Taylor Coonis, 490 Testimony

When I first began attending 490 for Sunday school, I wasn’t sure what to take away from it. All I knew for sure was I wanted to overcome the hesitation I felt towards getting back into Church, and I wanted to become more confident in who I was on my walk with God. In all honesty, I wasn’t really hopeful that 490 could aid me on my journey in ways I thought I needed guidance. But, it turns out, all I needed to do was go where God was calling me because attending 490 helped me and is continuing to encourage me to transform different areas of myself that needed to be more open to the light of God.

For many who only take a glance at 490 from a distance, it can seem like we are a recovery group- Of which we are, but when everyone hears that term, most naturally let their minds assume it is recovering from a substance or a battle with addiction. While 490 can be that for anyone needing it, it can also be a solid ground for anyone who has burdens that become too heavy to bear on their own, regardless of what that burden is.

Everyone has something in their life they need to overcome and recover from- For me, 490 was my way of realizing I needed to overcome my fears, criticism, and defeats to truly grow into the Christian that God was calling me to be. My most frequent struggles are triggered by some of my most common faults: My constant need for control, my urge to always put in my two cents, or my lack of forgiveness. If it weren’t for 490, I would not be willing or able to openly admit that sometimes, my struggles can become larger due to my reactions to them. Throughout my time with 490, I’ve begun to understand how to battle fear with faith, control with trust, bitterness with unending love, and anger with understanding. When it comes down to it, I have and still am learning that to overcome anything in life, all I have to do is hand it to Him, trust Him, and try to live like Him.

Learning to navigate your walk with God and learning how to live in His image as we are called to do was never meant to be easy. I can say firsthand that it can feel very confusing and even overwhelming at first if you’re in your early twenties. It’s a constant search for balance between listening and learning from those guiding you and finding confidence in your own spiritual gifts and abilities. 490 gives me the perfect combination of the two, by guiding me and watering my roots where they need it the most, but also by giving me the encouragement to use my voice and learn how to stand confidently and boldly in my walk with Christ. God knew what he was doing when he created the blueprints for 490, and while I know his plan for this ministry is perfect and priceless already, I can not wait to see the lives of all different types that He can touch through it.

There are a lot of different scriptures and worship songs that remind me of what 490 best represents and what it can be for people, but this scripture, in particular, is one that I have felt best describes the biggest lessons I am learning and working towards on my journey with the 490 ministry.

“But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.” Hebrews 10:39

No matter your burdens or traumas from your past, or in my case, your struggles with your fears or faults, never shrink back- Never fear being destroyed or being less. Never hold back from falling into Him, because that is when you begin to fly the highest. God calls us to stand firm through Him, to use our abilities or talents or experiences to shine His light. Learn how to become suited in His armor, and allow him to guide you through your battles. If you take anything away from my testimony, I hope you take this: Starting your walk with God will not prevent any future struggles or hardships from popping up in your life, but it will give you a new sense of unwavering Hope for those times of hurting and become a constant light in the darkness- And THAT is what 490 is all about.