My story…
I am very thankful to say God has had his hand on me since I was very young. At just the tender age of 7, I began asking questions about salvation and gave my life to Jesus a short while after. I understood I was a sinner and needed Jesus to come into my heart, but didn't begin really wrestling with my faith until middle school many years later. I had since perfected the art of "being a christian". I regularly attended church services, I was a model student, I never missed a star sticker beside my name on the verse memorization chart and was practically the poster child for VBS. In my enthusiasm for Christ, I attended several youth events, Christian concerts and, possibly the biggest force in my change in relationship with Jesus, a christian summer camp called Centrifuge. God spoke powerfully through the leaders of Fuge and their Christian lives seemed to have something mine was lacking.
I began to take a step back and look at my life. When I compared my life to other Christians… I was doing pretty good! But, when I compared my life to Jesus… I was completely missing the mark. Everything in my relationship with Jesus was about ME. "How can I make myself look like a better Christian? How can I gain favor in the church? How can I gain favor with God?" As I wrestled with these questions (and with God and doubts of my salvation) I began to see that if I wanted a true relationship with Jesus, I had to step aside. My salvation had nothing to do with how "good" I could be, but how great He was! Nothing I could offer or do could gain His favor, but yet he was worthy of complete sacrifice of my own life! He freely offered grace to me, not because of anything I had done, but because He loved me.
This new love for Christ quickly blossomed into a new love for people and as I began to see others through the eyes of Christ, my heart was shattered for the poor, the hungry, the hurt, the forgotten, the mistreated, and most of all those who had never heard the name of Jesus. God spoke so clearly to me one simple word, "Go." I had never heard his voice quite so clear, so I went to the altar during worship at Centrifuge and with tears streaming down my face and hands raised high, I cried out to God and replied, "I will go wherever you send me!" Was I afraid? ABSOLUTELY! I had no idea what God wanted me to do or even where to go. But I trusted him and knew with everything in me, He was worthy of anything I would have to sacrifice. Since then, God has been guiding my footsteps every day. Placing me where he needed me for the most spiritual growth and to best further His Kingdom. I believe with all of my heart the next step of my journey is The World Race.
