Ronan's Story

I believed in God as a kid. But as I got older, I drifted further and further from Him and started living for this world.

I had to be the best at everything. I tried to build discipline and excellence through my own strength, and I didn't realize how draining it was. All that weight of needing to be the best landed on me, and the pressure was huge. I fell back into depression and anxiety, something I'd struggled with since sixth grade. I thought I'd gotten past it by my sophomore year, but it turns out I'd just pushed it down. I never solved the real issue. I was trying to fill a gap that worldly things could never fill, and every day left me more stressed and more anxious than the last.

After high school, a friend invited me to a Bible study. I'd always said no. I was scared of my past, and I kept telling myself I wasn't good enough, that I was unworthy of that kind of love. I also thought following God meant sacrificing everything I'd worked for.

The first Bible study was good, but my heart was still closed. Then I kept going. The more I showed up and the more I started building a relationship with God, the more I realized how wonderful it was. And it hit me: what I thought I'd be sacrificing wasn't a sacrifice at all. It was a chance to become better.

On July 11th, I was in a deep emotional pit, more anxious and stressed than I'd ever been. I sat on a bench outside a hotel and prayed for two hours, asking God to deliver me. That day, I gave my life to Christ.

The next day, I felt no anxiety at all. Everything around me was still happening, but I wasn't stressed in the slightest. That's when I knew God's love is undeniable. It's infinite. He loves every one of us with deep passion, and His relationship with us isn't just for Him. It's for us.

Since then, I've been striving every day to grow closer to Him, because I've realized He's the only thing in life I truly want. And I want others to experience the love, grace, and mercy He's shown me, especially people who are in the same pit I was in, crushed by the pressure of the world. I want to help people grow in their mindset, their faith, and their relationships.

I'd always wanted to build a business. I'd had some in the past that did okay, but they brought so much pressure. After I gave my life to Christ, that vision changed. It went from chasing money to asking, "How do we help people? How do we spread the faith?" Now the money is a tool to help push the ball over the hill.

— Ronan