Growing Closer - Ben Nebergall

For the better part of my childhood and adolescent life, my exposure to the church and Christianity was pretty minimal. Then in 2004 when I first met my now wife, I was exposed to the Catholic church. Over the succeeding years we would attend the occasional Catholic mass, but without a background in faith and sporadic attendance, I found myself leaving mass as if I was just “going through the motions,” often leaving more confused and lost than when I entered. 

Fast forward to the spring of 2022. Now married with two kids, and equally lost in faith as I was almost two decades before, we attended our first service at Hope City. I can’t tell you what songs were sung that day or what section of the Bible was discussed, but I can sit here today and say with one hundred percent certainty, that’s the day my spiritual journey began. 

In 1 Corinthians 3:4-6, we learn in Paul’s writing of the importance of following God and not people. He states, “Is Apollos important? No! Is Paul important? No! We are only servants of God who helped you believe. Each one of us did the work God gave us to do. I planted the seed, and Apollos watered it. But God is the One who made it grow.” 

Even though this passage is talking about the importance of following God and not individual people, which is true, I can’t help but think of all the amazing pastors from all four of our campuses and how they have been the Apollos’ and Paul’s of my journey. Planting the seed and feeding me snippets of the Gospel in a way I can digest it while always ensuring that Jesus is at the foundation of the teachings. But with any seed, water and light are needed to grow and we as humans are no different. From the pastors we listen to on Sunday mornings, to the men who sacrifice their sleep for a 6am Thursday morning men’s community, to the friendships that I’ve formed from talking over a cup of coffee in the lobby, thank you all for being my source of water and helping me grow in my spiritual journey. Although I still have a lot to learn and I’m in the beginning stages of walking with God, the changes and impacts in my life have already been felt. 

As I’ve grown closer to God over the past two and half years, it’s inherently helped strengthen my marriage. I can now see where my wife gets her source of strength, hope, and love from, among many other qualities. It has helped me be more compassionate, patient, and understanding with our two boys as we enter into the teenage years (your prayers may be needed). But perhaps the greatest personal impact so far is a profound sense of peace and grace. We are all human and of course have our own worries, anxieties and concerns in life, but all of these seemed to have been lessened knowing that whatever is in store for my life is in God’s hands. 

So… if you are newer to faith and just finding out who this Jesus person is, I encourage you to keep your heart and mind open to finding your Apollos’ and Paul’s of this world. People who can be your source of water, helping you grow in your journey closer to God. If you’re someone who already knows, loves and follows Jesus, then be a source of water for those that may be looking, just as many of you have been for me. For people like myself who are coming to Christ late in life, it is often spending time with you in community, your words of encouragement, and your knowledge that’s passed through simple conversation that is our source of water.  

 

Ben Nebergall 
Volunteer | Hope City Church