There is a difference between being merely culturally-Christian, one who is “lukewarm” in their identity, and actively pursuing a relationship with Christ through conscious choices in daily life.
The switch from passive to active participation in faith is one that requires a lot of hard work, made possible through motivation, dedication and support. Once one sister in Christ makes the switch, others are inspired to do the same.
Jesus Walks With Her is a Houston-based nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting women in Christ worldwide, creating a safe space for them to grow transparently on their journey and spreading the Gospel to the masses, as described by founder and president Jessica Williams in an email interview.
Williams, a former lash technician, beauty business entrepreneur and newly re-dedicated Christian, founded the organization in 2023 after a personal encounter with God that prompted her to go from being a “lukewarm Christian” to an individual who 100% surrendered to God’s will for her life, Williams wrote.
“No more being half in the world and half with Jesus,” Williams wrote. “I knew there was only one place that could put me back together and guide me on the right path. I ran to God and gave my life to Him again. But, for real this time!”
Photo of Jessica Williams, founder and president of Jesus Walks With Her. Photo courtesy of Jessica Williams.
For Williams, moving from a lukewarm faith to wholeheartedly following Jesus meant fully surrendering to God and living out the true identity of Christianity, as opposed to just carrying the label. This shift in faith required the decision to die to self and let God take complete control.
This shift also required putting effort into your relationship with God with the same fervor as your job, school, partner and social life, Williams wrote.
“Surrendering to God is just picking up our cross and following Him with a genuine and open heart,” wrote Williams. “It looks like being okay with losing friends and looking crazy to the world because you decide to follow God and not society.”
Committing to Christ in a fallen world could feel lonely and isolating, which was why healing through community was so important to Williams, she wrote. Her firsthand experience with the impact of community was what inspired the creation of Jesus Walks With Her.
“We are not meant to be alone at all,” Williams wrote, “The Bible encourages us to gather together, love one another and commune in Him. Having friends rooted in Christ will inspire and encourage you on this walk. Life is hard, but it’s a little easier when you have a community behind you that can catch you when you fall.”
Williams personally found connecting with fellow Christian women and being uplifted by a community in Christ aided her on her journey to complete surrender, she wrote. Because of this spiritual success, Williams felt God’s calling on her life was to lead other women to Christ and share her testimony to the masses.
Jesus Walks with Her began as a personal blog and has since turned into a larger movement, in which women are encouraged to commune together, walk boldly in faith and commit to Christianity as a lifestyle, Williams wrote.
Jesus Walks With Her member in a moment of worship. Photo courtesy of Jessica Williams.
With her organization, Williams wrote she seeks to challenge the perceived notion that Christian-living is “lame,” “boring” or even “weird.”
“You can still have fun, enjoy life and be yourself while accepting Jesus boldly,” Williams wrote. “Jesus was bold about us, so why would we be timid about our love for Him?”
Jesus Walks With Her believes you can experience genuine joy without sinning, Williams wrote.
In the spirit of community and enjoyment, Jesus Walks With Her hosts Christian social events that bring women together to meet, network and learn more about God, Williams wrote. The organization hosted their first event in Houston this past May, a Praise & Paint + Women’s Bible Study, which saw a wonderful turnout. A second event is in the works for Atlanta in the fall.
Attendees of Jesus Walks With Her Praise & Paint + Women’s Bible Study event May 2024. Photo courtesy of Jessica Williams.
Williams’ main goal with Jesus Walks With Her is to connect women in Christ worldwide, and social media has proven to be a wonderful tool to do so, she wrote. She has reached out to women from the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Kenya and Trinidad, and the list continues to grow.
To find out more about Jesus Walks With Her, you can check out their Instagram and TikTok, @jesuswalkswithher. Donations are accepted through Zelle and Paypal at [email protected] and Cash App @$jesuswalkswithher. Every dollar goes back to the organization to support their missions, members and charitable efforts.
Katherine Hope Stelma graduated summa cum laude from Fordham University with a B.A. in English, a minor in Theatre, and courses taken in the Graduate School of Education. She has an affinity for storytelling and finds great fulfillment working and writing for an organization that strives to bring others closer to Christ.
