rebelling against low expectations
“I don’t know how you do it. Being around individuals with special needs makes me too uncomfortable.” “I don’t mind the idea of being around and serving individuals with special needs, but I don’t know how to get involved.” “I have several friends with special needs, and I help out in my church’s special needs ministry. But I’m not sure how to help my friend overcome her fears about it enough to...
These days, everyone is weighing in on screen time, technology usage, and social media. And it’s not just adults worrying about kids and teenagers; they’re finding they need limits in these areas, too. In a world that widely uses social media and technology, what is a Christian to do? Some cut social media from their lives completely to avoid all temptation. On the opposite side of the spectrum...
I sat there with my notebook and pen in hand, ready to write down all the advice I was about to get. “What can I be doing now as a teenager to prepare for vocational ministry?” I was ready for practical advice – books to read, skills to acquire, conferences to attend. But what I got was much better… “Learn how to walk with God and live a life of holiness. Don’t get so caught up in ministry...
Persecution. It’s a word that those of us in the Western world don’t know a lot about. Maybe we’ve heard it, read about it in the Bible, or heard stories of Christians in other countries experiencing it. But most of us have never been through it. That was my story. I’ve heard testimonies of Christians in Asia and the Middle East getting beaten, arrested, or killed for their faith, but it always...
So You’re an Introvert? It’s amazing that God has gifted each person with a unique personality type and a natural inclination to a certain way of life. This is why the body of Christ is so special. Believe it or not, introversion can look different in each person and shows itself in different ways. Introverts gain their energy from being alone and thrive off of quiet reflection and time spent...
Following Christ will cost you… are you still willing? When selling a product, we as humans like to only mention all the positive benefits. Just imagine: You want your friend to come join you on a kayaking trip. What will you tell him or her? Well, you’ll mention the wonderful scenery, of course. The lush green woods around the lake. You tell him or her that it is the ultimate experience in...
I live in a country where I am not persecuted for my faith. I can read my Bible in public, pray wherever I want to, and talk about my faith to anyone. Worst case scenario: someone gives me a strange look. Chances are, your country is the same. You probably live in a country that has religious freedom. You can probably worship God wherever and whenever you want to. If that is the case, then this...
This last December, I participated in perhaps the craziest ministry outreach ever. I work with an inner-city children’s ministry, and we ran two major Christmas events over one weekend, telling hundreds of kids and their families about Jesus and giving them all Christmas presents. Our final event on Sunday involved busing in dozens of kids to our church partner that had been collecting special...
The rain was pouring on the other side of the car door. I could hear the lightning crack. I could also hear my parents and sister nervously talking. In the flashes of light from the street lamps that lined the major road we were driving, I wrote three names on my wrist. Three names, three kids. My life would never be the same. In February of 2018, my family began taking classes to be licensed as...
I’ll never forget the day that I stepped onto the airplane at the Atlanta airport. This wasn’t just any plane or a normal trip. I was going to Australia. I was terrified, I was excited, and I was questioning my decision all at the same time. I thought I had lost my mind. About a year earlier, during my senior year of highschool, I felt God leading me to do something that was missions-focused...
rebelling against low expectations
