HOLLY
“I felt a strong entrepreneurial pull. From the age of 13, I worked in my parent’s retail outlet, where I developed a love for customer service and retail. This experience became a strong foundation for my future.
“One of my first jobs was in a new store being built in a retail complex, and I helped prepare it for opening. I spent hours in a hard hat and high-vis vest, working alongside the team to get the store ready. I worked long hours whilst also working a second job to save money. I was incredibly frugal because I had a goal in mind—I wanted to travel overseas.
“While my friends were still at school, I was working and saving, saving, saving. I was focused, determined, and loved having a goal to work towards. I didn’t realise it at the time, but those early years shaped something in me—a strong work ethic, independence and a willingness to work hard for what I wanted.
“During lockdown, after having to cancel my OE, I decided I wanted to look into purchasing a home. My sister was in a similar situation to me, so we started looking into it.
“Our Dad contacted a friend in the building industry, who found a house-and-land package for us. The Council had already signed off on the property, which eventually became ours.
“It was nothing short of miraculous. Council approval alone could have been expensive and lengthy, plus building costs were rising rapidly. We had a turnkey agreement, which meant we couldn’t make any changes to the plans because they had already been approved. But there was also a huge advantage—the builder couldn’t increase the price as construction costs escalated.
“We signed the agreement in May and moved into our new home in December. Looking back, it was an incredible achievement and something we knew could only be described as a miracle.
“A couple of years on I got to live out my dreams and my big OE, it was an incredible adventure. I learnt so many things about myself and the world.
“Once I had returned from overseas, I started looking for a job and an old boss rang me and offered me a dream job with a car, phone and laptop. Sadly, the amount of travel and time alone really got to me, and I ended up depressed and needing medication. I had it all. I had bought my own home, travelled overseas, had a dream job. Nothing made me truly happy.
“My whole life I have felt things very deeply, so when people let me down, I would go to a dark place. I felt lonely and emotional. When I saw the difference in my Christian friend’s life, the peace and stability he had, I wanted that too. As I began learning about Jesus and started going to church, everything started to change. The Lord helped me discover my worth in Him rather than relying on others, and I have never felt more grounded and stable.
“I didn’t know of any Christians in my own family and God was never talked about. So, when I returned from overseas and met a Christian guy who would eventually become my partner, I was intrigued.
“We were hanging out a lot and although he never pushed his faith on me, he started opening up about it. I had never had conversations like this before and asked him so many questions. He told me the woman he would one day marry and have children with would be a Christian as he wanted his children to grow up going to church.
“I remember thinking early on I could probably fake my interest in church. I could go to church with him and be what he wanted. The first few times in church were intense as I had never experienced anything like that before. Flags, music and so many people. However, on about the 5th visit I felt something different in my heart. This was real and so beautiful. I felt like Jesus would always be there for me.
“At an encounter night, we were called as a couple up the front and the visiting Pastor prophesied over my partner and I and said “The time is now. Make the decision.”
“Although I had already decided in my heart to give my life to Jesus, something happened in that moment. It was a realisation I can hardly describe. I couldn’t believe what was happening. I found myself praising Him in complete surrender and worship.
“This wasn’t an impulsive decision. It was my whole being—my body, my soul and my heart, surrendering to Jesus. And yet, in that moment, I knew I wanted my parents and my partner’s parents there too.
“What I didn’t understand was how all these things connected. We were confused. We had already just made so many decisions. I had quit my job because we were planning to travel to China, and now this pastor was telling us, “The time is now.” What was he talking about?
“We went home and that night we were sitting talking about it and suddenly it clicked. It was so obvious. I hadn’t made a declaration to give my life to Jesus and get Baptised. I was so emotional and so on that journey.
“My parents and one sister came to church for the first time in their lives, which made my Baptism even more amazing and a powerful witness. My partners mother Baptised me and it all happened on this very day one year ago! And now one year later, I’m giving my testimony on the anniversary of that Baptism. Divine timing! Only God could do that. That’s wild.
“Since then, during some personal hardships, my Mum has begun praying. I have encouraged her to take it all to God. When she first told me she had been praying, my jaw fell on the floor. She went on to say, random people had come up to her and started to pray and telling her to pray. I wanted her to witness something real for herself and encouraged her to know that when she prayed, God was real and there with her. I spoke to her about praying just to hear God’s voice and feel Him close and not to ask Him for things to change or be done. I told her, He loves it when we are faithful, and He will bless you.
“Both parents are very open, and we’ve talked about what happens when we die. It’s a slow journey but when I have dinner with them, we now say grace together. That means so much to me.
“ I’m so excited for them both to experience His peace and be able to relax in that. I want them to lean on the Lord and trust Him. I believe my whole family will come to know Him, accept Him and experience the love and peace I’ve found in Him.
“Young people are struggling. There is so much happening in the world and so much brokenness. We feel let down by one another and are searching for something more, but don’t know what it is.
“I was longing for that something too. I thought happiness would come from money in my bank account, a house of my own, going overseas. But nothing truly satisfied me. It wasn’t until I encountered the Lord, I found what I had been searching for – true joy, peace and purpose. I now know it comes only through a relationship with Jesus”.