Ricky

Born and raised in Tampa, I grew up attending church with my family. I always believed in Jesus, but for a long time I didn’t truly live my life for Him. As I got older, I struggled with temptations which brought forth anxiety and a lack of confidence in my life. This really weakened my relationship with the Lord. During my sophomore year of high school, I repented and turned to Jesus in a time of great need. At this time I visited many churches but I never felt fully connected anywhere and still, I found myself falling back into sin, feeling stuck in a constant cycle.

The summer before starting college, I began regularly attending Cornerstone with one of my childhood best friends Jonny. Pastor Bill’s teaching and a very supportive community really stood out for me. During my first semester, I got plugged into weekly Bible studies and was finally baptized! After becoming a member, I joined the usher team and quickly grew to love serving the Lord. Through this, I built strong friendships and experienced true fellowship. In spring 2026, I was unsure how to spend my spring break and I was given the opportunity to share the gospel on a mission trip. After prayer, I stepped out in faith and it became one of the most impactful experiences in my faith journey. Our team spent a week at the University of Georgia in fellowship, prayer, worship, and evangelism. For the first time, I saw how God could use my testimony to reach others. I had the privilege of helping lead three men to give their lives to Jesus. It was truly an unforgettable moment. Since then, I’ve reflected on how I spent much of my life trying to follow Jesus, but it wasn’t until I fully surrendered that I truly began living for Him. Now, I strive to carry out the calling God has placed on my life to help lead others to Christ. I am incredibly grateful for this Church and how it has guided me thus far. I value how much my relationship with Christ has been strengthened and continues to grow every day, living through faith I have a new confidence that only the Lord can provide.

- Ricky