By David May
Growing up in the Churches of God (COG), General Conference, I never realized how deeply the denomination would help shape my life, my faith, and ultimately my calling. Looking back now, I can clearly see the hand of God woven through every season of my story. There were seasons of joy, seasons of growth, seasons of bitterness, and seasons of restoration. Through every chapter, Christ remained faithful, even when I struggled to trust where He was leading me. What once felt like disconnected moments now reveal a testimony of God continually pursuing me, shaping me, and drawing me closer to Him.
For the first six years of my life, my family attended Ohio City Community Church of God in Ohio City, Ohio. Some of my earliest memories of faith were formed there. Church quickly became more than a building to me. It became a place where I learned about the love of Jesus, the importance of community, and what it meant to walk alongside other believers. Even as a child, I was surrounded by faithful people who loved the Lord and genuinely cared about my family.
When I was six years old, my parents felt the Lord calling our family to Olive Branch Church of God just outside of Ohio City. Olive Branch became a major part of my upbringing and spiritual development. It was there that my faith continued to grow. Although Olive Branch did not have a youth group at the time, I remained connected to Ohio City Community Church of God through their youth ministry.
David May (Center), at Camp Otyokwah
One of the greatest influences on my spiritual journey was Camp Otyokwah, one of the COG camps. Otyokwah became a second home to me growing up. Every summer, I looked forward to stepping away from everyday distractions and spending time focused on Christ. Some of the most meaningful moments of my childhood and teenage years happened in the woods of Butler, Ohio. Camp was where I surrendered my life to Christ, where I experienced authentic Christian community, and where I first began understanding how deeply God could move in the lives of young people.
As I grew older, camp became even more meaningful to me. In 2018, I served as a CIT (Counselor in Training), now called LIT (Leaders in Training), and returned again in 2019. At the time, I believed camp would always remain exactly as I remembered it growing up. However, in 2019, Camp Otyokwah entered a new season under a different leadership and direction. To many students and past campers, the changes were difficult to see as it felt like traditions and memories were disappearing. I admit that I became part of the group that was frustrated and resistant and chose to boycott Otyokwah.
Instead of seeking understanding, I allowed bitterness to grow in my heart. I became critical of the camp and its leadership and carried resentment for several years. I convinced myself that because camp looked different, God could no longer move there in the same way He once had. I could not have been more wrong.
Around the same time, during my junior year of high school, I also felt led to leave the Churches of God denomination altogether. In 2020, I began attending Harvest Field Pentecostal Church of God. At the time, I had no plans of ever returning to the denomination I grew up in. Although I still loved the Lord deeply, I had allowed hurt to shape my perspective toward the COG.
Then came 2022 and the beginning of my journey at the University of Findlay. If I am honest, Findlay was not where I wanted to go. I had my heart set on another college in Indiana and believed I already had my future planned out. Yet no matter how much I tried to ignore it, the Lord continually brought Findlay before me. Finally, I prayed and told God that if Findlay was truly where He wanted me, He would have to make it clear. Within a week, I was accepted, and my tuition was cut by more than half. It became impossible to ignore that God was opening that door.
David May "Jesus Loves You" shirt
Even after arriving at Findlay, I struggled deeply. I was homesick, frustrated with the Lord, and upset because life was not unfolding according to my plans. I wanted the future I had imagined for myself, not the one God seemed to be placing before me. During that season, Proverbs 16:9 became incredibly impactful to my life: “A man’s heart plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” Slowly, God began changing my perspective. Through Campus Ministry and the friendships I built, I found my community and belonging. I realized that Findlay was not simply where I ended up, it was exactly where God intended for me to be.
At the end of my freshman year, I signed up to serve as a Campus Ministry Intern for the summer of 2023. I believed I had my summer completely planned out. However, God once again had different plans for me.
The campus pastor at the time, Matt Ginter, reached out to me and shared that Monty, the director of Camp Otyokwah, was searching for additional male counselors for the summer. Matt told me that I was the first person who came to his mind, and my immediate reaction was “absolutely not”. I had spent years distancing myself from camp and the hurt I associated with it.
The thought of returning was the last thing I wanted.
Matt encouraged me to sincerely pray about the opportunity, but the truth is, I initially refused to pray. I kept saying “no” because I was focused on my own plans rather than seeking God’s direction. Then one conversation changed everything. A friend asked me, “Are you doing what you want to do, or are you doing what the Lord wants you to do?” That question convicted me deeply because I realized I had been trying to control my future instead of surrendering it to Christ. For the first time, I genuinely prayed about returning to camp, and almost immediately, I felt the Lord leading me back to Otyokwah.
Returning to camp in the summer of 2023 became one of the most transformative experiences of my life. Although I arrived still carrying bitterness, God began softening my heart almost immediately. Through worship, staff training, and conversations with campers, I realized that the changes made at camp were never about erasing the past, they were about reaching a new generation with the Gospel in ways that connected with them. During the first week of camp the bitterness I had carried for years began to disappear and during that week it was fully removed from my heart. I realized that God had never stopped working at Otyokwah, but that my hurt blinded me from seeing it clearly. Watching campers’ worship, ask questions about faith, and surrender their lives to Jesus truly impacted my heart. Through that summer, I began feeling the Lord calling me towards youth ministry.
In 2024, I felt the Lord calling me back to Otyokwah for another summer as a counselor. Returning for a second year was incredibly meaningful to me because I was able to continue investing in the campers’ lives and reminding them that they are seen, valued, and loved by Christ.
During this season, the Lord also began placing another opportunity on my heart. I felt led to reach out to Nancy Hiser, the Pastor of Student and Young Adult Ministries at College First Church of God in Findlay, Ohio, about serving in youth ministry. However, despite feeling that conviction, I resisted it for over a year. Eventually, in the fall of 2025, the Lord placed it heavily on my heart again. This time, I finally stepped out in obedience and contacted Nancy. Before meeting with her, I spent time praying specifically that if this internship opportunity was truly God’s will for my life, He would clearly open the door.
When Nancy offered me the internship position, she also asked if I would be willing to serve on Sunday mornings at College First. In that moment, I realized God was answering the exact prayer I had prayed. Remembering my commitment to follow wherever He led, I stepped forward in faith and joined the ministry at College First.
Through the internship, God restored not only my relationship with the denomination, but also my understanding of Christian community. I built meaningful relationships with students, encouraged them in their walks with Christ, and reminded them that they are deeply loved by Jesus and never alone.
When I look back on my journey, I am reminded that God’s plans are always greater than our own. There were seasons where I believed I knew exactly what was best for my life, moments where I tried to control my own future, and times where I allowed hurt and bitterness to shape my perspective. Yet even through seasons of resistance, uncertainty, and resentment, the Lord never stopped pursuing me with grace. Every chapter of my story points back to His faithfulness.
As I have reflected on my journey, I truly believe the Lord was intentionally opening doors, changing my heart, and guiding my steps back toward the COG. What I once viewed as coincidence, I now recognize as the Lord’s hand working throughout my life. He softened my heart toward Otyokwah after years of resentment. He removed bitterness that I had carried toward the denomination. He placed people in my life who challenged me spiritually and encouraged me to seek His will instead of my own.
Stepping into the future, I do not have every detail figured out, but I know the One who is guiding my steps. My prayer is that wherever the Lord leads me next, whether through ministry, counseling, missions, or serving students, I would continue saying yes to His calling. This testimony is not ultimately about me, instead I want my life to point others toward Christ and remind people that God’s grace is greater than our failures, our doubts, and even our attempts to run from Him.
The Global Advocate, Summer 2026, Volume 191, Issue 3
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