Reflection Paper

I do not want to be cliche about creating a statement that I am sure many have heard or read in regards to an experience or event that has influenced the academic work and goals at Colorado Christian University, but I feel that the biggest turning point in my life is when I truely recognized Jesus Christ for who He is and what He has done for me! I grew up in a small town of about 2000 people and was fortunate enough to be raised next to the towns assistant pastor. He had several kids my age and and in my favor they invited me to church not many days after moving in. Little did I know, this would be a day that would shape the rest of my future! I was only 5 years old, but I began going to church on a fairly regular basis even though my parents had no interest in attending. This church invitation moment

Fast forward a year later. That year off found to be critical in my life path. I started studying the Word more often. Started praying more often. Started truely feeling a connection to Jesus Christ. This was a different passion than I had for Him in the past. I began to wonder was my salvation true from my childhood days back home with the local church. As I started to ponder these things, I realized that all these years of going to church and being saved were really just years of going to church and thinking I was "saved". At this point, I had such a greater understanding of what it really meant. My desire to serve Him was steadily climbing. My relationship went from knowing about to really knowing Him. In 1997 , I started working for a local restaurant. I worked as a short order cook who had the opportunity to work with many people who were in a program called CREST. This was a program where people who had committed serious enough drug offenses were on work release to finish out their last several months in