Dom’s Story
Growing up, I had no faith at all. I remember being about six years old and realising that the word God was dog backwards, so I decided He must be fake. From that point on, I hated going to church (didn’t really enjoy it beforehand), which we only attended on Christmas Eve for the first 13 years of my life.
Sport became my identity throughout my teenage years. I played to a high level, but when that ended around the age of 16 or 17, I felt completely lost. I suffered from extreme anxiety at times and had no idea what I was supposed to do with my life. I had tied my worth to performance, and when that was gone, I was left empty and searching for something to fill the gap. I ended up in a heavy party and social environment, which led to constant use of party drugs/narcotics.
At 19, I moved to Dubai for work, hoping that distance would fix what was broken inside me. But it didn’t. Those struggles were still within me - dormant at times and overwhelming at others.
When I was 21, after experiencing major loss and feeling extremely confused about what I was supposed to do with my life, I had two encounters with what I now know was God. Both times I was intoxicated, yet Psalm 23 and the Lord’s Prayer played on repeat in my mind and heart. Even then, God was drawing near to me.
A few months later, while sitting with my cricket team, I noticed a cross tattoo on a teammate’s hand and asked him about it. That simple conversation led me to join his Community Group and eventually attend a church service. Over the next two months, I encountered Jesus, gave my life to Him, and was baptised.
From that point on, everything changed. My addictions, once overwhelming, were put to death with Christ on the cross, and God gave me purpose and a clear path for the rest of my life. Where there was once anxiety and confusion, there is now peace, direction, and hope. I’ve found an incredible community around me, and I genuinely look forward each week to serving in church and being in God’s house.
I’m so happy to say I came in lost. I still have questions in my life, but I am genuinely excited to be in and serve the church for the rest of my life.
As this church celebrates its 15th birthday, I am deeply grateful to God for His faithfulness and for a church that opens its doors to people like me: lost, searching, and yet lovingly found.
