Today Heather and Ryan speak with Zack Potter.

Faith Journey – Grew up in El Paso, TX. Introduced to marijuana around 12 yrs old. Didn’t get along with mom and mom’s boyfriend. Prayed that he wanted to be an only child and get out of El Paso and then a few days later he was kicked out of his house. Had an aunt who would visit and give him Bibles. Moved to Lancaster to live with that aunt.

Attended “The Way” ministry with Gus Jones here at WC with his aunt. It opened up his eyes. Things Gus was saying that first night matched up with what was going on with his life and Gus didn’t really know anything about him. Zach was trying to figure out who God was and if He was real. 

Went through a phase of being really into it, but then got caught up in his own thing and doing dumb stuff here like he did in El Paso. Went back to El Paso, but didn’t feel like he belonged there and felt he would keep falling back into the old pattern of living if he stayed there. Then moved back here again.  Now more interested in finishing school and maybe going to college. The Bible makes perfect sense – it doesn’t work out without God (look back).

Learning lessons over and over from same mistakes. Stubborn and prideful. Tried it the hard way, his way.  That doesn’t work.

People you surround yourself with matters. People perceive you by how you look. The Magic of Thinking Big by David J. Schwartz– victims of how we think based on who we surround ourselves with. 

What advice would you give your 16 year old self? Stop hanging out with certain people. Stop putting things off and chase what you want and don’t wait. About your faith – Don’t be stubborn. God reaches out to people in different ways. 

What are you trying to do well? Be intentional about going to church, trying different churches. Somewhere I can do me and not where everyone else knows me. Bought a study Bible and want to read it more. Doing two Bible studies. Surround yourself with people trying to do the same thing – hard to talk about God in front of my good friend. But pointing things out with accountability to each other – learn and grow from each other.  

Phillipians 13-21 - Maturity and knowing what you need to do at the moment. 

Converge – You need to be direct. Be straightforward.

What would you tell others? Don’t be hormonal. Listen to your parents because they are right like 95% of the time. 

Do what you need to do and not what you want to do. Save money – give 10% tithes. Chase what you want (and make sure it is the right thing) 

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