Letter From Allie Guinn

When I first came to Tech 4 years ago, I had no idea how persistently God was pursuing me. I
didn’t come to Cookeville thinking I would find Him here, but I can now look back on my time
in college knowing He has been right beside me all along.

If there is one thing that He has consistently been teaching me about Himself over the last four
years, it’s that He is constantly seeking me, even when I go through seasons of not seeking Him
back. For a long time, I felt like I had to handle a lot of life on my own. I felt like I had to juggle
my feelings alone, like I had to figure myself and this whole “life” thing out without any help. I
would go through cycles of putting my faith in people, and then when they would let me down, I
would grow cynical and not want to open up to anyone. But God showed me that He is not only
constantly present in my life, but that He is faithfully and lovingly chasing after my heart. He
wants me to come to Him with all things, big and small, and I now see how trusting Him allows
me to both more confidently abide in His love and more joyfully connect with His people. God is
present, He is not far off, and He is calling me to look to Him no matter where I am.

God has taught me that I am loved and loved for a purpose. It’s been far too easy over the last
couple of years for me to get caught up in comparing myself and my accomplishments with those around me. But thanks to the way God has revealed Himself to me, both in this church family and in all areas of my life, I have started to see where my identity truly lies. He loves me not out of obligation or out of anything I’ve done, but because loving me, loving all of us, is the entire essence of His nature. It is through this love that He is calling me to a purpose that is far greater than anything I could ever come up with on my own. I am loved, and I am equipped, not because of anything I have done, but because of who He is and how He wants to work in me.

I am most thankful for the grace He has shown in giving me countless opportunities to serve and to lead, even and especially when I don’t deserve it. I’ve been given so many chances to pour into others, to reach out to someone in need, or to be an example to those around me, and have undoubtedly ignored more of these callings than I’ve stepped into. And yet, He’s still given me countless more chances to proclaim His love to others. I’ve said the wrong thing and slipped up far too many times than I can count, yet He has gracefully allowed me to try again and again. I am thankful for His persistence with me, and for His gift of opportunities for ministry in places I do not deserve and could never expect.

Through this ministry, God gave me a lot. He gave me friends. He gave me an awesome
roommate. He gave me memories, lessons, and stories I’ll never forget. He gave me a family.
And most of all He gave me this reminder: we all have a purpose, to serve Him and to love Him.
We do it best when we do it together.

God is good, and He is here. Thank you, Collegeside, for always reminding me of that.