Jody's TestimonyMy Testimony
I grew up in the church. It was all I knew, and for a long time I didn't question it.
When Melanie and I got married, we kept going to church — the same tradition I was raised in. But eventually, like a lot of couples trying to build a life together, we just drifted away. Life got busy. Church fell off.
Something stirred in meAfter a couple of years, something stirred in me. I wanted to get into the Word — not through a preacher's filter, not through the lens of any particular church doctrine. Just me, the Bible, and whatever it actually said.
One of the first things that became clear was that Jesus' own ministry was a direct confrontation of legalism. That changed something in how I saw the faith I'd grown up in.
We found our way to a different kind of church. We moved to Florida, drifted again for a season, and eventually found our way back. That's been the honest rhythm of my faith journey.
Not a straight line.
Until...
With my head
With my heart
Somewhere along the way I realized I was only believing in Jesus logically — with my head.
But I was not BELIEVING in Him with my heart.
When Melanie and I decided to put Jesus first in our marriage, I realized that not only had I not really put Him first in our marriage — I hadn't really put Him first in my life.
That's when everything changed.
Copilot
someone along for the ride
→
↓
Destination
the point everything moves toward
I stopped thinking of Jesus as my copilot — someone along for the ride who I'd check in with occasionally — and made Him my destination instead. The point everything moves toward.
It's not about going to church. It's not even just about reading your Bible. It's about truly BELIEVING in Jesus in your heart and committing your life to Him.
That's where everything changed for me.
— Jody Pugh
