Religious Experience

My religious experience has always seemed to be a battle between following Jesus or following the conventions of cultural Christianity. Following Jesus, meaning the times he has helped me hear and obey his direction, has always proven to be the most risky, difficult, faith- stretching and freeing experiences of my life. The times I’ve stepped into the conventions of being culturally Christian I’ve received ample lessons on pride, arrogance, and the self-deception possible when trying to master God for my own aims instead of letting him master me for his.

In the middle of this battleground Christ has been the anchor, the patient teacher, the warm friend, and stern disciplinarian. He has been the Savior both of my life from sin and from the stumbling moments in each day. He is the authority for how I live my life, the one I repent to, and of whom I model as I attempt to be a faithful and wise servant. And Jesus is the mystery. He is God bigger than I can grasp. So big in fact that I can’t possibly even know all that I don’t know about him. I am left to trust, listen and wonder at his ways as he moves in and among us.

The time in my life I found the saving grace, authority and mystery of Christ most vivid was when my family and I decided to move out to California so I could volunteer full-time at Saddleback Church. Praying about what was next after youth ministry and hearing a call to surrender and simply serve alongside that community, without a job, friends, and family was crazy enough. Then, during the move, everything we owned was stolen as thieves took our Uhaul in the night. We showed up in California as a family of five and only the shirts on our back. We were left numb, wondering what God was doing.

That season proved to be the most rewarding, painful, blessed, and sacrificial time in my life. It also brought a refinement in faith. God revealed his purpose in my life through this unique life circumstance. I realized a call to lead ministry into newly developing digital environments and the new reality of online communities. My perspective of faith widened to glimpse a global church with a diversity of skills, needs, and people seeking to change the world, and that God was calling me to serve him as one part.

While volunteering full-time alongside the ministry of Saddleback Church I was introduced to the ministry of LifeChurch.tv and their digital mission of Church Online.  I saw an opportunity to join a team moving in mission to reach people with the love of Jesus online. I’m now a member on that team and am thrilled to be a part of this digital mission to reach and disciple people online with the Gospel of Jesus.