Renee

My journey is simple. I've known the Lord since I was 8 and always upheld the teachings of my parents, including tithing. However, a decade ago, when my pastor retired and sold our church, I felt a deep sense of betrayal. Our congregation was disbanded, and I felt used. My foundational church's shift towards a more inclusive approach further distanced me. Then, I discovered 'The Chosen' on Facebook. From the first episode, I was captivated. When Jesus called out to Mary of Magdala, I felt He was speaking to me, and it moved me deeply. While I haven't found a new church, I've chosen to support 'The Chosen' with my tithes. My hope is that this series transforms others, regardless of their journey.

I have a 10 year old son who was recently diagnosed with Autism. I have hope, pride and a grateful heart…but still, in the very depths of my heart, was the fear: “How can he serve you if He doesn’t understand the concept of an unseen Father?” I prayed and God answered. I gave The Chosen a chance. Once we realized that Matthew’s character was autistic, I fell on my knees and wept for maybe an hour. Seeing Jesus telling Simon “get used to different” still brings tears of joy. Jesus saw Matthew’s value. He understood he was different but not less useful than his other disciples. But the most important lesson was that Matthew had the capacity to love and willingly gave his life to Jesus on his own accord. Every episode felt like God Himself telling me, “look! I will work through your son, and he is no different than my other sheep. Your son not only will be able to know but love Me and serve Me in ways you cannot imagine”. I see the correlation between making Matthew’s character autistic and a tax collector, but I felt God inspired it on purpose so I could see how far He can take my son. My son’s name is Mattias, the Hebrew version of Matthew. My son not only understands that Matthew in The Chosen is like him, but he willingly came to us to get baptized and accept Jesus into his heart. Our pastors and I asked him if he understood what it means: he knew Jesus for sure. Not only did he get baptized but he recently wrote in his closet door “God is good”, stating that he feels God in his room with him. You have NO IDEA how much the show helped my husband and I to know and understand that our Matthew, is loved, has purpose and will grow into the man of God, we know he will be. I’m sure the Holy Spirit is working overtime inspiring the writers, the cast, and everyone involved. Thank you for being a vessel, for being a beacon of light and hope! The world will get used to different.

It breathes life into the scriptures and gives a whole new depth to my understanding of my Savior, Jesus Christ.