An Unexpected Journey Home

Cyndi Campbell’s heart was heavy with loss. She was going through a divorce and felt overwhelmed with all the changes that result from a failed marriage. How would her children’s future be impacted? What about finances? Anxiety and fear were ever present during those days. Her friend told her about Saddleback Church, a caring place where Cyndi might find some guidance. She took down the information and tucked it into her gym bag.

The note floated around inside her gym bag for a long time until one day Cyndi reached into her bag and rediscovered the note. She decided in that moment that she and her children would attend the Sunday morning service the next weekend.

The visit proved to be more difficult than she imagined. She got lost trying to get her children and herself to the proper places on time for worship. She was late, she was frustrated, and she was resolute — she was never coming back. After church she collected her toddlers and drove away, only to receive a call on her cell phone informing her that she had accidentally taken someone else’s diaper bag. She was asked to bring it back with her when she returned the next week.

God clearly has a sense of humor, thought Cyndi.

Cyndi returned to Saddleback for a second visit. But what brought her back for a third? “As soon as I picked my kids up after that second service was over, they began asking me when we could come back again. And I felt so inspired by the message Pastor Rick shared. The fact that we were all in agreement about being a part of this church gave me a renewed sense of hope for my family and our future together. It was a place where the whole family wanted to be. It felt like home.”

Cyndi was also encouraged by information about Divorce Care she noticed in the program that Sunday. “Participating in that program was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I found the support and connection I needed, and I began to see a way to find joy in my life again.” She became a member of a small group and even served as a leader in the Single Parent Ministry for a few years. Cyndi embraced all that Saddleback had to offer her family. “Everything we did was at Saddleback. I got involved in any opportunity I saw that was available to the children and me.”

Cyndi saw through these many connections that her family was no longer shrinking, as she had felt during the early days of her divorce. Her family was growing in community.

Cyndi’s message to those who might feel hopeless or alone in their struggle is loud and clear. “Embrace the opportunities God has provided to connect with other believers. There is no good reason to walk alone. Learn from each other. Lean on each other. Replace your uncertainty and fears with hope in a Savior who will never forsake you. Even if you get resistance from family members or friends who don’t understand your growing faith, stand firm. Your despair can be replaced with joy. Discover how great it feels to be transparent in your growing experiences, and to give through service alongside other Christ followers.”

Need help or support with your marriage or divorce? Check out our Married Life ministry, Divorce Care support group, and/or the Single Parents ministry opportunities.