Submitted by: Jessica Glover, Fort Bragg, NC.
When I was a teenager I thought that I had found God. I thought that I had been saved. Boy, was I wrong. As an adult, I realize that just going to church three times a week and saying that you believe, doesn’t mean you have a good relationship with God.
On May 10, 2009, a military chapel opened in my neighborhood called Chapel Next Linden Oaks. After leaving service that day, I felt different. Everything looked brighter and I wanted to be a better mother and wife. During the next Sunday service, I found out about a women’s group called PWOC (Protestant Woman of the Chapel). My family and I have been at Fort Bragg for three years but this was the first time I had heard of PWOC.
I was so scared to go to PWOC. What if they didn’t accept me? What if I didn’t fit in? The night before, I made up my mind that I wasn’t going. The following morning, I woke up with this strange urge to go; so I went. It was the last fellowship for the semester and was called a ‘Tea and Testimony.’ During ‘Tea and Testimony,’ they announced a W.I.L.D (Women Intent on Leadership Development) training event to be held the following Tuesday, May 26, 2009. Knowing that I wanted to be involved during the fall semester, I signed up to attend. The W.I.L.D training was so informative. The ladies at my table and I were having a small group discussion when I decided to tell the story of my childhood through my teenage years. This was a very troublesome time for me. One of the ladies at the table said, “Let’s pray right now for you.” And we did. During the Prayer, my life changed whole-heartedly. I cannot explain what happened to me during that prayer, all I know is that God was there and that He accepted me right then and there. This was my ‘A-Ha’ moment! From that day forth, I have committed my life to learning how to and being the best Christian I can possibly be.
My husband and I have been married for just over three years. We got married in a courthouse. It was very rushed and quick because he was joining the Army two weeks later. We had planned a big church wedding but things just didn’t happen that way. With that being said, between Chapel Next Linden Oaks and PWOC, our lives had changed. On August 9, 2009, we renewed our vows within the church so that we can be pure through God before my husband’s upcoming deployment.
PWOC and Chapel Next Linden Oaks also gave me the strength and courage to stay here at Fort Bragg during the deployment instead of moving back to Illinois with my family. I cannot wait to see what life lessons and spiritual growth PWOC and Chapel Next will help me with next!!
