Evangelism on Your Phone

Do you remember when everyone kept saying "There's an App for That!"? 

Well, now Christians have a wider variety of apps to use. Not only do we have various Bible apps to study and learn the word of God, but we even have tools to help us share our faith directly from our phone! Many of which are accessible with any phone and can display in multiple languages, including American Sign Language!

One of the things I love about Cru is the opportunity for outreach innovation. 

Here are a few by Cru that I love.

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A Safe Place to Explore Questions About Life and God

Cru started with a passion to reach every student with the message of Jesus Christ. Students are the future leaders of governments, companies and communities. Students are influencers, activists, and often-passionate people.

This website was created to help students learn who God is and develop their faith by facing some challenging questions. Millions of people have visited this website because it answers the tough questions students face everyday. The website is in multiple languages and now available as an app!

In 10 months, there were 53,645 visits to the website from New Jersey alone! 473 people indicated decisions for Christ after reading an article on the website and 158 people signed up for the Spiritual Starter Kit! Praise God!

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Another one of those innovations is an app called “Perspective Cards," a free evangelism app designed by Cru to help you ask good questions and share the love of Christ.

Many people’s worldviews are becoming increasingly eclectic, while the Christian worldview is becoming increasingly irrelevant and confusing. This can be huge barrier to understanding spiritual reality and knowing God. How can we help those we care for?

Imagine a deck of cards, or a smartphone app, which can guide you through an enjoyable and deeply revealing spiritual conversation.Perspective Cards allows people to share what they believe, explore the Christian worldview, and take the next step on their spiritual journey in an environment where they feel safe. This is the beauty of Perspective.

The app has been carefully designed to faithfully reproduce the Perspective Cards experience, moderating great, face to face, spiritual conversations. As a smartphone app the cards can always be with you…and it’s free!
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Jesus Film Media is the digital expression of Jesus Film Project®. The entire Jesus Film Project library can be accessed directly from your smart phone or tablet.

Through the robust search feature users have the ability to find resources by country, language name, and title of the film. You will have access to films in more than 1,300 languages!

Featuring the films "JESUS," "Magdalena," "The Story of Jesus for Children" in full length and segments; the series "Following Jesus" and "Walking with Jesus" and catalog of short films like "My Last Day."

This app has A LOT and so you definitely need storage to keep it on your phone, but it's such a great tool when you are planning to go out sharing with your church friends or on a missions trip. The Jesus Film Project is a ministry of Cru and our students use their Global Short Films to start spiritual conversations or to attract people to their weekly meetings. 

Just a few days away

http://www.radiate2013.com/video

Everyday of my life...

Luke 21:4 "For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."

I am a full-time missionary. My boss is God. Every day of my life I choose to serve Him and His mission to accomplish His vision through the organization formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ, now called Cru.

Using a picture survey to start spiritual conversations

I spend my workday talking to students who have always 'known" Jesus but don't fully know His transforming love (discipleship & training). I spend multiple days a week starting spiritual conversations and building relationships with the students, faculty and staff that God brings across my path who don't yet know Him (evangelism).

Tammy  (my director) & I at a Jersey Metro staff mtg

Twice a week I gather with a group of individuals (my staff team) who are deeply in love with Jesus and passionate about seeing the same vision come to reality across the state of New Jersey so that it ultimately impacts the world. Together, we pray for the college students that flood the campuses and the faculty that guide those students in their knowledge of this world. Together, we listen to God and pray about how He may want us to encourage one another and encourage the students to action; Action in prayer, action in planning and action in stepping out on faith to see those plans come to pass.

Because this is what I do with my time, I have a team of supporting friends and family who financially support me to be able to be on campus without concern of finances or food or shelter or health. From financial gifts of $10/month to annual $800 promises or even groceries for a few days, stamps for the week or gas cards in the mail. Because of people like you, I can be used by God to reach the increasing number of students around the world. Thanks you.

If you would like to help in any way, check out the how you can give note on my facebook page or visit give.ccci.org and use account number 0597677 or simply ask me.

It is day. But it won't be forever...

Urgency—There might not be tomorrow

Campus Crusade’s role is to help build movements everywhere so that everybody knows somebody who truly follows Jesus Christ. Part of my role in that ministry is to be trained in how to win, build and send people by the power of the Holy Spirit and so, help the body of Christ to fulfill the great commission. In this training, post summer Bible classes, I read an article by our current president, Steve Douglass. “Future Direction” describes how and why Steve felt led to more clearly define our ministry’s role in the Church universal, and he does. At the end of this article, Steve emphasizes John 9:4 in  regards to the very ripe harvest all around the world in saying: “It is ‘day.’ But it won’t be forever. So let’s work… together!”
When I met Dina, a new Latina staff joining Destino (Cru’s effort to reach Latin Americans & Hispanics), in Orlando this summer, I didn’t recognize the seed God was planting in our relationship to create a thicker unity within the body of Christ. In connecting us through my former discipler and good friend, Jen Hu, God began to align us to the same vision Steve Douglass mentions in this article, “movements everywhere...so everybody knows somebody who knows Jesus Christ.” Dina and I both recognize the quickly growing Latino community and plan to: help bridge their knowledge of Christ so that they may know Him, bridge to the majority staff (not Destino) with them on the mission field level, and bridge the generational gap within their culture and churches. With this community quickly growing, we recognize the urgency in our mission to see every Latino & even every minority have an opportunity to know somebody who truly follows Jesus Christ.

Discomfort vs Disunity

Minorities in ministry often feel uncomfortable as they are surrounded by people of a different class, culture, etc.
One of the things God taught me when I first became a part of Campus Crusade for Christ was that comfort is NOT something He has given us a right to. Christ’s divinity in flesh, Paul’s radical life change, the disciples living off of whatever they were given, Abraham leaving the only place familiar to himself, Moses speaking & leading a nation, Esther confronting a King on behalf of her people are just a few examples of people who were obediently uncomfortable for Christ. Even Peter, who didn’t want to take the Gospel to the Gentiles was challenged to do so in a vision from the Lord recorded in Acts 10. Like Peter, in Acts 11 was in an uncomfortable position to bridge the gap between the Jewish believers and the newly converted Gentiles, I think God has called me to be a bridge builder within Cru. Please pray for me and Dina as we seek the Lord to know how exactly He wants us to do this.

My Mission:

“Through the leading & power of the Holy Spirit, may Christ be fully known to all peoples, by our love for one another, as we raise the standard of this Christian nation and ultimately be a light of unity to the world.”

For more information on what I mean by this, feel free to email, call, or look to my Facebook or Blog. :)

Keep reading and praying! Thanks for helping me work full-time to be part of fulfilling the great commission.

In Christ,
E. Tabitha Morales

Education and IBS

These letters may be confusing to you if you're not up on the Campus Crusade for Christ lingo. :) Starting this past Monday, I am taking 4 weeks of seminary courses with the Institute of Biblical Studies (IBS) by Cru.

Eliza graduating Monroe College

Last month, my sister graduated from Monroe College with her Culinary Certification as a pastry chef one week after my father graduated from New York School of the Bible with his advanced education certificate in Biblical Studies! :) Even Gia, my 5 year old niece, is ready to read and will start in an advanced Kindergarten class this Fall! So proud of my family seeking to be good stewards of the time, money and skills God has given them.

My 5 yr old niece, Gia, READS!

One way I'm trying to do the same thing this summer is through IBS. Experienced full-time staff and professors from other seminaries around the United States put together various courses that Christians going into full-time ministry typically study and create them as a two week summer class for the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ around the world! - IBS. Next week I will be finishing my first two courses in Biblical Interpretation and Old Testament Survey.

Dad graduating from NYSB with Liberty U.

So far I've really enjoyed them both. Biblical interpretation is something I've learned growing up in a Reformed Baptist Church and with a father who loves "choppin' up" the scriptures. Although it's something I have a heavy background in, it's great to receive organized instruction and learn specific methods of how to best dissect the Word of God. It's also really encouraging to learn the terms to describe the scripture within it's historical, narrative and redemptive context.

Growing up in a Reformed Baptist Church, I knew the importance of properly dividing the Word and so I was slightly intimidated when I found out my professor for "Old Testament Survey" would be Dr. Futato from Reformed Theological Seminary. His lectures are wonderfully detailed and designed for hearers of all backgrounds but I KNOW his exam will NOT be easy. He is a God-fearing man, excited about the knowledge of the scriptures as it pertains to our living to glorify God; he reminds me a lot of my father. I just hope and pray to be able to retain the massive text we have to read and his daily 3 hour lectures! : /

Please continue to pray for me as I study to discern God's Word properly and return with greater ammunition for the spiritual battles on campus in NJ. Please also pray for me to finish raising the support I need to pay for these courses, dorm-life and meal plans.

Anxious much?

In Matthew 6:26-34, Jesus is nearing the end of His sermon on the mount, His first sermon recorded in the book of Matthew, and He talks about anxiety.

This summer I will be attending the Institute of Biblical Studies, taking four classes in 4 weeks. I don't typically struggle with anxiety, but everything about this summer assignment seems to encourage anxiety. Financially speaking, I need to raise $3000 more than usual to pay for this summer. Regarding time, I need to spend it very wisely since I will be in class Monday-Friday 8-4 daily for four weeks. Socially, I will have the opportunity to meet and form relationships with the new staff class of 2012 and the older staff taking classes like me.   As a matter of emotion, I will be away from most of my friends, family, students & church.

Seems like a lot to be concerned over to me. In fact, I'm really scared to do it. However, last night I was listening to a lecture by Tim Keller where He quotes an author who says "If your actions don't match your spoken beliefs, then they are not your beliefs". Convicted, I immediately began to apologize to God for once again not trusting Him, despite His perfect record of faithfulness.

He will come through...even if I have no idea how.

May Updates

RADIATE2011 - Be Free

I just returned from Cru's 4-day winter conference, RADIATE. This year the theme was "Be Free" and 1000 students were able to hear from special guests like Pastor Jackson Crum, Claude Hickman, our own Roger Hershey, and "I Am Second" speakers: Chris & Adrienne Plekenpol. Students from all across the mid-atlantic region started off the conference worshiping with The Bridgeband....

There is a lot more to tell, but for now it's time to rest. If you're interested in more videos and pictures, check out my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/edithann.morales

Giving Time of the Year

Merry Christmas!  I pray you experience joy as we remember our Savior coming to dwell among us! 

At this time of year we tend to look back and think of all the Lord has done in our lives throughout the year.  I pray that you are able to take the time to think of the ways the Lord has been working and what He’s been teaching you.  As I reflect back I realize that resting in God’s full control has been a major theme of my life this year.  For instance, Kean Cru doubled in size and is continuing to grow hungry for more of Jesus (all I did was pray & show up). Over Summer Project I was able to pour into women at random who dealt with similar issues as I have these last two years (only He could put us together). Then, even more beyond my control, several students gave their lives to Christ this past semester! Praise God!

Liscet Duran (Kean Cru leader I disciple pictured left) and I have been learning this lesson together: It’s not easy to surrender control in every area of my life, especially when I think I know what’s best. For example, there are times when I’m sharing the Gospel and will continue to emphasize God’s love, hoping for some reaction from the listener that will show I’m speaking clearly. There are other times I want the Kean Cru leadership team to do things a certain way so that meetings would run more smoothly (as though God can’t work through all things). Even recently I planned to meet with Anita, a student I disciple at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) in Newark, and her roommate. Since NJIT does not allow students to do surveys on campus or share their faith openly, Anita and I planned to share with her roommate. The problem was we didn’t have time to discuss a game plan before entering the field. At the end, we had little spiritual conversation that didn’t lead to the Gospel. This is still a relationship we are pursuing for the sake of giving Jess (the roommate) an opportunity to know Christ. However in my own hands, I want to work at it without rest until we have a clear conversation.

One of the most difficult struggles I’ve been faced with is resting God’s full control of my finances. I raise support to cover my daily needs as well as ministry needs like conferences, materials and missions trips. Your partnership allows me to disciple and share the love of Jesus to college students from all across the Mid-Atlantic region. I’m so excited for what God is doing at Kean University with the leaders and members of Kean Cru as well as with Anita at NJIT. In order to be involved with discipleship & come alongside these future leaders in ministry, I want to remain undistracted and rest in His promise to provide my needs according to His will. Low support has a way of distracting me and I am currently about $1,300 short on monthly support.

Would you prayerfully consider a special gift or raising your monthly support at this year-end to help offset some of my needs?  Please make Checks out to Campus Crusade for Christ and enclose it in the envelope provided or you can give on-line at http://give.ccci.org/give/0597677

Thank you for any amount you give.  I would not be able to serve without your partnership through prayer and financial support.  Thank you for your faithful support, prayers, and encouragement!

In His Amazing Grace,

 E. Tabitha Morales

A FOX News- worthy Name Change!

Yes, there was a NAME CHANGE!
Before you believe any news stations, please feel free to CALL or EMAIL us. We would love to answer and listen to ANY of your concerns over the name change. For now, we wanted to personally address and explain the issue for those of you who may have questions.

- Jersey Metro Staff

This is a letter sent to the students and alumni of our ministry in New Jersey. I'm sure you've heard of the name change of our organization to "Cru" . Read below to find out when, why and how we came about this process.

Jersey News Update

            Writing from our national staff conference in Colorado. Staff are meeting with the Lord and I pray you are as well.

Sixty years ago, when God told our founder, Bill Bright, to call the ministry "Campus Crusade for Christ," God also impressed on him that the name would need to eventually change. Starting early 2012, our named will be "cru". Thankfully, we've been using this name in New Jersey for some time already, so there isn't much need for a huge adjustment.

For the last TWO years, Campus Crusade for Christ leaders have been praying wholeheartedly and fervently about the Lord's will for the name change. They prayerfully selected 30 people to do the core research, conducting surveys with thousands of staff, non-staff, supporters and non-Christians.

"Cru" was actually NOT in the original pool of thousands of names up for selection. God later dropped it in! And after more prayer, MORE PRAYER and MORE PRAYER, the Lord affirmed that the new brand for the organization should be "cru," confirming it with all the research and supplication pointing to "cru" as the best title. If you read here, you will see that our commitment to Jesus Christ has not changed. In fact, below the logo is written:

A caring community passionate about connecting people to Jesus Christ. In his interview with Fox News, Steve Sellers restates our mission to spread the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ!

Click here to see Steve Sellers, Vice President of the Americas, explain on FOX news. 

So why the change?
Many of you might be concerned that because "Christ" is no longer in the name, that our mission has been skewed and tainted. We can assure you: JESUS IS STILL AT THE VERY CENTER OF OUR MISSION.

1. "Christ" in our name was not removed because the leadership saw his title, Messiah, as a problem, but because the Holy Spirit moved the leadership to change the name completely.
2. "Campus" was more of an issue because under the CCC umbrella are over 40 non-campus related ministries, like The JESUS Film, which has been shown over SIX BILLION times, bringing in a plentiful harvest of souls for CHRIST.
3. And also, "Crusade" has been a rather offensive title, barring staff and students from ever entering into Christ-centered conversations with people, especially Muslims. 

I'll also say this: there have been plenty of wonderful ministries that boldly proclaim THE NAME of JESUS without his name being in their title: The Billy Graham Crusades, Touch Ministries (Charles Stanley), Acquire the Fire, Navigators, Focus on the Family, etc.

And on the flip side, many false ministries have "Jesus" or "Christ" in their title but their mission/theology is skewed: The Jesus Seminar, The Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints, The Jesus Only Movement, etc.

TRUST...

CCC's mission and theology has always been, is and will always be The Great Commission: preaching the gospel of Christ, seeing lives transformed by the Holy Spirit and bringing in glory to God. Even though our brand has changed, OUR MISSION HAS NOT. In fact, the cross in the logo represents going out into the four corners of the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ and bringing the body of Christ to unity in Him! The openness of this cross represents our position in recognizing the need for all our partners, churches, students & volunteers who help us fulfill this great commission. (aka - we know it's not just us working to fulfill this commission) Click here to see more videos from our leadership.

We're thrilled to see how broken and careful CCC leadership was in hearing where the Lord was leading with the name change. We're super excited to see how God will use the transformation. 

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Questions? Comments? Concerns?
We understand that many of you may still have concerns. We ask only that you pray. Ask God for the right scope of CCC leadership. Trust Christ is moving. Also, please try not to assume the worst of this organization that has proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ faithfully for 60 years!

Use THIS LINK for more information, videos, FAQs. And feel free to CALL US.

D-Ship....AKA Discipleship

Make Disciples...

The last Friday in April, the Jersey Metro team was able to send off our seniors as lifetime laborers for Christ at our last Jersey Cru (monthly statewide meeting) of the semester. It was a great honor to see three of the women I discipled this past year give their bit of wisdom to the student body and praise God for what He’s done in their lives.

 

Ash Bivins (pictured left) is one of the wonderful students I was able to work with this past year. As lead singer in the JCru worship band and a student leader in the Cru ministry at her school (Jersey City University),  Ashley was under a lot of pressure to get many "things done" this year. Early in the semester, Ashley realized that amidst all the craziness she was beginning to lose an eternal perspective on the relationships God had placed her in. She immediately prayed about this and brought it to my attention. As her discipler, there were only two things I could do: point her to what God has to say and pray for her as she follows Him. As Ashley continued to seek God throughout the year, her eyes were immediately opened to those with whom God had been calling her to enter into relationship with. Now as she prepares for Grad school, Ashley is readying her heart for ministry with the young women at NJCU. She plans to pour into other young women while she pursues a masters degree in music education at Jersey City University.

Jenn Lee (pictured right), who I discipled at Montclair State University my internship year and this past year, is graduating and preparing to help lead the Botswana Summer Project. Last year Jenn went to Botswana as a student on a 5 week Summer Missions Project to work with orphaned children. Here is a video link to show you more what she did: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbYRkSzWwPY At the end of this past semester, Jenn Lee met with me to tell me her full testimony of how God pursued her heart in the midst of what felt like emotional chaos. Jenn Lee always knew her relationship with God could not depend upon that of others and now she's helping teach that to the youth in her church. I’m so proud of the woman of God she’s become. If you'd like to support Jenn in her trip to Botswana you can email her at: imjenniferxp@yahoo.com

 

Rachel Wallner (pictured right) is one of two student women at the New Jersey Institute of Technology  involved in Campus Crusade for Christ. This past year I’ve had the honor of getting to know her the final year of her undergraduate degree. Rachel is graduating and moving to Virginia for a job this June and one of her highest values before graduating was to learn how to walk with Jesus away from family and “Cru”. Rachel has such a sweet thirst for Jesus in her life and makes sure to pursue Him at every new turn. She’s learned how to study the Word, be vulnerable in community and grow in fellowship. I am confident that Rachel will continue to pursue God anywhere He may bring her.

On some occasions, I have the privilege of helping the student president of a ministry walk with Jesus for a lifetime. Although Sharon is just a junior at Kean, I thought you'd like to hear a bit about her story. This past year I was able to coach and disciple Sharon Hawkins, the student president of Campus Crusade for Christ at Kean University. Sharon has grown in her ability to share her faith shrewdly with grace and truth. She even had the opportunity to train others on how to share their faith on our Spring Break missions trip to Daytona, Fl. She is truly growing into a woman after God's own heart.

Kean Showers of Events in April

Free food, games and a live band!

Christa and Liscet (from left) are both Cru student leaders and Resident Hall advisors at Kean University. At the Spring planning retreat, the team decided to put on an event where the students at Kean would feel comfortable around Christians and not pressured to talk about God. So to show that Christians can have a good time, these RA’s provided the food as part of their “floor programs” and with the rest of the leaders, invited residents to coffee and games.

The following week author of “Jesus without Religion”, Rick James, came to speak to a crowd in the Cougar’s Den on campus about the facts of who Jesus is. Three students indicated decisions for Christ at this event! Praise God!

February 2011

Something I painted Valentine's Day

God has been lavishing His relentless love upon me every week this month! We sang a song in the church I grew up in (Patmos Fellowship) that describes my heart all month: “I just keep falling in love with Him over and over again. He get’s sweeter and sweeter as the days go by. Oh what a love between my Lord & I. I keep falling in love with Him over and over again!” To those of you who have been faithfully praying for me and seeking to encourage me—THANK YOU!

Candy Grams!

Each year, the staff encourage students from around the state to partner with each other in ministry beyond their schools. We call this a “campus cross-over event” and the purpose of this event is to encourage students to recognize they all have a common goal now and when they graduate: To take the state for Christ!

This year, Farleigh Dickinson University (FDU) invited Kean University and County College of Morris to make “candy grams” together. The students gathered at FDU   with printed scripture to cut out and candy to pack into small bags. They prayed together and learned new things about one another before working together to share God’s love with those who don’t yet know Him .

What Happened?!

· Feb.21-24th I took a much-needed vacation in Miami with a sweet friend of mine. Praise God for God’s sovereignty and provision for our lives!

·  
     Feb.25th The 1st Jersey Cru of the semester was packed out with students from all over New Jersey including a few High School students checking out what it looks like to be a Christian in college! Praise God for the works He’s done through JCru!

Upcoming Schedule!

· March 12-20th - Panama City Beach, FL - Spring Break missions trip where we share our faith with thousands of students on the beach. (www.BIG-break.com)

· March 28-April 1st - Quest Week— Staff and students around the state of New Jersey make it a point to share their faith each day of the week using tools like “Soularium” and “Quest Survey” along with the “4 Spiritual Laws”.

· End of May-July 5th - Hampton Beach Summer Project missions trip where we teach college students how to share their faith while at a full-time secular job and in community with other believers. (www.gosummerproject.com)

· July 17 –26th - National Staff Conference at Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, Colorado where thousands of staff from all of the ministries of Campus Crusade for Christ join together for the sake of unity and refocusing on the vision to “build spiritual movements everywhere so that everybody knows somebody who truly follows Jesus Christ.”

Thanks for your prayers and support!

 

“And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD.” Hosea 2:19, 20

My story...

I was born and raised in The Bronx of New York City in 1985 with petite-mal epilepsy, which I had for the first 11 years of my life. Living with this disease felt like sleep-walking through life. I went to school and had friends but it didn't really feel like everything was real. As a child, I also had rheumatoid arthritis. From the combination of this pain and the multiple medications a day, I was not very social or even aware of others.

My dad and I in the Bronx Zoo

Despite the fact that I grew up in a church that taught the Bible, at age 11 I still didn't fully understand what it meant to have a personal relationship with Christ. It wasn't until some friends from the teen’s group were getting baptized that I even questioned my parents about my relationship with Christ. My dad was a student of the Bible and biblical history, so I knew from a young age that I could trust his search for God. When I asked, my parents explained that the reasons these people were getting baptized was to publicly announce their love for Christ and dedication to live for Him. So I asked them why I couldn't get baptized and they told me because I had never prayed to receive Christ as my personal savior! "WHAT?!" By this time, I was slowly weaned off of the medication and beginning to really understand what was happening around me. I couldn't believe that all this time I grew up in church and had NO idea that I wasn't actually going to be in heaven with God always.

After my parents explained what it meant to receive Christ as Savior and accept Him as Lord, they asked if I would like to pray with them. I rejected their offer because I was so angry (prideful) for not already knowing. Even in that decision alone, I recognized how sinful I was and how my sin simply kept me separate from God. Later that evening I asked God to forgive me for my stubborn self-will and rejection of Him. I prayed that He would forgive me of ALL my sin and restore my relationship with Himself through the sacrificing replacement of His Son. The next day I reported to my parents that I prayed to receive Christ and I was then baptized at the Christian camp with several others. Later that day, the pastor preached about so many making the decision to follow Christ but not following through. I decided that would NOT be me! There was NO way I was going to pray to receive Christ and punk out. I was taught to properly represent my earthly father as a sign of respect and humility and I vowed to do the same when it came to representing Christ. This was, in retrospect, more of a prideful decision than a humble one but a decision it was. Until this point in my childhood, I didn't even realize that a relationship with Christ was essential to salvation. I thought instead that as long as I obeyed mom and dad, went to church, read my Bible, and prayed then I would be fine. Unbeknown to me, I was working to influence God’s love for me and not accepting it as a free gift.

Jen & I (as a student) in 2005

My freshman year in college, I met a woman who lived out what she believed even if it made her feel uncomfortable. She lived life before me like no one I had ever met before. My parents were and still are practicing Christians, but there is something about meeting someone single and young who loves the Lord & lives like it. I know she said we believed in the same things but I had not really met anyone who was as vulnerable with his/her mistakes and honest in their growth. After all, all my religion required of me was humble joyous obedience. She, however, had some sort of passionate excitement and personal connection with our God. She called Him Abba and meant it. She called Him master and displayed it. Still prideful, I thought I knew all that she would try to teach me but I actually never knew how to apply these things to my life and let it change me into who God wants me to be.

Throughout the course of the next four years, I studied her as she lived this life before me. She taught me a few essentials to living the Christian life as an out pour of one’s love for the Creator. Not only did I learn who God truly was, but now I understood why I was who He created me to be. I learned apply the scriptures to my life and to love others as God loved me on a richer deeper level where it was no longer an obligation or rule.