As a millennial who has been hurt by the Church, it can be easy to fall into the pattern of thinking that I am the only one in my situation. I know that God loves the church, so when my attitude towards the church is one of bitterness, I often wonder if that means that God is bitter towards me.

The #ChristianityNext symposium provided me with a different perspective—it reminded me that God’s love for me runs deep, even in the tension of trying to figure out where I stand with the Church. I am grateful to have had a space to process the pain that has accumulated through the years. I walked away from this year’s symposium with a fresh sense of hope, and it has started me on the path towards healing and redemption.

-Janelle Paule is finishing up her senior year at Biola University. She seeks to make an impact in the lives of young women by inviting them to dig deeper into their own stories.”