We are a small online ministry & community of believers in Jesus Christ.
We exist to lift each other up. To encourage one another in our faith journey. To post heartfelt, real life thoughts…about the people, places and things we love most. To ask tough questions. To ponder. To grow and mature. To challenge ourselves to be better, do better. To say and do the things we really want to say and do. To find strength and courage.
We exist to change lives, hearts, minds, & souls for Christ, ourselves, our families and friends.
For now, our ministry is focused on our blog and Facebook community (REAL Faith and Family). We hope to grow the ministry to provide more resources and ways to connect in the near future. We also hope to connect with other existing ministries and online communities.
Topics to expect from the blog:
Things I wish I would say and do with the people I love most.
The tough questions series
Today’s better decision
The life’s hard series
My struggles with depression, social anxiety, laziness, motivation, new routines.
General thoughts on the Christian life and journey. Church life. Home life. And everything in between.
I, Jacob, am really kick starting this on my own. I have no ministry related degrees. I am in no way qualified, on paper, to give any advice or guidance. I am just here to hopefully encourage you, as I share my thoughts and heart.
(side note – you may have already noticed, that I am also no expert with spelling and grammar. I try hard to fix misspelled words, but tend to write in more of a “blog style” or “talking style”.)
For a long time now, over 15 years, I believe I have been ignoring or refusing to believe that God may be “calling me to the ministry”.
I didn’t want to believe or accept it, because I thought that meant I had to be a pastor or a missionary…because that’s really the only jobs in the field of ministry that I knew about or could think of. At least full time jobs. Which is what I thought I wanted or needed.
Today, I’m still working a normal full time job, in a completely different field than ministry…highway transportation. That’s what I originally went to college for right out of high school. and i fumbled around with several dead end jobs through most of my 20’s. At 28 years old, in 2011, I completely fell apart. After a couple of years battling depression and trying to run my own construction company, I realized I needed a major overhaul in my life.
In late 2011, I joined the military. At the time, my wife and I had been married for 6 years and we had a 3 year old boy.
The point of my military service was 2 fold. To fulfill a lifelong dream and goal of serving our country and to hopefully get some help furthering my education.
In 2012/13, I completed a year and a half at a local university as a full time student and received my bachelor’s degree.
In Dec 2013 I started with the highway dept, where i am currently.
But all of that is just what I do, and have done to provide for my family’s needs financially. It’s not really who I am or want to be or do with my life. As a husband, father, and friend…as a christian.
I’ve been in church my whole life. Accepted Christ and was baptized at age 11.
I still struggle with everyday life. With depression and anxiety. Being a Christ follower, doesn’t just take that away.
I know I need all the love, support, encouragement, accountability, and help I can get.
Our goal at REAL…is to be just that, real. at least what we know to be real. and to continually be open to new ideas and ways to help each other move through this incredibly difficult life as Christ followers.
We encourage you to follow our Facebook page (REAL Faith and Family). Here is where we can connect and share life together. It doesn’t matter what church you are from. Doesn’t matter if you attend church at all. or matter if you are a Christian or not.
If you are looking for R.E.A.L. then you have found the right place. and we are glad you are here.
REST – ENCOURAGEMENT – ACCEPTANCE – LOVE