I was raised by my loving grandparents here in Howard County. My great grandmother (my grandfathers’ mother) was Elsie Scaggs of Scaggsville, which is now Fulton where Grace Community Church is located. I come from a long line of Scaggs and Souders who have been here in what I call “North Laurel” for hundreds of years. So, when searching for a church, finding Grace Community Church was just meant to be!
My grandparents were religious people in their younger years, but by the time they got around to raising me, that flame or “passion” for the church had dwindled. My grandmother has always struggled with various health complications, which I think made it difficult for her to commit to any church involvement. As a result, I was raised without any mention or belief in God, Jesus, or any higher power for that matter.
I have always felt that my soul was lacking something, but never could quite put my finger on it. I’ve never been good at relationships, with myself or with other people. I had always gone to my grandmother for advice and turned to her for guidance. She always seemed to know the right answer and what I needed to do. When she eventually passed away, it stopped me dead in my tracks because I had no idea how to move on without her. That feeling of something lacking within myself intensified even more.
Shortly after her passing, things started happening in my life that really caught my attention and got me thinking that maybe there is something more to explore here with spirituality. While going through her belongings one day, I came across a Bible. I don’t recall ever seeing it before, but it was placed in such plain sight as if it were intentionally left there for me to see it. So, I picked it up and started reading! It was almost as if a light switch had been turned on inside of me and I realized, “Ah ha! This is what I’ve been lacking in my soul all of these years….Jesus!”
I continued reading her Bible and also started opening myself up to conversations with people about Jesus and believing in the Lord’s will. By doing so, I’ve discovered this whole world of people around me who are also believers, and they have helped me tremendously in this newfound, life-changing discovery!
It feels almost as if I’ve been reborn; that my life up until this point has just been a giant lesson on why following Jesus is the ONLY way to live my life.
My prior life and hardships are now lessons that I can share with my daughter one day as to WHY following Jesus is so important. I know that life will still be hard, and Christians face hardships just as non-believers do. But we know that God helps us get through the tough times and we don’t have to go through these struggles alone. He is now walking through this journey with me!
— Kelsey Mahon, Baptized June 2019
If you’re interested in getting baptized at Grace, click here to learn more and to sign up to attend our next Baptism Workshop.