Different Starting Points, One Shared Faith

At Bethel, our values reflect who we are becoming as disciples centered on Jesus.

For Abraham Torres, faith was never the problem. He had always believed in God, but growing up, church never really connected.

“I grew up in a Catholic household,” Abraham said. “I always believed in God, there was never a doubt. But I didn’t really understand why I was going. It just felt like something I had to do.”

Week after week, it felt the same.

“I would sit there, and honestly, I was just bored. I didn’t feel connected or engaged at all.”

Eventually, when his parents stopped requiring him to go, Abraham stopped going entirely. For a few years, church wasn’t part of his life at all.

An unexpected invitation

Things began to shift through a simple invitation. Abraham’s girlfriend and her family had been part of Bethel for years, and one thing stood out to him right away:

“They were excited to go to church,” he said. “And that was new to me.”

When she invited him to come, he was open… but unsure.

“I didn’t like that I wasn’t going to church,” he said. “I just didn’t have the desire to go.”

Still, he gave it a shot. And from the very first Sunday, something felt different.

A different kind of church

“The first thing I noticed was the people,” Abraham said. “At my old church, you just showed up and sat down. Here, people were talking to me, asking how I was doing.”

At first, that felt unfamiliar, but it didn’t take long for that to become something he appreciated.

“It felt engaging,” he said. “And during the service, I actually found myself paying attention and understanding what was being said.”

For the first time, church wasn’t something to get through. Instead, it was something he looked forward to.

“Now I love going,” he said. “It feels like a reset. A place to connect, to be with people, and just let go of everything from the week.”

Taking a step of his own

As Abraham continued showing up, something deeper began to take shape. He had always believed in God, but now, he was beginning to understand what it meant to follow Him personally. That became especially clear when he began thinking about baptism.

“I was baptized as a baby, and I always thought of it as something you had to do,” he said. “Like a step you needed to take.”

But through conversations and Scripture, his understanding shifted.

“I realized it’s a declaration,” he said. “Something you choose. You’re saying, ‘This is my faith.’”

So he made that decision for himself.

“It was important to me because I finally felt like I had found my way with God,” he said. “It was me declaring that I want to follow Him.”

Learning alongside others

Not long after, Abraham joined Alpha, and that’s where something new began to take shape. At first, he had already experienced what it was like to be in a group where he felt behind.

“I had joined a men’s group before, and I liked it,” he said. “But I mostly just listened. A lot of what people were talking about, I didn’t really understand yet.”

Alpha felt different.

“It’s a place where you can ask questions,” Abraham said. “Where you can just try to understand what it means to follow Jesus.”

Each week started with a meal, then a video, then conversation. And what stood out most wasn’t just what he was learning but who he was learning alongside.

Different stories, same center

In Alpha, Abraham found himself surrounded by people in completely different places. Some had followed Jesus for years, some were just beginning, and some were still unsure what they believed. Yet, they were all in the same room.

“That was really powerful for me,” he said. “Because you realize everyone’s journey is different.”

For Abraham, that changed how he saw himself. Growing up, he often felt like he wasn’t doing enough. That if he made mistakes, God would be disappointed in him. But being in a group with people who openly shared their struggles and questions began to shift that perspective.

“It helped me see that God is forgiving,” he said. “That He knows we’re going to mess up, and He still loves us.”

And it helped him see something else, too. Following Jesus doesn’t look the same for everyone.

“Even if your journey is just starting, it’s just as meaningful,” he said. “It’s just as powerful.”

Unity in the middle of differences

What Abraham experienced in Alpha wasn’t sameness. It was unity. Different backgrounds, different experiences, different levels of understanding, but one shared center: Jesus.

“It’s really cool to see people at different stages,” he said. “You can learn from people who’ve been following Jesus for a long time, and it encourages you to keep going.”

Not because you’re trying to become someone else, but because you’re growing together.

Keep taking the next step

As Alpha comes to an end, Abraham isn’t finished growing. If anything, he feels like he’s just getting started.

“I want to keep learning Scripture,” he said. “I want to be in a small group or Bible study.”

It’s still new and still stretching. But now, he’s not walking alone. For anyone unsure about faith or community, Abraham keeps it simple:

“Put yourself around people who follow Christ,” he said. “That’s a big step.”

Because for him, that’s what made the difference. Not having everything figured out or knowing all the answers. Just stepping into a space where people were different, but united in Jesus. And finding his place there.

Thank you for reading!

Each week, we’ll share a story from someone in our Bethel family. These written stories will explore their faith journey, how God has been at work in their life, and how it connects to one of our five values. Stay tuned for more stories.

• Week 1: The Journey

• Week 2: Real Relationships

• Week 3: Sacred Rhythms

• Week 4: Diverse Unity

• Week 5: Generous Lives