Be the Church – Anajah + Zach
ZACH: I started coming to First Naples about two years ago. My friends and I were looking for a local church, and I knew about First Naples, so that’s how I ended up here.
ANAJAH: I’ve always heard about First Naples since I attended FBA, but it wasn’t until Zach invited me that I started coming.
ZACH: I think people often misunderstand Christianity. They see it as a religion where you have to do good things to get to heaven. But it’s really about having a relationship with God. Once you understand that, you realize it’s not about rules—it’s about loving Jesus with all your heart, mind, and soul. When you love Jesus, everything else falls into place.
When you love Jesus, everything else falls into place.
ANAJAH: Yeah, I agree. Most people don’t get it. They don’t understand what it means to love Jesus and build a relationship with him. They don’t go to church, and they don’t hear the gospel, so helping people understand that is amazing. It’s great to “be the church” and share the good news.
ZACH: I grew up in church, but I was always on and off with my faith. I’d get closer to God for a bit, then drift away. For a while, I was really focused on worldly things—partying, bad influences, and chasing after things that don’t last. But once I started getting closer to God, I found a peace and happiness I hadn’t experienced before.
I was chasing after things that don’t last, but I found a lasting peace and happiness in God.
ANAJAH: I also grew up in a Christian environment, but I wasn’t putting Jesus at the center of my life. I would pray, but I wasn’t building a relationship with God. It wasn’t until I started seeking knowledge and truly praying, surrendering my life to God, that things started to change for me.
ZACH: Yeah, all those worldly things are temporary. At first, I thought going to parties and living the “teenage life” would bring happiness, but it’s all empty. Once I got closer to God, I found a happiness that’s lasting.
ANAJAH: Same for me. Whether it was going out, playing video games, or seeking happiness through other distractions—it was all temporary. But once I gave my life to God, he showed me that I can find true joy in him every day. One of my biggest influences has been my friend Wesley. He’s always been strong in his faith and encouraged me to do the same. Meeting Zach and Pastor Alan just made my faith grow even more. Now I have a solid group of friends who help keep me accountable and remind me of what’s important.
ZACH: Yeah, a big part of that growth has been my friends—people like Anajah, Pastor Alan, and others in my community. They’ve helped hold me accountable and encouraged me to stay focused on my relationship with God. Anjah and I actually knew each other in high school, but we reconnected this summer. We both ended up applying for the same job, and when we saw each other, we realized we were both trying to get closer to God. He invited me to a church camp, and that’s when I realized how important it is to surround yourself with people who love Jesus. After the camp, I got more involved with youth groups and even started a Bible study at the beach. It began with just the two of us, but within weeks, we had 50-80 people joining us.
ANAJAH: It’s been amazing how quickly it’s grown. We’ve built a new group of friends who hold each other accountable. We meet every week to study the Bible, and it’s such a blessing to have that kind of community. It’s been really encouraging.
ZACH: The great thing about being in a community like that is that we all keep each other focused on our goal—growing closer to God and getting to heaven. Everyone is striving for the same thing, and it makes the journey easier. You need a community of people who are also seeking God. We’ve seen how much our Bible study has helped people. Some of them have even gotten baptized as a result. Being around others who love God makes it so much easier to stay on fire for Him.
ANAJAH: When you surround yourself with people who are chasing the same goal, it keeps you motivated. You’re not alone in this journey, and you encourage each other to stay on track. Following God isn’t just about reading the Bible every day—it’s about enjoying life with Him. You can have fun, find peace, and experience joy while following God. It’s all about sharing that with others and helping them see the beauty of a relationship with God.
You’re not alone in this journey
ZACH: I think God is leading us to show people that being a Christian isn’t just about rules and rituals. You can have fun, be joyful, and experience life fully while following God. It’s not about being perfect—it’s about loving God with all your heart and growing in that relationship.
ANAJAH: Exactly. That passion comes from him. We’re just returning home. We’re just doing what He’s called us to do. Little moments are key, too. You don’t have to have big, dramatic experiences every day. Just spending a few minutes in prayer or reading a verse—those small moments can make a big difference. It’s like planting a seed that grows over time.
ZACH: It’s a gradual process. There were times I thought I was on fire for God, but I wasn’t fully there yet. As I’ve built my relationship with God, I’ve started to let go of the things I used to desire. The more I love God with all my heart, the less I want to hurt Him by going back to old habits. I’d say prayer is really important. I pray that God would remove things from my life that shouldn’t be there and bring the right people closer to me. As I’ve prayed, I’ve noticed how much closer I’ve gotten to people who hold me accountable and encourage me in my faith. There’s also so much knowledge in reading the Word, and if you don’t understand it, you can always ask somebody. And, you know, come to church. Church is a beautiful thing. Like, come to church, and after you come to church, you should go be the church, you know what I’m saying?
ANAJAH: Yeah, just take action. If you’re feeling like you want to get closer to God but don’t know where to start, just take a step. Call a friend, pray, read a verse, or go to church. It’s worth it. It’ll be the best decision you ever make.
Just take a step.