Hope Shack

Brendan is a college student from Fort Wayne, Indiana, and he asked me to share his story with you here.    Here it is.  He’s excited about the new life he’s found, the story of his own rescue, and how you can find hope, too.   I love the energy and passion he exudes in his writing.   I hope you’re encouraged, too. – Christina

Shared via : My Story

I came from a house that was built around Christianity I was constantly involved with the church even at a young age. My parents kept trying to tell me to live a life like Jesus did. But truthfully I didn’t even know who Jesus was or nor did I care at that point. I could tell you exactly what I would do to constantly feel in place at church gatherings or in a sense I knew the “Christian language” of what to say and not to say. I got baptized as a kid at a young age but the faith never really made a heart connection. This would be how I would approach Christianity for years. I had one foot in and one foot out of the faith. When I was twelve my Dad decided to take his own life. This absolutely would rock my world and my families. To see my Mom cry relentlessly had made the biggest impact on me. All I wanted to do was to make her proud. The time I did spend time with my Dad I learned many valuable things that I use today. My Dad was not perfect at all but this is why I am writing this today to tell you that your life does matter but you are loved more than you ever knew. I entered highschool at a big 5A school Carroll in Fort Wayne, Indiana and I absolutely disliked it. I quickly fell in love with a private school named Lakewood Park Christian I knew some guys that had transferred there for my sophomore year. I quickly began to pour my heart out into my academics to try to get into Indiana University and playing basketball at Lakewood did I mention partying too? These idols began quickly to grab a hold of my life. My lifestyle would quickly turn into getting approval not only from a relationship but everyone I came into contact with. All I wanted to do was please her I defined my worth as what I could give her and what she gave to me that wasn’t love but little did we know we were so young. I knew what was right and wrong but all I wanted to do was the wrong. I quickly began to soul search and I begin to fall back into my partying days where I would even get blackout drunk. One night, I decided to go to the mall (looking for girls) with a friend and I ran into an old friend that I went to a Missions trip with. His name was Nate Peirce and He asked me how I was doing and I was straight with him saying that I was not too good. He then invited me to a Campus outreach event at Saint Francis another college in Fort Wayne and I meant another guy named Chris Gardner. I had dropped out of college after going just one year but then quickly went back to college as I went back to Ivy Tech Community College and then transfer to where I am today at Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW).  These guys would ask me some very difficult questions that truthfully I didn’t know. Chris had asked me this question, “How do you get to Heaven?”. I simply wrestled with this question I couldn’t grasp the fact of me going to hell but he didn’t even mention hell he said heaven. He used the game of basketball game to ask me deep questions. I went home that night after playing basketball. I fell to my knees I prayed this, “Lord if you’re real just show me. Please I don’t know what to do.” I cried for hours because God revealed my sin but instantly it was a dark to light moment. I had felt literally the biggest hug come around me as I was up against my futon in my room on my knees. I could tell you exactly where I was and when this was how crucial and pivotal moment in my life. I was quickly poured into by these guys and others along the way that I am extremely thankful for. Romans 6:23, Isiah 64:6, Mark 1:15, John 14:6, John 10:10, Matthew 5:48. I am here to say to that I am unashamed of my past. Someone told me that I had a story and I am blessed to be able to sit here and tell you about it. Jesus did not come for the righteous but the unrighteous. I live in the world but I am not of the world. I was luke-warm and didn’t know how to become a follower of Christ but he simply says “come follow me and I will make you fishers of men” I placed both feet into Jesus Christ on that day of November 8, 2014 and I have never looked back. I fail daily but luckily his grace is sufficient that is why we have to even push harder towards him! I am not here to simply brag about my faith but to brag about what Jesus has done for all. He came, He saw, He preached, He loved, He died, and He rose again to set you and me free. There is nothing you could ever do to fall away from the love of Jesus Christ. Literally Nothing he loves you he knitted you together and he even calls you his own! I hope just in this story that you would see that Jesus changes everything and everyone. Jesus was either the biggest hypocrite or actually was the son of God he claimed that is what I believe! I am thankful for people encouraging me to start blogging and I just hope through these posts that you would see the love of Christ. God placed Chris and Nate just at the perfect time that is why when we trust God and his timing everything will work out for good! (Romans 8:28). Have your eyes open because you never know who needs to hear that someone loves them and his name is God who sent his son Jesus to pay the debt that we couldn’t. My brothers Shawn, Ryan I thank God for you guys everyday and I hope you are reading this smiling without you guys in my life I would of been farther away from God. To my family you guys always came along side of me and loved me when I didn’t deserve it. To my Grandpa and Grandma I love you guys with all my heart you have instilled in me a work ethic that I only got from you guys and thank God that you set the example! To all the guys that have made me into the man I am today Chris, Nate, and many others I simply say from the bottom of my heart. Thank You and God Bless you guys!

Tell the World!

-Brendan McCormick

***************

 

Read More Stories                                                               Share Your Story

 What is it you’re facing?  Nobody goes into battle alone.  We can stand with you.  Let us know in the comments below how we can pray for you, or by submitting your story.  

He will fight for you.