Matt Bell, HBI Racing

I was raised around the church, and I wasn’t into it. I was never going to be the guy that believed in all this just because that was what was socially acceptable in my environment. Over the years, I had gone back and forth, but it was never much of a priority. Fast forward to 2022, I considered myself agnostic and decided to get serious about figuring out a direction. I read every book I could find on the subject, the Bible included, doing my best to view all the information objectively. Around this time, I was down bad one day and decided to say a prayer and asked Him to show me a sign. The very next day, a man came up to me in the gym, hadn’t seen him before and haven’t seen him since, he held out a shirt with the verse from Jeremiah "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” on it and said “I’m not sure why, but I felt called to give this to you today, he sees you”. I get random text from my mom that afternoon, same verse. On that same day, my Grandpa was in the hospital—the only artwork in his room? Same verse. (Found this out weeks later) I realized that over the years I had a bad taste in my mouth about organized religion. It can be used to control and to profit, but I also realized that isn’t what Jesus wanted or taught. That is humans being human, and I came to the conclusion that it’s not right for me to let their mistakes affect the way I view Christianity. I’m a logical dude, I get the skepticism over the subject, and sitting here today I can tell you that I never thought I would write something like this. Everyone is on their own journey, and I’m the last one to push my beliefs on someone else. I’m not trying to appear virtuous, or trying to assert myself as “above” anyone. I’m writing this because arriving here has changed my life in a way that makes it feel wrong to keep it to myself. I don’t have all the answers, but through my own research and experience, all I can say is that I believe with all my heart and soul. God bless, and have a great weekend.