Hello Christ Church! My name is Jess Burer. I’ve been working as a paralegal since graduating from college in 2020, and I’ve been attending Christ Church for almost two years. I grew up on the south side of Atlanta but had never really heard anything about Tyrone until I started working for a firm along Highway 74. About a month later, Christ Church opened its doors. I like to tell the tale of how my brother Josh faithfully invited me, and I repeatedly declined, until one day I didn’t. I’ve been here since then, and I’ve been super blessed to be a part of this church and the Foundation Year fellowship.
I don’t remember a time in my life where I did not know something about Jesus. My parents came to faith a few years before I was born, and they prioritized having our family in church and teaching us the Word of Truth, especially my mom, since she homeschooled us and spent time reading Scripture with us and sharing what the Lord had taught her. I specifically remember being afraid as a kid, and she would read the Psalms with me. When I ran to her after reading Revelation for the first time, she was there with encouraging words. When I’ve wrestled with confusion over decisions and frustrating relationships, she has always been ready to share the Word with me and help me get God’s light in my mind.
Even so, there was a lot I never internalized or understood as a kid. It feels like God has always been present in my life, but it took a lot of years for me to see much of Him there. I was 16 or 17 when I started reading the Word myself and getting to know the Lord personally. In college, I was introduced to theology in a way I had never been before. The structure of my faith and knowledge of God grew up slowly and surely, while I did. It’s been extremely gradual, but it’s beautiful for me to see how God has been with me all this time.
Because of His grace, I’ve never experienced destabilizing doubt or seasons of turning away from Him, and I think there’s much of the Lord that I’m still learning and experiencing for the first time. I always think I know so much, and I’ve got the Christian life down pat, until I round the next corner and learn that I don’t. Graciously, He keeps helping me along. I am so thankful for His sovereignty and grace in my life.