Annie’s Story

We had the pleasure of talking to Annie park about her story of coming to this church and why she chose to raise her family here! Read her full interview below!

Before coming to Experience Church I lived in Hawaii and my life back then, I was of the world. I never had a relationship with God, but I see how he positioned my family and I to be here (Experience Church.tv) now. About seven years ago my husband and I came here to Washington to visit my sister who had moved here years prior. That week my husband and I were visiting and we were thinking the same thing, “I want to move here”. Just seeing how my sister was raising her kids and bringing up her family in this environment was fulfilling. Compared to how my life was back in Hawaii, which wasn’t. My husband at first didn’t want to move, but I really feel that God softened his heart to where he did; I didn’t know at the time but he had actually told my brother-in-law, the week we were visiting, that we would be back in six months time. We went back home to Hawaii and talked about it. We then put our house up for sale, and in exactly six months we moved here to Washington. God had opened up all the doors for us to live here and like I said we have been here for about 7 years now. 

That same week we came to visit my sister. This was also the first time I went to Experience Church which was also another factor that played in us moving here. When we first stepped inside this building, we could feel the love and friendly atmosphere that resonates in this place, the Pastor even came to greet us personally. Later on when we moved here, and were living here for a few months, I wasn’t all in yet, I wasn’t connected fully, I was hesitant to give it my all, but I went to Growth Track and then surrendered my life to Christ. In those moments just worshipping Him and surrendering my all to Him, I felt such peace that only God can give. And that’s when I started dedicating all I could to everything I could in this ministry. At that time of obedience I didn’t realize that God was actually growing me, and he was continuing to open doors left and right. At one point we went through a rough patch and he had to switch companies, and yet we just put all of our faith in God and He came through and put all the right people in our path to help us. Even with our marital problems and household problems God provided ways and lead us through these storms, and we wouldn’t be where we are today if not for Him. 

Experience Church really is a family place, not only in that they value family, but they are also a family themselves who is never hesitant to grow into a larger family. I mean everyone is so loving and welcoming, just knowing how our Pastors go out of there way to help those who are in need, seeing how we can impact those people coming through those doors, and standing and praying in unity for souls to be saved and actually seeing it happen through our obedience to Christ is surreal. I was always at the back-end, not really wanting to put myself out there and introduce myself to people, but I’m in Registration and Check-In now, and it’s my job and blessing to be able to welcome those into our church; at first I was nervous to step out of my comfort-zone but God pushed me and told me “You can do this!” and here I am leading an entire team of beautiful ladies who at first were like me, shy, not wanting to be put out there, and now we’re the ones who go up to people and greet them, and help them; God has really blossomed us, that’s really what Experience Church does, they help you grow and blossom in your walk with Christ, and it’s a blessing and an honor to be apart of that.