Christ-Centered Walk
I am excited to be on a Christ-centered walk in my life. I am from a family that had our lives centered around God and the church. My father was a minister. And we kids were scrutinized by it seemed everyone. And there were many rules to deal with. I believe that the rules somehow got in the way for me. They hindered me in developing and maintaining a personal relationship with God.
My first personal experience with God that really clicked happened in Vacation Bible School (VBS). I was 12 years old. It was our summer break. We spent that year’s break with my maternal grandmother. She insisted we were going to VBS during the day while she was at work. I had no choice but to go. So I decided that I might as well enjoy it. We were taught so much about God in a way that made sense to me at the time. They taught about the love that God has for us. And how he wants everything good for us. This was taught directed to children my age. And it clicked. At the end of VBS, I decided that I wanted Jesus to become a part of my life. I wanted a Christ-centered walk.
As I got older, things at home changed. When I was 16 sadly, my parents divorced. My father remarried. We moved to another city and the rebellion was on. I started hanging out with all of the wrong people. I thought that the things that they were doing were exciting and fun. Things that I would never have been allowed to do had my family still been together. Things at home were very different. During this time, I began to think that I could create a better life for myself on my own. My life of rebellion against everything that I had learned and lived as a child and teenager lasted 18 years.
In 1986, a coworker asked me to go to a church service with her. She knew a little of my history about growing up as a minister’s daughter. She said that she thought that I would enjoy her church program. After the one time attending with her, I knew that I needed the love of Jesus in my life again. I starting going to church on my own again. I began reading the Bible again. I wanted to learn more and more about God. I started seeking to have a Christ-centered walk in my life. My mindset changed. I started to handle challenges differently.
Yeah, things still happen that are not always good, but they do not affect me in the same way. I am at peace now. I know that God loves me and will protect me. Now, I am excited to be taking Bible classes here at Christian Leaders Institute. I want to keep growing and learning with God on my Christ-centered walk!
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Neighboring Well
Hello, my name is Dave Fuller and I am neighboring well in my local community. I currently live in a relatively large metropolitan area of western Washington, Seattle, U.S.A. I was told once that this part of the state is one of the most irreligious areas of the country, especially when it comes to Christianity. To serve others in the community is good, but to mention that it was done in the name of Jesus is indifferent to our culture. What most of our culture does not know, however, is that doing good for others is the Christian call. So this is where I find myself today, with help from my local church and Pastor, to love my neighbor and do it well.
I came to the Lord a bit more than ten years ago. I knew from the beginning that I was being called to share my faith. My calling was to evangelize as the Lord leads. In those days, He did in so many ways. My dream is still the same today but in a different way. With my first calling, I traveled in my job and preached the gospel whenever I had a chance, which was often. Today, I am learning to share my faith through good works in my local community by neighboring well. As I demonstrate the love of Christ to my neighbor, I share my faith by giving a reason for the hope that is within me. When asked why I volunteer to help when so many others don’t, I have an opportunity to share about Jesus.
Christian Leaders Institute offers a structure for me as a point of discipline. I am not pursuing pastoral ministry or ordination, but rather a place that I might learn to become a stronger leader in my community as I am neighboring well. The church I belong to has a different form of worship and gathering than the traditional style. We meet in our homes two or three times a month and gather as a whole body once a month in what we call our “Celebration Service.” This style is what we call a missional community (house church), where we eat a meal, worship, participate in the preaching and teaching of God’s word and fellowship together on a frequent basis. The benefit is that those that meet in homes are with not more than 30 people, men, women, and children. They fellowship with one another and are encouraged to utilize their gifts more often. In contrast, whenever I have personally gathered with larger groups, it has been much easier to hide, fit in with the crowd and not have to participate.
I am hopeful, that with my studies here at CLI, I will learn what it takes to be a leader, learn how to utilize my gifts the way God has called me and to make disciples in my community by neighboring well.
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Nicole Has a Heart for Mission Work
My name is Nicole and I have a heart for mission work. I am a married mother of four, three daughters and a son. We are living in the state of Florida in the United States of America. I have two amazing grandchildren, and I am just amazed every day that God has blessed our family so richly! My husband is a wonderful hardworking man. He works at one of the Veteran’s hospitals here in Florida (no, he’s not a doctor). He works long hard hours to provide for our family and I am grateful.
I have grown up in the church one way or another most of my life, but I was quite rambunctious in my teen years. I married young, had children and got divorced. My first husband was not a good man. I was lost and scared for a long while. Then one day it hit me, it was like God Himself tapped me on my shoulder and it all came pouring out. I asked Him for help, I asked Jesus for a worthy man, a partner, a husband, truly a friend. He answered those prayers and reminded me that ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH HIM.
I have a heart for mission work. My dream is to become a Pastor and spend my years in mission work helping and spreading His word. I feel my calling to be a Pastor was not a choice made by me, I feel as though the Holy Spirit spoke those words into my heart. Christian Leaders Institute is giving me the opportunity to fulfill my dream. Christian Leaders Institute is a gift from God. This first class has reminded me that our daily walk with God needs to be just that, daily. It is to be a habit more crucially important than brushing your teeth or showering.
I don’t have any challenges in my geographical area for attending school. I actually drop my daughter off at college 2 days a week and I still school my youngest at home. I am blessed to be in a part of the world where educational opportunities surround us. The major obstacle for me is financial. Now CLI has made the impossible, possible.
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