Quonita Booker

My reason for hope is being seen and known.

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When I left college I was ready for the world - though I had no job, not many friends in the area and still felt lost. I thought lost is supposed to be what you are when you don’t know the Lord, right? No, you as a believer can still feel lost and broken.

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The one thing I did have ironically was a church.I started attending Westside right after I graduated. I was a little jaded coming in because I had been made to feel less than as a member of a college ministry. So, Westside was my chance to know my faith as my own, not tied to this ministry. I immediately joined a women’s Bible study. In the midst of my small group I shared how I no longer felt like a leader because opportunities were taken from me. I was reassured that what I had been told was a lie.

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Fast forward to my first women's retreat and an opportunity to lead for a day came and I was passed over. I wanted to cower back into that unworthy mentality. Instead, the next day I received a kind message from Anne Henegar who had been my first Bible study leader apologizing for overlooking an opportunity to encourage my leadership. I felt seen! I knew that I had truly found a home at Westside.

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The strength of the Westside community: the leaders, the members and the regular attenders who make it up have continued to be a sounding board of truth and righteousness when I am broken and lost.

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Brothers and Sisters, “there is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” (Proverbs 23:18). Please remember you are known.