Hero Story - Bec Long

Bec invited Jesus into her life at the age of 18 and He changed her world.

“When I first came to know Him (Jesus) I was so insecure and so low. I didn’t trust anyone. I had no confidence in myself at all. He kind of met me there. He gave me everything I needed in that season and as the years have gone on life just presents its own challenges. In every season He’s always met me there.” — Bec

Early into her relationship with Jesus, Bec experienced the tragedy of losing her best friend to cancer. It weighed heavily on her heart that she had let her pride get in the way of talking about Jesus — not wanting to look weird.

“I gifted her a Bible for Easter the year she was in hospital, but that’s as close as I ever got to sharing my faith. I was meant to visit her on a Monday and the Sunday night I got a phone call saying she’d passed away. I was devastated because I felt like I’d just missed all my opportunities to share with her everything that I knew and felt. It sent me into a real downward spiral. I had just passed up her opportunity to meet Jesus. She wasn’t here anymore for me to share it so I battled with it for a while… I was just so mad at myself and mad at God even that I hadn’t stepped into that.” — Bec

The pain of this loss is a reminder to make the most of every opportunity to talk to people about Jesus.

“I would say to people struggling with their pride, that it’s so easy to get caught up in what this world offers us. The culture we live in now is so set on looking cool but we’re only here for a short amount of time and opportunities like that change someone's life here on earth and then eternity as well. I’d just say suck it up. Honestly it’s not worth it. The way you feel afterwards knowing that you’ve missed an opportunity to share with someone about Jesus, it’s just not worth it.” — Bec

Fast forward 5 years and Bec is one of the most joyful people you’ll ever meet. Her God-given strength?

“I can make a mean cheese board!” — Bec

People are drawn to her warmth which is in good use at the early childcare center she works at. Bec has the opportunity to chat to many different people every day.

“I try and meet people on the level that they’re at. I never want to be that person that pushes their faith so much onto someone that it makes them want to walk the other way. I want to share my faith openly but in a way that draws people in. Some people, their hearts are hard towards it, but that’s okay because mine once was too. But God works in mysterious ways and who knows what a little seed being planted does. I’ve taken people to church before who have asked to come and they’ve left and been like, ‘Mmm didn’t like that’ and it’s all cool. Everyone has their time.” — Bec

Her number one tip for sharing about Jesus with others?

“Love people — no, scratch that. Number one is to love God. When you love God you automatically love people.” — Bec