry and asked if there were any events for young adults happening soon. After connecting with Pastor Dan, who oversaw the ministry, he asked if I’d like to help plan the bonfire. I happily obliged. 
Truthfully, I wasn’t expecting much attendance — maybe 10 people or so to show up on this drizzly Saturday night. Despite the forecast, it turns out that I grossly underestimated how many people wanted to be there. Fifty Young Professionals (young adults ages 23 – 30) came out that night. Each of them were just like me: seeking deeper connections and a community that would push them to know and follow Jesus better. They, too, longed for people who were navigating the same stage of life – that seemingly never-ending cycle of change called “your twenties”.
Seeing their passion and desire for community set me on fire! I immediately joined the Young Professionals leadership team, expecting my community to fall out of thin air. I started planning and leading events, excited to meet new people and create lasting relationships.
About a year later, the fire inside me had died down, and I felt discouraged by my own lack of community. In the span of 5 months, I had been to three different LifeGroup Startups, and left each one feeling deflated as work or scheduling conflicts left me unable to find a group. At that point, I didn’t know where to turn or who to talk to. Maybe, I thought, it just wasn’t my time. I walked into our next Young Professionals event half-heartedly.
That season was the greatest reminder that God’s plans are so much better than my own! Little did I know that this event would lead me to the LifeGroup I am now a part of. I had mentioned to one of the members, Senna, that I was looking for a group but having a hard time finding a good fit. As I was feeling discouraged at the event over not finding the group, Senna’s group had already planned on asking me to join them that very night!
It’s been almost four years since I joined that LifeGroup, and it has truly been one of the greatest parts of my faith journey. Going through my twenties with like-minded believers who love the Lord, love other people, and want to glorify Him, has been such a blessing. Mondays are my favorite night of the week as we sit together, read God’s Word, and process through the sermon together. We’ve celebrated events both big and small — birthdays, weddings, housewarmings, graduations. We’ve walked with each other during heartbreak and heartache.
As I reflect on this season of my life, I’m reminded of the fact that “God’s ways are higher than our ways” (Isaiah 55:9) and that we are to “give thanks to the Lord in ALL circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18), regardless of what we’re going through or what we’re waiting on. I tend to rush into the next thing instead of stopping to ask the Lord for His will to be done and worship Him in the waiting. His provision and direction for my life, and your life, is so much more than we can imagine. As we seek His will, our desires turn into His. I am so thankful that the Lord provided for my deepest desires in what could only be His timing.
If you’re a Young Professional (age 23-30), there is a place for you at West Shore! We host laid-back monthly events that connect young adults and lead them to deeper community with Christ-followers in a similar life stage. Our desire is to help you join a LifeGroup, serve the community, and follow the Lord together. Life in your twenties can be hard and confusing, just like it was for me. But it’s a whole lot better when you have a community that will encourage you, challenge you, and help you grow in your walk with Christ.
Learn more about the YoPro Ministry.
