For Juliana, Summit is a place of renewal.

Juliana Puerto found comfort sitting in her car for just a few feel-good moments. Sometimes friends joined her, and sometimes she paused in the front seat alone. But at this time in her life, during her 20s, the habits she formed left her unfulfilled. A brief smoke in her car couldn’t ultimately satisfy her.

Today, Juliana finds solace in her car because she experiences God there, in everyday minutes. Knowing God personally has flipped even a mundane occurrence to something better.

 “That good feeling that I thought I was getting from smoking and drinking, now I get it from just listening to worship music,” Juliana said.

The place where she once lived only for herself became a place where she worshipped God. Worship songs reminded Juliana of God’s presence and brought emotions to the surface. Over time, the nearness of God transformed Juliana’s life. As she began to experience a close relationship with Jesus, she saw how He reverses old patterns to new thriving in Him.

Juliana’s Spiritual Journey Starts in Colombia

Juliana grew up in Colombia in a family that attended Catholic mass on holidays. When she was seven years old, she and her parents moved to Florida. A few years later Juliana’s mom decided she wanted to get baptized in a Pentecostal church. So when Juliana was 10 years old, she also joined her mom in baptism, but it didn’t hold significance for her. She continued to attend services until after she turned 18.

Then, Juliana left the church and began to make her own choices.

“I went through so many things because I was being crazy and not listening to God,” Juliana said. “I feel like because I grew up in church, and I understood who God was, He was always there. But I was trying to do my own thing, and I always thought that I knew what was best for me.”

While serving tables at a restaurant, alcohol became a regular part of her life. At 25 years old, Juliana got married. Her husband had an alcohol addiction, and eventually they divorced.

Over time, God worked in Juliana’s life to show her what is most important.

“I went through this roller coaster emotionally,” Juliana said, “until I started realizing, ‘What am I doing? I think that these things are going to help me, and they're not.’ And so I would listen to Summit on the podcast randomly, and all these things were just speaking to me. God was using it.”

Juliana attended Summit Church with a friend once in the past, and now the sermons made her start feeling connected to the church. In June 2025, she began coming in person.

Growth in God’s Word

When Summit started hosting the Alpha course, Juliana attended on her own. Alpha is a program that encourages people to learn about Jesus and ask questions in a group setting. A moment from the first meeting stands out to her.

“I remember giving my opinion on how God tells us in the Bible to even be nice to the people that are mean to us, and how that doesn't make sense,” Juliana said.

Later, she had an opportunity to live out this upside-down kindness by showing compassion to an unkind person at a school where she substituted.

“It almost just shifted everything about them, and they changed,” Juliana said. “And it felt so good. I always believed in God, but He shows how real He is with little things like that.”

Juliana told her Alpha group the story, and she chatted with one woman about it and encouraged her. Through Alpha, Juliana started to feel more known and like she had purpose.

Although Juliana’s life looks significantly different, she still experiences loneliness because her friendships have changed. In the midst of the challenge, she desires to depend on God in prayer and find a consistent community at Summit.

Moments of Faith Ahead

Juliana took her next right step and was baptized at the beach in April. She wanted to demonstrate that she had committed her life to Jesus. This summer, she plans to go on a mission trip with Summit to Malawi.

Until then, in the day-to-day, God continues to assure her of His presence.

“He cares so much,” Juliana said, “and he sees my struggles, and he's there for me.”

Written by Summit Media Team volunteer, Rachel Suennen.