“I knew God. At least I thought I did. I accepted Christ as my Savior in 1979. I was 13. I know he saved my soul that night. It was real. I heard Jesus call to me as clear as if He was standing beside me. He said "Come to me and I will save you? I will, but you must accept me and trust me."  And I did. That night God gave me a new heart and a Love for others I had never known before. 

But Satan decided I would not be a would not be a warrior for God if he could stop it. He knew I was already a child of God just like Adam and Eve but he was determined that I would not be in fellowship with my Father and he used others abusive ways to deceive me. And like Eve, I believed him. He told me that God was pure and righteous (all true) and how God wouldn't want someone like me for His daughter who was tainted and damaged. (Not true, but I believed Satan.) How could God accept me after the things I had allowed others to do to me? I didn't fight against them I accepted it, so I must be bad, right? I desperately needed to make up for my impurity. God would try to draw me to Him, and I would only think of how unworthy I was, how ashamed I was, and how I could never be clean. I searched for someone who could love me even though I was damaged. Maybe if I was a good enough person, and strong enough for long enough, I could convince God to accept me as a servant in His kingdom. 

Just like the prodigal son I would be happy to be a servant. That was the best I could hope for right? Thank God that He wasn't content to let me be just a servant. He protected like He protected Job, even though Satan accused me before God, He said, "No. You may not have her soul. My son Jesus had paid for her and she is my righteous and pure child whom I love. I WILL restore her.”

Just like Job, I lost a lot but God HAS restored my soul to Him. And the love and atmosphere of worship at The Dwelling is one of the best gifts God has given to me.. I am thankful for the past hurts in my life for they are my compassion to others now. As God forgave me I have, through His love and strength alone, forgiven those who have hurt me. He tenderly restores my soul. Part of this restoration process is that God is allowing me to be a part of a family that knows God and makes room for Him so that lives can be restored and His glory can shine into the darkness. I can only praise Him and give Him all glory!” - Nita

In 2016 our neighbors moved out. There was never a kid base in the neighborhood for Noah to play with and I really wanted that for him. Over the few years prior, I was trying to get back into church and wanted to find a church for my family to belong to. I tried a few times at a local church, even "becoming a member" in hopes of gaining a church community. I enjoyed the messages from the pastor, but the community never came. So, I stopped going to church, again!

Back to 2016, I prayed specifically for God to send a family with children the same age as mine and that we would mesh well. Boy did God answer! In comes Gunter and Bethany with their amazing kids. I instantly connected with them and Noah found instant friends. Not only did God answer that specific prayer, but he also answered my pray of many years of finding a church home. Gunter shared with me the day we met that he and Bethany were sent here to plant a church. Instantly, I told him, "I'm on board." I wanted to do everything I could to see this dream of theirs come to fruition. This is what I had been looking for! It became abundantly clear that God was all over this. Over the last 2 years, my bible knowledge has grown by leaps and bounds and my relationship with God has as well.

Another way God revealed himself to me was after a conversation I had with Gunter about God's miracles. I had expressed to him that I couldn't wrap my mind around miracles. This was a Tuesday. Gunter sent me a podcast that night. The next day I went to work and God showed me miracles that day. It's true what the bible says, "ask and you shall receive." Here are the miracles that took place on that day. ALL IN ONE DAY! First, A friend of mine's grandmother had been diagnosed with leukemia the week before. She went in for a bone marrow aspiration procedure and the doctor came back with the results and said, "I know no other explanation, other than through the power of prayer, but there are no leukemia cells present".

Next, As a labor and delivery nurse, I see the devastating side of childbirth and pregnancy. On this particular day, a patient was sent to our unit because the office could not find fetal heart tones. They even did an ultrasound to confirm that the baby had passed. She was sent to us for an induction. Upon arrival, the doctors did another ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis. Well, when they placed the ultrasound on her abdomen, the baby was moving and had a heart beat. Not only that, but they performed a biophysical profile to test the baby's well-being. The best result is an 8/8. That baby had an 8/8 biophysical profile! This woman was coming in after being told the worst news possible and God showed up big time.

And finally, my dog was diagnosed with a liver shunt and almost died. We went to the emergency vet and to specialists in Florida. Obviously, the result was a crazy expensive ordeal. I was so worried, as I did not have the funds for this and was torn as to what to do. That afternoon I received a text from my husband stating he got a raise that more than covered the cost of my dog's bills.

I am here to tell you, that God is so GOOD! He really showed up for me that day. He knew that I needed to see those things to put the doubt from my mind. He is a wonderworking God and a WayMaker! - Abby

“My growing up years I went to church and have always been religious. In December of 2018 my family moved to Savannah were we struggled to find a church until our neighbor told us about The Dwelling. My first time going to The Dwelling was after I got back from from training with the Army. The moment I walked into the doors of the movie theater it felt like family.

I was in a very dark place in my life at that time. I felt that I needed something more but didn’t know what else I needed. It was on June 11th of 2019 when my life changed forever. It was after I hung in the tree where I tried to end my life that God opened up my eyes and my heart. The reason why I’m here today because God didn’t see that my work was done. God saw that I still had a purpose here on this earth. God has done a miracle in my life and he showed me that he is the only one who knows when my time is over.

It has been a true blessing to get connected in with the men’s connect group where God has let me know that I’m not alone on this path. I have brothers in the faith that have helped me get to where I am today.

It says in Psalms‬ ‭55:22‬ ‭NLT‬‬ “Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” ‭‭This verse has been one of the most powerful verses in my life.

I just recently attended my very first conference, MORE19, at The Dwelling. At this conference I heard the most powerful words that I’ve ever heard and witnessed God changing lives like he’s changed my life.

After the conference was over I felt the urge that I had to go visit the tree where I tried to hang myself. The ratchet strap was still hanging there. As I approached the tree I asked God, “Now what do I do?” God spoke to me and said, “I want you to climb up there, exactly where you were standing in June 11th and just look.”

Tears started to roll down my cheeks as I stood up there and thanked god for this tree, and this experience. As I got done praying in the tree I climbed back down and got on my knees. I could feel his work being done. I felt my entire body go numb. And as I stood back up, I felt everything go. I felt my burdens release. I felt my anger disappear in the woods. I felt my troubled conscious go away. It felt as if God just removed a sack that was filled with rocks of my my shoulders.

It has been amazing to develop the kind of relationships that I have with my family at The Dwelling where God continues to do his work. I’m thankful that God has given me a second chance to be a witness of how powerful He is when you have faith in Him.” - David

“I was baptized as an infant, and that was a beautiful way for my parents and church to dedicate me to Christ. Getting baptized again as an adult was my own public profession of faith and was driven by the fact that I’m on fire for Jesus. Jesus wants relationship, and my baptism was symbolic of the relationship I choose to be in!” - Alex

“In the four Sundays that I have attended The Dwelling, this is how I would summarize The Dwelling:
The Dwelling creates a safe and welcoming space for others to make room and encounter God, in ways that seem unfathomable. It is a space of humility, hope, compassion, and kindness. It is a space of love, laughter, and hugs. It is a space of worship, teaching, praying, and growing. It is a space of support, accountability, and honesty. It is a space of healing, forgiveness, rest, and renewal. Most of all, it is a space that is illuminated by God’s presence and spirit from the moment you walk in.

The Dwelling church has vividly and radically changed my life. When I was first given the offer to come to The Dwelling, I was close to saying, "No", as I was exhausted of going through the motions and seeking but never finding God’s presence within the church. However, it was not long before I found Him in The Dwelling. I told my friend yesterday I have never experienced excitement to attend a church or would get butterflies when I thought about God. Church was never the highlight of my week. However, with The Dwelling, that is simply not the case. I think that's one of the best parts of my experience with The Dwelling. In addition, that hunger to learn and serve God, began to fill me too.

I would like to thank you and The Dwelling Team for creating an experience like this for other people. I am amazed to witness a church of individuals that create this environment for others to also encounter God, the way I have. Finally, thank you for demonstrating what it means to live your faith, rather than just to have faith. I have never seen a group of individuals do it so well, as I have with The Dwelling.” - Karlee

“I decided that I needed my life turned around and out of the turmoil. I have not been to a church since 1999. I stopped attending the many different variations when I was being judged for being me, for what I was wearing, and how I was as a person. My wife and I have had several hiccups in our marriage and it was time to take the leap of faith with my Father to lead not only myself but lead my family in the right direction. The Dwelling has opened my eyes better than any other place I have attended and it feels like a home away from home. I am still an introvert, but being a part of the Dwelling and attending the connect groups is helping me step out of my comfort zone a little more.” - Quinn

“We have lived in Savannah for almost two years. We moved from Virginia, where we had a great church family. My daughter and I went to several area churches and just did not find the right fit. I was depressed and told my husband in December that I was probably going to have to talk to the doctor about going back on antidepressants. 

One day this past January, when I came home from work, my mom said, ‘You got some mail that I think you will like over there.’ I looked at it, and it was a mailer from The Dwelling Church! I read over the information and burst into tears! My mom smiled and said, ‘That’s the one, isn’t it?’

I came the first weekend and loved the service and the people. I came the following week, and when I walked in, some of the serve team remembered my name. I felt like I belonged here and that this was God fulfilling a promise that I would again have a church family to worship with and do life with! 

I am so grateful that the Akridges listened to the call to plant here in Savannah and for everyone on the launch team who made room for me. You all are the best!”  - Bobbie