Carley Sciandra

I strayed from the Catholic church as a teenager and spent my early adult life trying out different religions that I thought fit into the life I was trying to portray. It wasn’t until this last year with a new baby and troubled relationship, that I realized these things had never really touched my soul or saved me in any real way. My older sister whom I am very close with had been saved about 4 years ago and we would occasionally discuss the conversations she was having in her weekly Bible study; introducing the classic debates of “well then why does God still allow evil to exist?” Every question I had was met with love, patience and compassion for my curiosity which I’m sure came across as a little instigative at times. It was clear to anyone but myself that I was desperate for some salvation and redemption in my life, I was still just poking around blind in every other corner for it and my skepticism was not helping me see any clearer. My relationship with the father of my newborn was in troubled waters and we decided to give some local churches a try to help set us on a new path. I found myself at a service at Coastal Life one April morning, just me and my baby and I instantly felt a sense of home and peace wash over me. Fast forward the next couple months and in Pastor James’ closing prayer every couple services he’d ask for people to stand and open their eyes to look at him if they felt inclined to give their life to Jesus and accept Him as their Lord and Savior. Already standing in the back section with my baby, I stayed standing and opened my eyes but knowing at that moment I was standing for Jesus, yet waiting for something bigger to hit me. I wanted a dramatic “ah-ha” moment but I would still leave service that day feeling unchanged for some reason I couldn’t understand. After a powerful SYMBIS pre-marital counseling course with a couple from the church, consistent attendance to service and daily, personal household worship and Bible lessons, finally, another Sunday came around and I was alone in service. I had put my baby in the Guppies room for the first time and fully dropped in to service- undistracted. This was one of the services where Pastor James asked again for people to close their eyes in prayer, and while everyone’s eyes would still be closed, to please stand if you were ready to accept Jesus as your Savior. I finally felt the presence of Jesus come and take my hand as I felt guided to stand. I spent the rest of service and the last worship song on my knees crying to my Jesus that I finally could feel with my heart. Sobbing in adoration and undeservingness for the perfect life he gave up for us. For ME. For my new, imperfect and troubled family! My unanswered questions suddenly faded away and I knew all that I needed to know in that moment- Jesus was there all along reaching out and waiting for ME to fully, faithfully, and whole-heartedly surrender my own will and my own plan and expectation of everything I thought I would feel in a moment like this, and give it all to Him instead.