727 Old Graves Mill Road, Lynchburg VA

On October 6th, 2024, I had the beautiful blessing of attending All Peoples Church, the 75th church on my healing journey of visiting every Christian congregation in my city.

This journey, led by the Holy Spirit, has been one of immense growth, healing, and the restoration of my brokenness.

For those unfamiliar with my story, I was abused in every unimaginable way (sexually, emotionally, psychologically, physically) for 8 long, painful years, starting when I was just 8 years old.

This journey of visiting nearly 400 churches in my city will take about the same amount of time as the abuse I endured.

But what began in darkness is being transformed into a journey of light, love, and healing—one church at a time.

All Peoples Church was a profound stop on that journey.

As soon as I arrived, I could feel the Holy Spirit’s presence, as if I had stepped onto holy ground.

I arrived early, giving me the opportunity to see and record the worship team practicing for the upcoming service. Their voices, full of devotion and praise, filled the room with an energy that immediately touched my heart.

The lyrics of one particular song, “Jesus is in this room, making this place I stand Holy Ground,” stood out to me.

In that moment, I knew this service would be different, that God was going to move in a powerful way today.

Before the service started, I was blessed to meet Sheldon.

He was the first person to introduce himself to me, and his kindness was immediate.

Sheldon didn’t just offer a warm welcome…he took the time to listen to my story, to hear about the journey I’ve been on.

Then, holding my hands, he prayed with me, lifting me up to God and asking for continued healing and strength.

I can’t tell you how much that simple act of kindness and prayer meant to me.

The world truly needs more Sheldon’s…people who see others, who care deeply, and who take the time to pray with those who need it.

As I made my way through the sanctuary, I was met with warmth at every turn.

I ran into a friend, Julia Davidson, who introduced me to a beautiful woman seated beside her. We ended up having a heartfelt conversation about the shared pain many women experience, especially those who have suffered abuse, and how often they are discouraged from speaking out.

We talked about how things need to change, about the strength it takes to share our stories and the healing that comes when we do.

The congregation of All Peoples Church felt like a family. Their love, their encouragement, and their kindness embraced me in a way that words can hardly describe.

The hugs, the smiles, and the conversations were all reminders that, even in our pain, God places people in our lives to show us His love and to remind us that we are not alone.

While Pastor Jeffrey Crawford didn’t preach a traditional sermon this Sunday, the message was still profound.

Instead of a live sermon, we watched a testimony video from the author of “Former Pharisee.”

The man in the video shared his powerful story of healing…how God had miraculously restored him from paralysis and how God continues to use him to heal others.

His testimony introduced me to a term I hadn’t encountered before: Cessationism.

Cessationism is the view that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as speaking in tongues and healing, ceased with the end of the apostolic age.

While I hadn’t heard of this before, the testimony was a reminder that God is still performing miracles today, and that we must never stop seeking Him or limit what He can do.

The message reinforced a theme that’s been present throughout my journey, God is so much greater than we could ever imagine.

No matter how much we think we know Him, He always has more to reveal to us.

He is always better, more loving, more powerful than we could ever dream.

The testimony stirred something deep within me…a reminder to keep seeking, to keep exploring, and to remain open to the miraculous ways God works in our lives.

My visit to All Peoples Church was one of the most beautiful stops on my journey so far. It wasn’t just another visit; it was a divine appointment, a place where I encountered God in a profound way through the love and care of His people.

I wholeheartedly encourage anyone looking for a place of love, mercy, and compassion to visit All Peoples Church.

This is a church where you can come as you are, lay down your burdens, and encounter God in a powerful and life-changing way.

As for me, I can’t wait to see where the Holy Spirit will lead me next.

With each church I visit, God is healing the broken pieces of my heart, and I know that He has even greater things in store for the rest of this journey.

My prayer is that through this walk of faith, others will be encouraged to seek God, to trust in His healing power, and to know that, no matter what they’ve been through, they are loved beyond measure.

May God continue to lead me, heal me, and reveal His grace as I move forward on this sacred journey.