My grandmother passed away on April 28th, 2022, the same year I turned twenty-three. I never saw twenty-three the same again. I was close to my grandparents and I miss them a lot, but I am thankful for the time I had with them.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/etbr/message Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

My grandfather passed August 23rd, 2019, the same day Taylor Swift’s album “Lover” came out. I hold that album close. This is where my lucky number had a different meaning to me. Before it was my lucky number, but now it’s a number that became a memory.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/etbr/message Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I always felt like an outcast, like I didn't belong. I didn't belong to this world or no one, but somehow I made peace with the fact that I will always be alone. I gave up trying to fit in or trying to be everyone's friend because I knew in the end I would only hurt myself. I would rather walk alone than deal with drama. I am happy I chose peace over regret or trying to please everyone. I won't let anyone change me or tell me how my life is going to be. Never mind knowing you don't belong, but you will belong somewhere someday, just not today. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/etbr/message Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This person was part of the worship team at Gateway Church. She taught me how to break the chains when I was struggling with the abuse I went through. I was abused by two people I wasn’t related to. She was there for me every step of the way, and she is still here. If it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t be able to share my story. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/etbr/message Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When there is a repeat of the same mistakes, you feel like you are stuck in a pattern or you are stuck in general. You feel lost or misled, or you don't know where to go. All you know is here and right now, you don't know if you can go any further or if you can hold. All you have left is yourself and that is scary to you. You put your heart into everything and this is how you get treated. It's no wonder why you are about to break. You can't understand why all of this is happening to you, but you realize it's not just out of the blue.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/etbr/message Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I knew Matt Hearn for thirteen years. He passed away the weekend after my birthday. He reached out to me the day my grandfather passed away and said if I needed anything, he was there for me. I wrote a story that was dedicated to him, because he was the founder of Gateway Church in Pooler, Ga. You will be forever missed.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/etbr/message Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I met Mrs. Law in my freshman year of high school. She had a passion and she didn't do her job for the pay the check. She did her job because she cared and she wanted to see us succeed. She stood by the ones she cared about and it showed.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/etbr/message Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I have known Bre since high school. She was a year behind, but she was like a younger sister to me. She had a great sense of humor. I am thankful to call her a friend and someone who I look up to. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/etbr/message Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I always enjoyed working with Shelly, not only did she get to know the people she was working with. She wasn’t just our boss, she was a leader. She took her time to understand everyone on her team and how they did everything. She was a true leader. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/etbr/message Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There will be certain things in your past that you won't be able to forget, you can forgive and you can share what you went through. Some of things you went through took years to put it behind you. Everything you went through was a lesson learned and a lesson you chose to share with the world. July 13th--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/etbr/message Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Every time Lula would step into the room she would always bring light. She could be called to multiple places but she never let the stress get in the way. She was another boss I enjoyed working with. She was also another leader who knew how to guide us. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/etbr/message Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dealing with your health and no one believes you either because of your age or because you aren’t showing any symptoms. This is where your voice comes in.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/etbr/message Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Someone who went through so much but still was strong. We had a lot in common. Some of our family matters were related. She stayed true to herself and what mattered to her the most. She never stayed down for long and that's why she became an inspiration of mine. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/etbr/message Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I always enjoyed working with Mrs. Patsy. She knew how to end the day on a positive note. When we were stretched and stressed she knew how to make our day better. There was never a bad day. We always pulled through to the end. We always completed each day on a good note. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/etbr/message Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Karen was a strong believer in Christ. She was someone I would go to for help and she would help me out a lot as well. She was strong in so many ways. I am so thankful to also have her as a friend. Through thick and thin she always had my back and I am thankful for that. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/etbr/message Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Martin and his family were looking for another church like my family was. He didn't know it then, but later on, he would become the senior pastor of Gateway Church. Through all the challenges that were thrown at him, he still never gave up. He kept trusting God and he kept his faith in God. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/etbr/message Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I met Mrs. Mock in my sophomore year of high school. She always put her heart into the lessons she was teaching. She always gave us real-life examples to help us understand what we were learning. She did care about her students. I am thankful that I had her as a teacher and that she inspired me in so many ways. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/etbr/message Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aurora was like another sister to me. She had someone close to her whom she loved, going through a difficult time. She never gave up, she kept fighting. Her strength showed through her work and she was someone I admired. I am thankful I got to know her story and how she evolved. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/etbr/message Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amanda was another person I went to for advice. We were always on the same page and we always understood each other. No matter how hard the day got, she always found a day to be optimistic. Even with pain in her eyes, she always pushed through. She taught me how to be a warrior and to always push through.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/etbr/message Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I met Hannah my junior year of high school. I lost so many people my Junior year, because of jealousy. They were jealous of how far I came on my own, they tried to destroy my reputation and what I built by myself. Spreading lies and trying to convince my parents to join their side, it didn't end well for them. They blamed everyone else because they got in trouble. Hannah showed me to not worry about them. They will never grow up or change. They will never take responsibility for their actions. She showed me what a true and real friend was, and I am so thankful for her. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/etbr/message Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.