Latasha's Story: From Serving Hours To Serving Others
Latasha grew up in a home environment that felt unstable—from moving homes and schools to witnessing her parents drinking and gambling around her as a young child. Eventually, after becoming a mother herself, she began drinking and gambling as well, eventually landing her family in survival mode, living day-to-day and paycheck-to-paycheck. “I [had] just seen this pattern.” What Latasha had grown up with was now the reality for her kids.
A few years ago, the dysfunctional cycle caught up with Latasha.
“I ended up getting in trouble with the law, tickets, and things like that; I even caught a DUI years ago. That’s what led me to have to do community service.” At this pivotal point in her life, Latasha had to choose a place to complete mandated community service hours. Seeing Canyon Ridge Christian Church on the list of options, she gravitated toward it. “There [are] other places that you’re able to go to, but I feel like this was a sign from God...just for me to try to get myself together, and I did.”
While faithfully completing her service hours, Latasha began cultivating relationships with people at Canyon Ridge. As she opened up and relationships developed, her life began to change. She learned the power of sharing her story. Two of those new friendships were with Eleina and Lorrishamae. Their curiosity about her life experiences and relationship with God was new for Latasha.
“I was very embarrassed to share about struggling with alcohol and how I grew up, but I’m thankful to other people sharing their stories. It’s like I’m not alone.”
Latasha’s life change was so evident during this time, and she eventually landed a job offer for a facilities position at Canyon Ridge. “And I thought, ‘What better place would be for me?’ because if I didn’t become employed at Canyon Ridge, I don’t know where I would’ve been, or gone, or decisions I would’ve [chosen].” As timely as this opportunity was, God had even more in mind for her.
As facilities coordinator at Canyon Ridge, Latasha now works with those serving community service hours at the church. With her unique, shared experience, she is able to “help others just the same way as people who have shared their story have helped me.”
What’s the story she tells?
“Before Christ, I was someone very distant, non-existent. I was lifeless. And with Jesus, I’ve felt much lighter, now with all these burdens that I’ve carried. I don’t feel shy or embarrassed to share my story. I feel just full of life, and I’m enjoying it at that. Do you have a story like that?”
On May 30th, Eleina and Lorrishamae baptized Latasha, surrounded by her coworkers, parents, kids, and friends. Life isn’t perfect, and the journey’s never finished, but she keeps taking steps in Jesus’ direction. From spending years in a deep depression, only wanting to drink or gamble, she is now experiencing a deep joy and purpose, embracing her unique transformation story. “It just showed me that no matter where I was in life, that God was still with me, that he still loved me and cared, and he wanted the best for me.”