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~A Life Empowered Woman's Statement of Faith~
The interdenominational group of women that make up Life Empowered share a common Christian faith and a deep desire to “be strong in the Lord.” CLICK HERE to see what being a Life Empowered woman is all about!
~Life Empowered's Director & Board Members~
My Testimony... Being surrounded by blessings and growing up in a wonderful Christian home where church and Godly morals were taught and enforced, I've often longed for a testimony to share with others. I viewed a "testimony" as something only for those who God had brought through great trials. I felt as though I didn’t have anything impressive enough to share. At some point, it hit me that testimonies can be daily acknowledgements and praises of how God is and has worked in your life. This is something I can certainly relate to, for He has blessed me with much! As I already mentioned, God has certainly blessed me with a strong, Christian family. My family has always played a large role in my life. There’s Dad, Mom, (me), Ryan, Justin, & Megan. There’s not enough space or time to share of their devotion - every band concert, birthday party, major lifetime event…they were there for them all. Sunday has always been one of my favorite family days. Each Sunday we go to church then head over to my grandparents or home for family game time. My family's faithfulness and closeness have had a profound impact on my faith; however, my small country church didn't allow for much participation outside of Sunday mornings. Growing up I did occassionally get involved in other youth activities with friends. I knew I was a Christian and a morally “good person,” and at the time that was good enough. Since my family has always been close, it was a difficult decision to attend college 3+ hours from home. As I was making the decision to go away to college, little did I know, God had a profound faith deepening experience waiting for me in Missouri. God was ready to teach me what it really meant to be a Christian. I started college at UMKC as a transfer business major hoping to fulfill my dreams of becoming a CEO. At the same time, I became involved in CSM, Christian Student Ministries. God began a work in my heart through the people I encountered at CSM. Their knowledge of and passion for the Lord became something I, too, wanted to personally experience. But, as usual, issues with self-confidence entered in. I felt inferior and refused to openly admit that I was little more than a person who played church on Sundays. God didn't let my heart issues get in the way; instead he continued to give me glimpses of the real Christian life through the people at CSM and He began convicting me that I was in the wrong major for the wrong reasons. After completing phone interviews and starting a microeconomic analysis class during my second semester, I knew I was in the wrong field. Knowing 2 things, 1) I want to make a difference in other’s lives and 2) I want to be remembered for something more important than landing that CEO job, I switched from business, to psychology/sociology, to counseling, and finally teaching. I wanted a fresh start so after changing majors I decided to transfer to Northwest Missouri State the next year. And a fresh start it was! During the transition, I became even more aware of God’s presence in my life. I saw him in everything – the trees, music, yard ornaments, art, trials – speaking to me in some way. I felt I had finally found God’s purpose for my life as a teacher, so the search for my career was over. Several close friendships also played a role in strengthening my faith walk. They challenged me with the lives that they led; they passionately loved God and wanted to serve him with their whole heart. Again I wanted that for my own life, only this time I was not too intimidated to admit that I was imperfect and had some work to be done. Jump forward to spring 2009. I'd spent the previous four years pursuing my bachelors and masters, while also searching for the path God intended for me. Although I was tested and occassionally failed, I'd learned to keep my sight on things above and sought guidance from Christ. Knowing that college was nearly behind me, I was at the crossroads again, facing big life decisions– decisions that I knew weren’t mine alone to be making. I moved forward pursuing a teaching position in southeast Iowa but had little success. In late April I began jokingly telling people that I was going to be a gypsy and sub in different places in the Midwest where I knew people. While debating my next move, in the back of my mind were the conversations I had been having for several months with my friend Courtney about the desire God had placed on her heart to start a women’s ministry. I knew she had heard God speak and was being personally led in that direction, but I didn’t know if I had a part to play in it. Then, that spring Courtney and I were led to a Leslie Ludy conference in Colorado. At the last “Set-Apart” conference session we were challenged to respond to a holier call to a life poured out for Christ. At that moment I knew God wanted me in Life Empowered. Soon thereafter, things I had been saying about using my lack of a full-time job to be free to go where I pleased now had a different meaning; I was being called to be God’s hands and feet. The Casting Crown’s song “If We Are the Body” played constantly in my mind. So my hearts cry since then has been “Here am I Lord, send me.” I don’t know what He has in store for me or this ministry, but I do know that I am eager to obediently answer His call, reach out to women, and praise Him for wherever He takes us!
A Little More About What I Love to Do...
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