I owe so much of my spiritual growth to Christ Church of the Valley. Pastor Ashley Wooldridge is an incredible communicator, and ever since I moved away from Salzburg and settled in Lower Austria, CCV Online became my go-to source for staying connected to church. My parents started attending CCV before I was born, and growing up, I looked forward to Sundays with my entire extended family—grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins all gathered together. It was a time that brought joy and connection.

Community is one of the most emphasized themes in church life, and for good reason. Over the years, I’ve noticed that when I surround myself with God-centered people, my daily outlook improves, my decisions are wiser, and I feel more rooted in purpose. But I haven’t always been consistent. There were times when I drifted away, gave other priorities more weight, and in hindsight, those were the seasons when I felt spiritually and emotionally off balance.

Watching CCV online through YouTube helped fill that gap in many ways, but nothing replaces being there in person. Now that I’m back in Arizona, the first thing I wanted to do was return to church. I had dreamed about this moment for so long—to walk through those doors again and be physically present in the place that shaped so much of my faith.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NIV) says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”

We were never meant to do life alone. And while I once resisted that idea, especially post-college when I found comfort in solitude and hosting people from home, I eventually realized it wasn’t enough. Especially after becoming a mom, I leaned into my homebody tendencies even more—cooking, cleaning, creating a cozy environment for friends to come to me. But after a while, I realized: baby girl and I needed to get out of the house.

When we landed back in Arizona, one of the first things I wanted to do was make it to church on Sunday. It had been on my heart for a long time—I couldn’t wait to be back at CCV in person. Walking into the campus again felt so refreshing. It’s funny how just one small interaction can make your whole day. A kind woman greeted me at the entrance and asked, “Have you dropped your baby off in the nursery before?” I told her it was my first time, and without hesitation, she walked me there herself. Her warmth made me feel so safe and reassured—even though I was leaving my daughter with someone I didn’t know for the first time. Somehow, I had peace about it.

Romans 15: 7 (ESV) “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” 

She even handed me a free coffee coupon, and my two friends and I ended up enjoying a coffee together before service started. It may seem small, but those little moments—genuine kindness, shared laughter, a free iced coffee—carried such a fulfillment. Sitting in the service that day, I teared up more than once. Yes, the message was powerful, but it was also the feeling of belonging again. Being in a space where brokenness isn’t hidden, where people come together to seek something bigger than themselves—it stirred something in me that I didn’t realize I had been missing. Since that day, I haven’t missed a Sunday. I can truly feel the shift happening in my spirit.

I don’t share that to brag or make it sound easy. I share it because it’s real. I know what it’s like to drift, to take for granted the opportunities God places right in front of you. When I was younger, I had so many chances to get involved like joining a group, serve, connect, and for a while, I let other priorities take over. But looking back now, I see how those seasons of distance only made me more grateful for what I have now. God used those quiet, confusing times to tug at my heart and remind me where I belong. He used even the non-breakthrough seasons to draw me closer to Him and to the community.

1 Corinthians 12:25-27 NIV “So that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

God works through community

I believe deeply in the power of God working through people. That belief became even more real when I recently reached out to an associate pastor at the campus I’ve been attending. We sat down and had one of the most honest, grace-filled conversations I’ve had in a long time. She didn’t just listen with compassion, she spoke truth over my situation in a way that made me feel seen, understood, and even affirmed some of the hard decisions I’ve had to make these past few months. It’s a relief to talk to someone who just gets it. I walked away from that meeting feeling lighter, encouraged, and confident that God was nudging me forward in the right direction. It reminded me that God really does move through His people.

Galatians 6:2 NIV “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

In the middle of a hard season, I’ve often rolled my eyes when someone says, “In God’s timing, you’ll find your answer. He’s just asking you to be patient.” I can’t count how many times I’ve heard that—and how frustrating it felt when nothing seemed to be changing. But going through heartbreak and personal growth has shown me that there’s actually a quiet beauty in that waiting. And I’ve learned that God doesn’t always speak through big, dramatic signs. Sometimes, He speaks through a conversation with someone who’s walked a similar road, or a simple moment when you finally feel peace about a decision.I’ve learned that every encounter matters.

Every relationship, whether long-lasting or short-lived, can serve a purpose in God’s plan. Meeting with that associate pastor didn’t magically solve everything, but it felt like a breakthrough—one of those moments when you just know God is at work. It reminded me why church matters so much: because when we surround ourselves with people who care more about building God’s kingdom than protecting their own comfort, healing and growth happen. Real community is God’s way of showing us we’re never meant to walk through life alone.