Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “move from here to there,” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. – Matthew 17:20
Imagine this faith – believing that nothing, not even moving mountains, is beyond our reach.
Hi, I’m Michele – the newest member of the Stainsby Hurley team. I am originally from New Jersey [cue Jersey jokes here]. I moved to Florida in 2012 after graduating with my master’s degree at Rowan University to join the Fitness and Wellness Team at Florida Southern College. Since then, I’ve moved around jobs but found a new family at Allen & Company. After moving here, I knew right from the beginning I wanted to stay in Lakeland. One thing I quickly discovered is how empty the grocery stores are on Sunday mornings – where is everyone?
They’re in church.
I grew up going to church with my family in NJ, but I never felt a connection. I taught group fitness classes at LA Fitness, and I had a local pastor attend my classes. How cool is that – a pastor taking my group fitness classes? Is that a sign? This pastor played a pivotal role in my faith journey, realizing what I had been missing in life: a real, genuine faith. I started to read the Bible and I ended up in Leviticus – If you know, you know. I thought maybe it was better to read the Bible as the “lucky draw,” if you’re not familiar with that practice, it’s randomly opening the Bible. However, if you’re like me, you randomly open toward the back of the New Testament. Years later, my faith journey is nothing to brag about, but like a mustard seed, it’s growing.
In recent years, facing life’s challenges, I’ve realized I cannot navigate them alone.
Learning to rely on God, embracing wisdom from newfound friends and mentors, exploring new pastors and churches, and, most importantly, reading the Bible have shaped my spiritual growth. This chapter marks a milestone in my spiritual journey, serving as a foundation for the power of belief – to have faith, trust in God, and build perseverance.
As we navigate the hills and valleys of life, let us remember with faith, nothing is impossible.
April 2024
