My name is Morgan Pierce, and I currently live in northwest Florida. I wish I could say I am one of those people who grew up in the church, knew they wanted to be in ministry their whole life, went to seminary, married my sweetheart, and now live a wonderful life with my family in the Lord.

But that is not my story. Growing up, I moved around a lot. I went to a different school almost every year and attended a new church just as frequently. Many of the churches I attended were very strict, focusing heavily on rule-following, which unfortunately came with judgment and hypocrisy among church members. While I enjoyed seeing some of my friends at church, many things just didn’t feel right to me. It felt like I didn’t belong.

I knew God loved me, but I longed to experience Him. I remember one night at church, going to the altar and begging God to forgive me, to transform me. I wanted to be born again. People surrounded me, praying for my salvation. They cried, and I cried. But I felt nothing.

I tried to live a Christian life throughout my childhood and teenage years. People often forget how tough those years are—how real everything feels, how important everything seems to be. I wasn’t always a goody-two-shoes. I wanted people to know I was more than just one-dimensional. I found comfort in art. Drawing had always been my outlet, even when I was little, using scrap printer paper my mom brought home from work. Art was something I could do that no one else in my family could. It gave me an outlet and a sense of temporary identity.

In my late teens, I had a very negative experience in a church. Shortly after that, I started dating a guy who grew up believing people in organized religion were brainwashed and controlled through fear (like the fear of Hell). At the time, I agreed with him.

For a long time, I wanted nothing to do with church. I felt duped, brainwashed, and taken advantage of. So, I rebelled and lived as I pleased, beginning a downward spiral.

Eventually, I started working in the medical field, where logic, science, and rationality were like currency. I strove to prove myself—my intelligence, my capabilities… my worth. Over time, I hadn’t touched art in years. I developed severe anxiety and depression. I felt utterly lost. It was one of the lowest points of my life.

In my search for meaning, I turned to science—physics and quantum mechanics in particular. I wanted to know more about existence, about the world. I needed a purpose if I was going to pull myself out of depression. The deeper I dove into research, the more connections I began to see between science and spirituality. I knew there had to be more. My belief in God persisted, but I felt I needed to discover Him for myself. No one could just tell me to go back to God and expect everything to be okay. I wasn’t ready to hear that, and I wouldn’t have listened anyway.

I began studying scientists who explored the connections between science and spirituality. I was hooked. For at least four years, I consumed all the information I could find on the two topics and their intersections.

I was searching for God in science… and guess what? I found Him. He began revealing Himself to me slowly, subtly, because anything too abrupt would have caused me to shut down.

The subtle winds of the Holy Spirit nudged me further down my spiritual path, leading me to study various religions. Because I was still in a logical and analytical mindset, I felt I had to study them all. I wanted to be sure I got it right. (If there is a Hell, and we could end up there forever, I’d better be sure of what I believe, right?)

All of this searching brought me back to Christ—though not in the way I expected. I started following a Catholic scientist, and everything he said made sense to me. For the first time, faith clicked.

I took a deep dive into Catholicism. Many of their practices and beliefs resonated with me; I found them beautiful. I loved the deep reverence in their services and the acknowledgment of spiritual beings like angels and demons who can interact with us and on our behalf. What truly spoke to me, though, was the harmony between science and faith within Catholicism. It showed me I could love science and be a spiritual person.

So I kept searching. I expanded my studies to explore other Christian denominations.

Meanwhile, I had felt a call to counseling for several years. I thought about going back to school to finish a bachelor’s degree in psychology and pursue mental health counseling. But even that path never felt entirely right. I’ve always known I’m drawn to a spiritual vocation. The helping fields I’ve worked in—medicine, veterinary care, and now supporting people with disabilities—have given me fulfillment. Yet, I know I’m called to counsel.

I believe my calling is to be there for people in their darkest moments, helping them see that there is hope. That God, the Creator who permeates the very fabric of creation, is there. I believe He has shaped my life to prepare me for those moments when I can remind others of His presence.

I don’t want to offer false hope, fairy tales, or toxic positivity.

I want to offer real hope—hope that even those turned off by religion and church might be willing to hear. My prayer is that God will use the Holy Spirit to work through me, comforting those in emotional need and opening their ears to hear His voice.

Because this is my spiritual journey, too. I know I don’t resonate with the traditional church scene. I prefer spiritual discussion groups, Bible study, and intimate settings. But that doesn’t make God any less real—in my life or in my heart.

My ministry is to work with people who might not otherwise give God a chance.

Over the past few years, God has placed chaplaincy in my path multiple times. My sister recently asked me if I thought it was my calling. I can see myself as a community chaplain—working one-on-one or with small groups, providing spiritual direction, or even helping in addiction counseling. I’m waiting to see what God has in store.

I am incredibly grateful to have found Christian Leaders Institute and their Bachelor’s in Chaplaincy program. Finishing my degree always seemed out of reach, and I spent years searching for an affordable, flexible program. I truly believe God has placed me in the right place at the right time.