My family got converted when I was 6, beginning with my dad’s conversion, which included a near-death experience for him. I used to attend church merely to fulfil a “Christian quota” while simply trying to get by each day, my life is now inseparable from the church. How I plan my week, or even my time and commitments throughout the year revolves around the church’s calendar. This has also meant becoming busier, having gained a new life perspective that there is always much work to be done, because such is the nature of ministry. As a Christian, I became more intentional and opportunistic when it came to meeting new people, as I saw them as souls who needed to hear the Gospel. The call to preach the Gospel has been my primary motivator for meeting with and talking to new people since. I started taking church seriously, becoming more responsible with life, accepting reality and being more honest with myself. Where I used to be a freelancer who only works when I feel like it, being clear with my identity and purpose convicted me to get a full time job so that I learn what it means to be like my Father, to learn submission to higher authorities, and have the ability to provide for myself as well as the church. Marriage was another thing I never would have considered previously because I’ve always struggled with my body as a woman, viewing it as cause for weakness and vulnerability, something desired by man only for sex. The idea of sex still scares me because the thought that it was something filthy was deeply instilled in me, but events like WEW and church camp helped me to start seeing sex as something good and a gift from God to mankind. As I continue to work out on that, I’m currently also on the trajectory of working towards marriage. One of many distinctives of CERC is that it exemplifies Luther’s very words of “Let God be God” because of her boldness and uncompromising nature in preaching the Word unfiltered. This can only come from a fear of God first and foremost and is what allows CERC to go beyond societal standards, not being confined to what is considered to be the norm by contemporary christianity. I see CERC’s concern in taking the Gospel seriously both in her boldness in preaching and how she ministers to others, through which I have personally benefited immensely from. I was exposed to my sins which allows me to truly repent and work towards being like Christ. Besides that , the Christians in CERC are otherworldly. They care for my soul like no one before, and I realised it was because they care and love as Christ Himself loves, they are concerned about what God cares about, and that is why they would even be willing to confront uncomfortable subjects, such as calling out sin or rebuking my poor attitude. They don’t see me as just a hopeless Gen-Z shaped by my past; instead, they see through the reality of God’s saving work in me—as an image bearer and steward, someone whom Christ has died for, and hence, someone who now has new life and new heart, capable of obedience & repentance in conforming to Christ-likeness. I want to be part of something so grand and heavenly and I hope to commit to this church and contribute to the expanding of God’s kingdom on earth.