Get to know Jacque Messerli
Groups Minister
I was born and raised in the small town of North Liberty, Iowa. My parents worked hard to provide for my two sisters and me, doing the best they could with what they had, but faith was not a part of our home. As a result of abuse I endured as a young child, I often felt unseen and confused, which led me to believe that I needed to earn love and approval. I became a people-pleaser, striving to be perfect, follow the rules, and meet everyone’s expectations. Over time, that mindset led me into unhealthy choices as a teenager. At sixteen, my life took an even more difficult turn when I was diagnosed with lupus and fibromyalgia. Being told I might not live a long life left me hopeless and angry. I began to believe that if God existed, He must be disappointed or angry with me, and that my illness was some form of punishment. With that belief, I spent the next several years living on my own terms, making reckless choices, neglecting my health, and rebelling against the guidance of those who cared about me.
In my early twenties, my declining health forced me to confront the direction of my life, and though I didn’t recognize it at the time, God was already drawing me toward Himself. Soon after, I met Matt (my now husband), whose steady attendance at church sparked a curiosity in me that I couldn’t ignore. I began attending church, learning about the Bible, and asking questions about God and Jesus. During a season of illness that left me unable to work, I attended a church class where I heard others share how God had met them in their brokenness. Through those testimonies, the truth of the gospel became clear to me. One day, while home sick not long after becoming engaged, I had a moment of deep realization: I was not alone, God was real, and through Jesus Christ, He loved me and was inviting me to trust Him. I understood for the first time that my suffering was not punishment, but a place where God wanted to meet me with love and grace. That moment marked the beginning of my faith in Jesus Christ, and for almost two decades now, He has been faithfully walking with me, giving me hope, healing, and helping me to live each day with and for Him.
In early 2019, Matt and I, along with our two kids, Eva and Daniel, relocated to Texas and began attending Citizens Church. As a family, we enjoy being active and playing games together.
My Hope for Citizens Church
My hope for Citizens Church is that it would continue to grow into a body of believers who serve, love, and disciple others in a way that not only points them to the Lord but fuels a desire for them to go and do the same.
In my early twenties, my declining health forced me to confront the direction of my life, and though I didn’t recognize it at the time, God was already drawing me toward Himself. Soon after, I met Matt (my now husband), whose steady attendance at church sparked a curiosity in me that I couldn’t ignore. I began attending church, learning about the Bible, and asking questions about God and Jesus. During a season of illness that left me unable to work, I attended a church class where I heard others share how God had met them in their brokenness. Through those testimonies, the truth of the gospel became clear to me. One day, while home sick not long after becoming engaged, I had a moment of deep realization: I was not alone, God was real, and through Jesus Christ, He loved me and was inviting me to trust Him. I understood for the first time that my suffering was not punishment, but a place where God wanted to meet me with love and grace. That moment marked the beginning of my faith in Jesus Christ, and for almost two decades now, He has been faithfully walking with me, giving me hope, healing, and helping me to live each day with and for Him.
In early 2019, Matt and I, along with our two kids, Eva and Daniel, relocated to Texas and began attending Citizens Church. As a family, we enjoy being active and playing games together.
My Hope for Citizens Church
My hope for Citizens Church is that it would continue to grow into a body of believers who serve, love, and disciple others in a way that not only points them to the Lord but fuels a desire for them to go and do the same.