It was Dec. 2014 when Angela Archangel-Pollard regained her connection with her faith.

Growing up in New Iberia, Archangel-Pollard was born and raised in the church as a PK – a preacher’s kid. And as she grew up, she was away, learning and growing as a person.

“Growing up, you don’t value it as much,” Archangel-Pollard said. “I took it for granted. I was rebellious and kind of just went through life doing my own thing.”

She attempted to steer away from her faith, since that was all she knew as a child. Despite this, Archangel-Pollard continued to pray, saying that she always knew there was a God, and if she continued to pray, He would see her through.

“He always had a plan and a purpose for my life,” Archangel-Pollard said.

It wasn’t until 10 years ago, where Archangel-Pollard hit her lowest, asking God for help, saying she knew she wouldn’t make it unless He showed her the way.

“I will never forget that time,” Archangel-Pollard said. “I prayed and cried out to God. I felt like I was at the bottom of a dark hole and it was getting even darker, because of all the things I was going through in my life.”

Ever since that day, Archangel-Pollard said she hasn’t turned her back on her faith. He is the center of everything she does, the one constant in her life that she knows will always be there for her.

“I know without him, I can’t make it,” Archangel-Pollard said. “He is the source of my life. I would tell anyone that no matter what your situation looks like, He is always working.”

For anyone who is struggling right now, whether it’s with their faith, or life, or anything, Archangel-Pollard encourages people to not to give up and not to give up on your faith and just trust God.

“If you connect and stay connected with God, no matter what you are going through, and you don’t let go, He is going to always see you through,” Archangel-Pollard said. “At the end of the day, he is always working it out for your good.”

Besides her faith and focus on life, Archangel-Pollard said her freedom is the one thing that has changed since her re-connection with her faith. Her freedom of knowing that no matter what she does, He forgives and loves her, and He has her best interest at heart.

Her mindset allowed her to see things from a different perspective because she surrendered who she thought she was to him. Her joy and peace soon followed.

Archangel-Pollard now has a better relationship with her husband, her children, family, and friends, all making her a better person.

Now that she is back at her church, The Community Church, Archangel-Pollard is now able to connect with other believers and help to encourage each other.

Whether she is at church listening to Pastor Jacob LeBlanc or at home reading the word, she said she knows that no matter what, everything starts with God.

“It is my lifeline,” Archangel-Pollard said. “I couldn’t make it without him.”