As I reflect on the question that was presented for week 1 to describe an experience or event in my life that has influenced the way I will approach my academic work and goals at Colorado Christian
University, I found that I really had to analyze my life, and what I have gone through and what has had the most impact on what has shaped me into the person I am. There are many pivotal events and experiences that I have endured, but the one that stands out the most was when I visited Bethel Church in Redding CA, and turned my life over to God, out Lord and Savior.
This trip to Bethel Church was one of the most impactful experiences I have ever experienced.
At the time I visited, I was fairly new into Christianity, and still questioning if I wanted
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I knew in my heart that I believed, but was still hesitant to give my life over to the Lord. I knew that I felt a tug on my heart and a distinct faith in God, and a connection that was formed through Christian Worship and Christian music in general. During my journey, I was first drawn to Jenn Johnson, of Bethel Worship and Bill Johnson, her father –in-law as lead pastor of Bethel Church, in Redding CA. I knew I must go there in person and experience what I only saw from online and through the radio first had. So, I took a leap of faith, made the plans and off I went.
The journey started with a weeklong visit with my sister, (not of the faith) in Sherman Oaks, CA, and then the plan was to fly to Sacramento CA, rent a car, drive the 2 hours to Redding, drive another 2 hours, go to the Joshua Festival in Quincy, CA, drive 2 hours back to Redding, and attend a service at
Bethel, and then drive back to Sacramento and fly home. With my original flight plans it would have put me there in such limited time that I was really not sure if the timing would have allowed me to make it all happen. I didn’t know what to expect when I got to Bethel, or even if any of the people I was
While comparing her time, theology and spiritual practice we realize she lived during the time of immense change, similarly we are living on the edge of a challenged modernity. Her spiritual direction allows us to recognize and develop further abilities in our pastoral ministries of caring for one another as participants within the corporate communities as well as within the mission fields.
"It was like an immediate freedom. ... God was asking me to trust Him. He was asking me if I wanted a new life, or if I didn't want a new life. And I wanted a new life. Thankfully He gave me
This experience was really out of my comfort zone. It was hard to be an outsider and not prepared for what was to come and not speaking one of the languages used to understand the entire service. This service learning project gave me the opportunity to try a new church and gain a deeper respect for a different religion. Everyone at the service was very educated on speaking the sacred texts and participating in the rituals practiced. I hope to have gained a better understanding for those who are new to religions and are nervous to come to a worship service. I will make more of an effort to be welcoming and accommodating to those who are new to our church.
Back in the early 90’s I had been drumming in a nowhere rock band when I met and befriended David Koresh. I needed some new drum sticks, and on the way to a gig stopped in at a local music shop. Seeing the sticks in my hand the two strangers introduced themselves and asked if I was playing in a band right now. The two were David Koresh and his right man Steve Schneider. They gave their card and I promptly handed it back. The backside was full of Bible verses. “You guys are a Christian rock band,” and I really don’t get into the whole god thing, really never have. Which was true, I had never been religious in my life, and though I sometimes found myself asking God for a little, I couldn’t remember the last time I had been in a church, let alone seriously prayed. But I did have a spiritual curiosity; there were questions I had and answers that I wanted to know. Neither of them tried to push me into coming and praying with mainly they were looking for some one to beat the skins so that they could jam. Since my band was in the dumps I took back his card and said that I would call him.
In my paper I will talk about my visit to The Community Church at Murphy's Landing (CCML). I have chosen this particular Church because it is a family church type and my neighbor goes there and she encouraged me to go with her. I went there with my neighbor on April 6, 2014.This church is an appropriate for this assignment because the people there are welcoming me with an open heart and they are willing to help and provide me with information. When I visit the Church’s site I read these words “We know visiting a new church can be intimidating. But, we want to help you to be as comfortable as possible when and if you join us”. The people gather in the church weekly to glorify God in joyful worship. The expressions of worship on CCML take many forms a prayer, a hymn of reverent awe, a guitar ringing with a chorus of praise, or a warm handshake and a welcoming smile. Their weekly services begin at 9:30 each Sunday at church. Also, they have weekly podcast if anyone wants to listen online. They have many types of services for parents, kids and students. People at CCML were so friendly; they gather around me and start welcoming me, one by one. People there introducing themselves to me, one after another and provide me with their contact information and help. Then we start talking about the church services and Christianity in particular. The mission of CCML was knowing, growing and loving. They seek to live out our mission by worshipping together as a local community of believers, growing in spiritual maturity through discipleship, education, and small groups, caring for one another within the context of the larger church body and small groups, and Communicating the love of Christ to our world, both through local outreach and global mis...
The Temple of Freedom Under God, Church of God, is one of the oldest religious organizations located in the District of Colombia, whose congregation is currently being led under the supervision of Elder Walter D. Roman, Sr. Like many of the Pentecostal churches in this day and age, the Temple of Freedom Under God’s practices and beliefs coincide with the traditional practices of the earlier Pentecostal African American churches, holding tightly onto the doctrines that were instilled in The Gospel Spreading Church during the 1900s.
After seeing though the eyes of my pastor I’ve come to realize the importance of faith and committing to one’s beliefs. Returning to church after two massive losses has helped my mother in many ways and it has also taught me as a young man how small things that I could do would turn to have a big impact on someone’s life the same way my pastor impacted my life and the life of my siblings.
already to go we load up. So we had go all the way to asheville. So when we got the we unpack
These four years are split between two years in Chicago, Illinois and another two years in a congregation in Palo Alto, California. During this time, she attended weekly church services at which she prayed, sang, and cried alongside the congregation. She even participated in smaller “house groups,” which were devoted to Bible readings and discussions emphasizing what the passages told them about God and his character.
During these years my life was an old television with only three channels: home, school and church; each one being similar to the other with little distinction. Even though my life seemed tedious at times, I learned how to focus, pray and never to give up. In hindsight, I believe my parents raise me in this manner out of fear. I did not grow up in the best of neighborhoods, and my older brother was incarcerated while I was growing up, so I can understand their apprehension. Nevertheless, I had a strong moral foundation to enter the unknown know as college.
My family and I did many different things throughout the week together, but the most important family activity was going to church on Sunday mornings. I grew up in the First United Methodist Church in Monett, Missouri. I have participated in various mission trips and service days as a member of this church, and I regularly shared my talents through special music. Throughout all of the obstacles that my family has faced, my church family has been our rock in which they gave their thoughts and encouraging words in times of need. My faith is a huge part of who I am, and I wouldn’t be the woman I am today without the love and support of my church
called in Panama) at the airport, then caught a taxi for the 18 mile ride to our
We went to the airport and found out that we had a jumbo jet to take
It may seem a little bit strange, but my favorite place in town in none other than this beautiful Evangelic Church. However, it wasn’t always so.
During my seventh grade year, my church went to a youth rally at a local church on weekend. Because of this rally and the message it sent, I realized and wanted to give my life to Jesus through baptism. It was awesome, I got home as a young teenager and actually talked to my mom about what it really means to be a Christian and to pick up your cross and follow him. So that very next weekend, my dad baptized me in front of the whole church on Sunday morning. It was an awesome feeling knowing that because of Jesus’ grace and mercy, I will be with him one day and spend eternity with him. Although I was on top of the world at this point, I still didn’t know fully what I had gotten into. So the next few years, I live the typical Christian life. I was trying to be the perfect person by doing the right stuff, I would try not to cuss, I would try to wear as many WWJD bracelets as I could so that I wouldn’t have to talk to them about Christ and they could just see it on my wrist, I would not join in on conversations with my friends that I knew were not right, I was just living life on cruise control.