22. Church Wounds and Healing, P2: Deena’s Journey Through Denominations and Addiction

In today’s first guest episode, we sit down with Deena, and dive deep into what it really means to find your place in faith!Deena opens up about her journey through different denominations. From feeling that pushy, judgmental vibe when people would try to get her to their church as a girl, to discovering genuine connection with God that went beyond any building or tradition. Even when church felt off, she knew deep down that God loved her and she loved Him back.After hearing about mine and Irene’s relationship to church last week, it’s interesting to see the ways our stories converge and differ. Irene shares her own struggle with feeling invisible in church spaces, that painful realization of thinking, "If I don't matter here, do I even matter to God?" It's a conversation that gets real about the difference between religion and relationship, and why authentic care matters so much more than having all the right answers.Deena's story doesn't stop there. As a healthcare provider, educator, wife, and mother who spent over a decade in church ministry and leadership, she brings incredible perspective on building the kind of healthy church friendships that actually sustain us. And she vulnerably shares about her victory over addiction, a journey where faith and genuine community made all the difference.This one's for anyone who's ever felt like they didn't quite fit in the church world, or wondered if there's more to faith than what they've experienced. It's honest, it's hopeful, and it's a reminder that people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.In today’s episode, we’re chatting about:Early faith in a family that mostly went to Church on holidaysThe danger of feeling invisible at churchThe difference between knowing about God and experiencing GodFinding relationships that feel right at ChurchConnect with us: websiteinstagram