06/01/2026
At Memorial we love celebrating what God is doing in the lives of His people. Today, we want to introduce you to Travanti Wells.
Travanti and her husband, Jake, are faithful and valued members of our church family. Together, they are raising two wonderful sons and serving the Lord in many ways. Jake oversees our Media and AV Ministry, helping us share the gospel through technology. Travanti serves as the head of our Care Committee and as the church's Administrative Assistant.
The following is her story that God has used for His glory:
I grew up in church and accepted Christ as my Savior when I was young. I loved being involved in youth group, listening to Christian music, and telling others about Jesus. I was on fire for God.
But as I got older, things changed. I started hanging around a different crowd, and little by little, God became smaller in my life while the world became bigger. By the time I was 18, I had fully immersed myself in worldly pleasures and rarely attended church. Even after having children, I made sure they went to church with my parents while I often stayed home myself.
For nearly ten years, I lived that way.
My life became filled with disappointments, failures, and a constant feeling that something was missing. Deep down, I knew I wanted more. I wanted to be a better person, a better mother, and build a better life for my children. Most of all, I knew I needed God.
God began drawing me back to church. I started attending services, Sunday School, and Bible studies. I met my husband, and together we found a church where we could grow in God's Word. For years, we learned, served, and grew in our faith.
Yet despite all of that, I carried a battle inside.
I knew I was saved by grace through faith in Christ, but I constantly felt like I wasn't doing enough for God. I thought, "By now I should know more. By now I should be leading people to Christ. By now I should be a better Christian." Even though I knew the truth of God's Word, I wrestled with thoughts that told me I wasn't enough and that somehow God must be disappointed in me.
Then God began moving our family in a direction I never expected.
When my husband felt led for us to visit Memorial Baptist Church, I didn't want to leave where we were. But as we came, God began showing me something special. We found more than a church, we found a family. People welcomed us, invested in us, invited us into their homes, and genuinely cared about us. For the first time, my husband became deeply involved in ministry, and God began opening doors for me to serve in ways I never imagined.
One of those opportunities was helping start a ministry focused on encouraging and caring for church members. I was terrified because I didn't see myself as a leader. But God reminded me that He often uses ordinary people who are simply willing to follow Him.
Then came the breakthrough.
While serving in our Bridge Recovery Ministry, I shared with some friends about the doubts I had battled for years. One of them reminded me that Satan's first lie in the Garden of Eden was causing people to question God's Word. Suddenly it clicked. I realized I had been listening to the same lies all along.
That night, I finally stopped focusing on myself and started focusing on God.
I realized God was never distant from me, I was distant from Him. He had never abandoned me. He had been pursuing me the entire time.
Today, I serve in several ministries, attend Bible studies, and look for every opportunity to worship and serve. My heart is on fire for God again, and I can't stop talking about what He has done in my life. Looking back, I can see that God even used painful seasons and unexpected changes to bring my family exactly where He wanted us to be.
If you're struggling, feeling unworthy, or wondering if God can use you, let me encourage you: He can. Don't give up on God, and don't give up on His church. Put Him first, get involved, and trust Him to guide your steps.
If you don't have a church home, we'd love to welcome you to Memorial Baptist Church. It isn't a perfect church because there are no perfect churches, but it is a church full of people who love God, love one another, and want to help others grow in their walk with Christ.
I am so thankful that God led my family to Memorial Baptist Church, and I would love for you to come experience what He is doing here.
