“Festa Gave Me Purpose” — Philip Scoles

“I grew up here in Ohio. My dad was a pastor, so faith was always part of my life, but it didn’t really become personal to me until after he passed away unexpectedly. That loss really woke me up to my own faith. I started asking more questions and taking things more seriously.

“I joined the Army National Guard in 2021. I spent time in the Middle East, and after being deployed for over a year, coming back home was harder than I expected. The transition was difficult. I felt kind of lost — I didn’t know what I was going to do or where I belonged. The people I had spent every day with were suddenly gone, and I didn’t really know what to do next.

“I was looking for ways to serve, to reconnect. My old church connections didn’t feel the same, and I was really searching for something new, somewhere I could get involved again.

“That’s when I remembered Festa. I had heard about you all a long time ago — I don’t even remember how — but it came to mind one day, and I thought, ‘That sounds really interesting.’ So I checked it out. A team member at Festa suggested, “You should try working with the children.” So I did — and I loved it! It was so much fun. I love working with children. It was a great fit. Eventually, I started teaching English to adults too, which I also loved.

“Festa definitely helped me adjust back to life here. Whether it was working with the children or teaching English, it gave me purpose — something I could be passionate about again. I think that’s one of the biggest things God used in my life after coming home. It helped me take my eyes off myself and focus on others.”