The Answer to All | A Personal Testimony

Jesus, are you real? Sami Myers was hurting and needed to know. She was looking for answers. Growing up she knew about God and Jesus through her Catholic church catechism. Now, as a sophomore in college, she was desperate for the truth. The darkness that taunted her was overbearing. Her life reflected something she didn’t like. Sami bowed her head and prayed, "Jesus, are you real?"

Around this time, Sami was invited by a friend to Salt Company, Citylight’s college ministry. There she began to hear the truth and grace of Jesus. The hearing of Him slowly led to belief in Him. The belief led to faith and then to a joy she dreamt her entire life.

“Jesus is love and not guilt and shame,” Sami said with humble sincerity. “He’s not what I was taught my whole life. As I asked Jesus are you real, over and over I heard yes! I prayed Jesus, I want you to change my life. The Lord became more than just my head knowledge. I started to read Psalms and then the book of John. The more I read, the more I desired to know. The more time I spent with Jesus and in His word, a sense of peace and joy that I never knew entered my life. I gave my life to Christ that spring of my sophomore year.”

Sami was grateful. That summer her new faith was about to be tested. A breakup with a boyfriend and health issues attempted to cover her joy.

“I went to a park and sobbed with the Lord and my Bible,” Sami described. “I thought whatever this is, I am done playing the world’s game. It truly hit in a different way that summer.”

Two days later, Sami pieced together pieces of courage and went to the Salt Company by herself. She knew she had to put the fear behind her and allow Christ to be first. She sat on the edge of the room and before she knew it, two girls in front of her turned around and introduced themselves.

“Two girls in front of me, Grace and Allee, talked with me for like an hour,” Sami described the moment the Lord provided in a very tangible way. “We talked about everything. The next few weeks, we met for coffee and walks. I had been praying for this for so long. I was on my own. I prayed for Christian friends. I prayed Lord, can we invite some more people into this fold? To have Grace and Allee was such a gift. I got to see the joy of the Lord. I went through those hard things not alone but with friends. They held me through it all, counseled me, shared their lives with me ... So strong and such beautiful women of the Lord. That summer I saw in action God’s healing and glory through community.”

Over the next year God provided opportunities to walk through fear and pain. Each time Sami’s courage, faith, and community grew. One opportunity made her step out boldly.

“I went to Albania last year with a Salt Company summer global team,” Sami explained. “I never thought I would go. I saw more of God’s character through support raising and going overseas. It was terrifying but the best time of my life. There is physical and spiritual darkness in tangible ways. There was spiritual warfare in myself with pride and ego and insecurity. The Lord worked through every single moment. Every single brokenness He used and gave purpose for His glory. I was able to help with other’s familial brokenness. Every time when I think I have Him figured out, He throws something out even better.”

Everyday in Albania Sami got to see God and experience his love even more. She saw the faithfulness in each global worker they served alongside. Seeing their sacrifice with putting it all at Christ’s feet was a gift to her. She saw God’s creation more clearly through each student they got to meet. She felt God’s love for His creation in a tangible way through each person. She had to rely on God the seven weeks they were there, and it became an unexpected gift. When Sami and the team got back, she felt like a different person that no longer looks back. Instead, she looks at today and sits in expectation for the future. For Sami, that was signing up as soon as she could for the next Salt Company’s summer global trip.

“I’m going back to Albania this summer with a team of eight,” Sami shared. “Our global team is already building bonds now and doing life before the trip. I’m looking forward to seeing how that is carried over during our trip. I’m anticipating seeing how God heals and to see my teammates grow. Right now, my joy is being tested. It’s so beautiful to see him changing my heart. I am so privileged to share the gospel with others and overseas. Even if it’s just with one person.”

“There is joy in the gospel and within conversations, friendships, and experiencing the peace in Him that doesn’t exist aside from Him. We will get to witness that in others too. One of the girls I am going to Albania with, she understood the gospel for the first time this past fall at the Salt Company retreat. The joy in her eyes is awesome. It’s a gift to see and be a witness to that. She’s been our greatest inviter to our City Group. She is bringing someone to the Salt Company or group every week. If the Lord is doing this in others and in me, what do I have to lose? Nothing!”

Also, this fall Sami will be stepping into something she never would have thought of or imagined. She will be Midtown’s new community developer resident. Because of what God did the past few years in Sami’s heart, she wants to share that with the younger generation. Sami said about this new ministry:

“I have always loved kids. Now I get to love these kids and share Christ with them and grow in the Lord through residency and raising support. I will not have a steady income but yet, I get to rely on the Lord for every single dollar. Every dollar represents someone wanting someone to come to the Lord. I get to share Christ through that and so do those who are called to give to these kids and ministry. It’s about what God wants to do and will do in and through me. I’m excited to see the Lord move in big and miraculous ways to prove my fears wrong.”

Sami asked a question a few years ago not expecting an answer. She was hopeless and lonely. Today, equipped with the answer to all questions, Jesus Christ, she is going to people and countries to exclaim that God is real. That he is the answer. He is good and His desire is to meet anyone where they are at ... Regardless of their past or present. Just ask Him and He will answer.

Support Sami at citylight.churchcenter.com/giving/to/sami-myers-resident-support.
Learn more about the Citylight Residency Program at citylightomaha.org/residents.