You know, life has a way of leaving marks on us.
Some of those marks are wounds — deep ones — the kind that don’t show on the outside but leave you aching on the inside. And what you do with those wounds… well, that matters.
For a long time, I tried to heal myself. I tried to be my own doctor — patching things up, covering the pain, pretending it was fine. But the truth is, I was just making it worse. When you try to handle your hurt on your own, the wound doesn’t heal — it festers. Before long, the infection spreads straight to the heart.
The Bible says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23) That verse hit home for me, because I’d been walking around wounded for years — lost, tired, and trying to hold it all together.
Then one day, God started something new in my life — in the most ordinary way.
I had been part of a men’s group that really meant a lot to me. It was a space where we could be real — no masks, no judgment, just men walking through life together. But when that group came to an end, I didn’t realize how much I’d miss it until it was gone. I tried finding something like it again, but nothing fit.
Then one day on the patio outside a local brewery I ran into a guy named Joe Franz. He’s the founder of BrewPastors, and we just started talking. What started as a quick conversation turned into something deeper. Joe asked me questions about faith — what I believed, what I thought about Jesus, and whether I was truly following Him.
Before long, he invited me to check out a Men’s BrewGroup. I said yes — and that simple yes changed everything.
In that group, I found what I’d been missing: honesty, brotherhood, and real connection. I watched men share their stories — the hard stuff, the painful stuff, the real stuff. And I saw how God was using those stories to bring healing and hope.
Little by little, I started opening up too. I began sharing my story — my wounds. And as I did, something amazing happened. God started healing me from the inside out.
Over time, those wounds turned into scars.
And you know what? Every scar tells a story.
A scar means you’ve been hurt, but it also means you’ve healed. It’s proof that God brought you through something that should’ve taken you down.
Looking back now, I can see how God used those scars to lead me to my purpose.
As I grew in my faith and healing, I started feeling God nudging me to lead a group of my own. I’ll be honest — I was scared. I didn’t think I was ready. But when I prayed about it, God reminded me of where I came from — that pit I was once in, the pain I’d been through, and the people who helped me out of it.
Then I felt God say to my heart:
“You can take what was given to you and walk away free and healed — or you can turn around, look into that same pit, and help pull others out.”
That hit me deep.
So I said yes.
I said yes to leading. Yes to serving. Yes to helping others find the same hope and freedom I found in Jesus.
Now, as a BrewPastor, I get to walk beside other men who are fighting their own battles — helping them see that God can bring healing, no matter how deep the wounds are. I’ve seen tears, laughter, prayers, and breakthroughs. I’ve watched God show up in the middle of craft breweries, pubs, and even gatherings in my home turning pain into purpose.
And every time I see someone find hope in Jesus, I’m reminded: our scars aren’t meant to be hidden. They’re meant to be shared.
Because your scar might be the very thing God uses to help someone else heal.
I love being part of BrewPastors — not just what we do, but who we are. We’re a brotherhood. We walk together. We share our stories. We point each other to Jesus.
That’s what changed my life.
And if you’re reading this, maybe it’s what God wants to use to change yours, too.
So I’ll leave you with this question — the same one that changed everything for me: What will you do with your scar?
Will you hide it?
Or will you share your story — so someone else can find healing, hope, and purpose through Jesus?
Because when you give your wounds to God, He doesn’t just heal you.
He gives your story a purpose.
[Connect with Wayne]
If Wayne’s story hits home, you’re not alone. We’ve all got scars — and every one of them has a story worth sharing. Whether you’re looking for a place to start healing or you’re ready to help others find hope, BrewPastors is here for you.
Come grab a seat at the table. Share your story. Hear someone else’s.
Because this journey — this brotherhood — it’s better together.
Join a BrewGroup. Meet with a BrewPastor. Or take the next step and join the BrewPastors network to help others.