Who made a difference in your life?

Ellen came into my life when I knew I needed God, sobriety, and people who were living the kind of life I wanted to live. She kept inviting me to a Christian 12-step study in her home until I finally said yes.
That invitation changed my life.
Ellen has become much more than a friend. She is a spiritual mentor, prayer warrior, teacher, and one of the safest people in my life. She has helped me learn to read the Bible for myself, ask hard questions, trust God, and keep turning back to Jesus.
What impacts me most is how faithfully she loves me in the messiest parts of my life — when I’m drunk, or sick from detoxing, ashamed, overwhelmed, or when my life feels like a wreck. She never seems scared off by the mess. She keeps showing up, praying, encouraging me, and pointing me back to God.
My mom introduced me to Richard Ellis Talks, and over the years I’ve passed many of his messages along, including to Ellen. Six years later, we still listen and compare notes when one hits home.
When I think about how faith has been passed into my life, I think of Ellen. She continues to pray for me, love me well, and point me back to Jesus. Because of her, I know what faithful love looks like.