Ester Mitchell was Wiccan for three decades but said “it never really resonated completely with me.” She got into it through some friends, but years later, something happened.
A Christian church popped up on the end of her street.
“And I was curious,” she said.
Ester lives in Vancouver, Washington, and was drawn to the church because of its name.
“It was called Coffee Church,” she said, and as a coffee drinker, she decided to try it out.
It was simple, really—the church served coffee and allowed people to take it into the sanctuary—but it was enough to keep Ester coming back. Even after the church moved out and Greater Faith Baptist moved in, Ester continued going.
Over time, she overcame her drug addiction and just last year made Jesus part of her life. After she was baptized, she wanted to take it a step further: “I wanted a deeper understanding of faith, of Jesus.”
Ester heard about BGEA’s Know Jesus course, a free, online discipleship opportunity that teaches new believers what it means to know Jesus and how to live as a Christian. She signed up and was paired with Glenda York, a trained online discipleship coach with BGEA’s internet evangelism ministry, Search for Jesus.
“That helped so much,” Ester said about having someone guide her through the lessons. The course enhanced her understanding of the Bible, she added, particularly the meaning of the Gospel.
“I understand John 3:16 better,” she said. She’s also started praying every day and realized that “there’s a lot to learn” in her new faith.
The course, along with her church, has made a big difference in Ester’s personal life, too.
“It’s changed so much,” she said. “I’m still clean, for one, and sober. I’ve made more friends.” She occasionally attends recovery meetings at her church.
The life change has also impacted her mother.
Ester’s mom grew up in a Christian family, but got away from her faith as an adult. Ester remembers being sent off to Sunday school with her sister while her mom browsed yard sales, and said her mom briefly embraced paganism. But in the past year or so, her mother has returned to her Christian roots.
She now drives 17 miles from her home in Portland, Oregon, to attend church with Ester.
“I believed before, but my faith is so much deeper now,” Ester told Glenda during the Know Jesus course. “I believe God saved my life and I finally understand what it means to have heard in my heart. The empty feeling I’ve had for all my life has been replaced with a sense of joy and wonderment. I am grateful to be alive and proud to say I believe in Jesus Christ and I am born again.”
Would you like to deepen your faith? Consider our free online Know Jesus course.
