Taxes, car maintenance, bills—there is no end to the stresses of adulthood, and growing up is hard. But who says you have to do it all alone? At Bellevue, Young Adults Ministry provides a space for many to become confident in who they are.
“I think it’s the first time in life where you decide, ‘OK, this is my faith, and I am owning this for myself,’” Young Adults Director Tanya Franks said.
Owning one’s faith looks different depending on the person, but for Amanda McDowell, it looks like obedience.
The year of 2020 presented Amanda with many new opportunities to depend on the voice of the Lord. Having moved to a new city, she didn’t know where to turn.
“It was during the COVID-19 pandemic when I came to Memphis, and I didn’t really have any connections,” Amanda said. “I was looking for a home church and godly community.”
Amanda soon came across Bellevue and felt a sense of boldness to walk through the doors and see how she could get connected.
“I went to the front desk and just asked them how I could get involved as a young adult,” Amanda said. “Tanya was my first point of contact to get me involved, and she told me they were having groups at Shelby Farms and that I should come out. That was my first leap of faith to get connected.”
However, Amanda was still hesitant even after that first night at Shelby Farms. She didn’t quite understand how she was going to find a family or feel like she belonged with a church as big as Bellevue.
“I honestly didn’t think this big of a church would be a good fit for me, but the Lord kept telling me to be obedient and keep going, so I did,” Amanda said. “I tried to introduce myself to one new person each time.”
As Amanda pushed past her doubts and fears and continued to show up to groups, Young Adults Ministry felt more and more like the community she desired to be part of. This led to an opportunity for Amanda to be involved in a Discipleship Group. Little did she know, this was what the Lord had been calling her to.
“I didn’t even know discipleship was what I needed, but the Lord did,” Amanda said. “By being faithful and just jumping in, He provided me with people who fill my cup.”
Amanda has continued to fall in love with her community in Young Adults, and she slowly began to see how the Lord was working on her heart and in her life.
“This has taught me how to share the Gospel, how to live the Christian life—reading my Bible purposefully, praying like it matters, being involved in the Church,” Amanda said. “It’s impacted my life so much so that I went part time with my job so that I can do more with ministry. I’ve learned that I want to be the fragrance of Christ wherever I am.”
From taking the first step of walking into a new church in a new city, Amanda has embraced Young Adults Ministry and has developed a deeper knowledge of the Word of God. Although she was doubtful and scared she would get lost in the crowd at Bellevue, the Lord showed her that He truly is a God who sees her.
“Don’t dismiss what the Lord can do with a megachurch—the Body of Christ is the Body of Christ wherever you go, and He can still provide you with a godly community,” Amanda said. “The Lord blesses obedience, so take that leap, and continue to be faithful in the little things.”
You have a place here! Stop by the Groups Expo in the East or West Lobby after Sunday morning worship on August 11 or 18, or text “GROUPS” to 901901.