I’m one of those people who wasn’t raised in the church, nor one who would say that I’ve had a personal relationship with Christ or been saved since I was a child. I can testify that God lovingly pursued me. Long before I even suspected, God sent his Holy Spirit to me to soften my heart and prepare it to receive the good news that my soul longed to hear. ‘For God so loved ME that he gave his one and only Son, that if I believe in him, I shall not perish but receive eternal life.’ (John 3:16) Over the course of 2 years, many divine circumstances and strategically placed Christians, I not only heard the gospel message but responded, by placing my faith in Christ alone for my salvation, in 1995.
I never expected that God wouldn’t require me to be good or do good or live a perfect life, to earn his love. In fact, it’s unbelievable to me that the God of all creation would send HIS one and only son to die on a cross for the penalty of MY sin in order to restore the love relationship he created me to have with Him! Unbelievable, but true. Who does that? God does!
Shortly thereafter, I was convicted by the Spirit to be in fellowship with other Christians. I became a member of Community of Grace Church in Centennial, CO, where I was baptized. I spent 7 years learning, growing, and serving the Student Ministry and God quickly taught me that He did not only save me FROM something… God saved me TO something… (Jeremiah 29:11.) An abundant life in Christ with the opportunity to serve God in eternally meaningful ways ( John 10:10).
Called to be involved with a church plant, I became a member of The Experience-Aurora for an additional 7 years, serving again in student ministry & adult bible study. Recently, I’ve returned to Community of Grace, seeking opportunities to once again serve the church body and to encourage and equip believers to share the Gospel effectively.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.
-Jeremiah 29: 11-14
