Who impacted your life the most in your Christian Walk?

[Iryssa]

Leif. My teacher, mentor, and fellow worship leader for the youth group...so much like the big brother I never had.

Today I nearly cried thinking about him...it's been so long, and there are so many things I need to ask his forgiveness for, because I know I let him down...I could tell by his expression how much it hurt him, and I'll never forget that look as long as I live.

[Candi770]

Yeah, there have been a lot of people at my church family (have only had to go to one church so far, praise the Lord) that have affected me in my Christian walk during these eight years that I have been a Christian, but the one that the Lord has used the most in my life is my old youth pastor of whom I will just call PL (for sake of privacy). It turns out he came to my church the first year I did and he saw the very same act put on during VBS with the whole space suit thing of the second youth pastor before him (now a pastor in another state), but that is beside the point. He is my daddy in Christ.

I can remember back to fifth grade when the youth pastor of the time was on deputation for hte missionary feild, and PL was there teaching junior church... fifth and sixth grade. I remember him being there at church camp for my first few years of going and I specifically remember certain points of all three of those. The first one, I remember asking him about Christian music, and finding out for the first time what is wrong with the music of this world, and what kind of music we should listen to. That was also the year a boy followed me around on the bike trail and that one still hasn't left the giggles of my youth group, but he was there playing a joke on the bike route too *sticks tongue out*. The second year was a rough year because x best friend's parent had just found a diary the night before in which she wrote horribly awful wicked stuff in there between stuff with drugs, stuff with her dad, and sexual stuff that included her closest friends and after getting yelled at for a long time by her mom and everything else, it was hard to go off to camp the next day, but I couldnt' stay home either. That year I got into trouble becaue I kept forgetting to tell my counselors where I was going, and then got my story all mixed up, but I also still remmeber his look and a way in which he cared. Actually, the thing with the boy happend the same year as this lol but it was still the second year at camp. The third adn final year he was there, he taught us a lesson I'll never forget and the chapter we all memorized was Psalm 63 with the theme "Early will I seek thee". It was mostly about spending time with God, having devotions and so many other great things that week...

Alright... I'll try to keep it short

He has taught me some amazing lessons.... he taught me about what "the church" is and I know that it is a local assembly and not everybody that is saved, etc... he taught us a lot of bible theology as he learned it in bible institute and he worked with us... He pressured(in a loving way) to move forward... always pushing us one step further and helping us to grow... taught us what it means to sing to the Lord and how to have a personal relationship with Him.

He was there when I struggled with temptation.... something I kept secret for about ten years and he was there.. he even told me I could call him at two in the morning asking for his help.... and he meant and he also followed through with that He was there when we all needed help.... I know in the may of the year he left, he told me I was carnal and many other things on those lines and pointed me to great women in the bible... Prov 31, Esther, Ruth... so many others....

He was there in the good times, the laughs, the hard times and the cries.. he was also there in the times that every thing seemed to stand still and he kept pressing towards that mark becuase he knows we are in a race (Heb 12:1) and how he loved the Lord.... Sure, I put him up on a pedastool, and the Lord had to work that one out in my heart, but he has done so many great things. It is becuase he loves the Lord and you know? It was really really REALLY hard seeing him go... I cried for days... weeks.... and all my church cried when he left.... (his wife was THE BEST by the way Perfect example of a woman sold out for God.. virtuous and loving... my mommy in Christ) But you know what? You know? I love him, his wife, and his children so much, and we all miss them, but they are STILL doing God's work. They just left for the mission feild this last Monday while my youth group and I were on a trip and now even the tears are coming again lol

oh yes, he was there when I lied to him lol oh how I can't forget lol I couldn't tell him the truth a year later, but the Lord led me to tell him I didn't tell him the truth lol From there, he was able to help me with the issue of virginity becuase of some issues in the past (and by the way, it is a blessing to be able to say I'm a virgin ) and he helped in ways dealing with my x best friend because the Lord led me to the point of being able to tell him that it was a lie, and from there, the Lord led him to a good enough understanding of the truth (he told me lol ) lol. I'm kind of laughing right now becuase those were some long seven years but how he has been there through everything oh yes, I can't forget... he ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS got onto my about being obedient to my parents lol ALWAYS!!!! lol I'd better end here before I write a book, so I'll end with this.

I miss him a lot, but he is the best example I've ever seen of how the Lord can work in someone's life, and the best example of what can happen with someone serves the Lord, and loves doing it... always striving to reach a higher mark, to be more like Jesus, and show others THROUGH EXAMPLE even, to do the same.

Crystal

Now, you can become an example to someone else (of course, being lead of the Lord). When the season of mentoring was done with my prayer partner- I felt it was coming to an end and the Lord let me know- But I'm learning to be content, whether walking beside someone or walking alone with the Holy Spirit. It just was really nice for a season to have an awesome prayer partner that "got" me and we watched the Lord move so strongly on our behalf through the storms we were going through. But whether she is there or not, I still can pray and the Lord still shows himself strong. God is still the same in my life! God is so good, I'm so glad you were blessed!! I wonder what God's going to do in your life next!!! God's got good plans!!! He's so awesome!!

[Candi770]

Leif. My teacher, mentor, and fellow worship leader for the youth group...so much like the big brother I never had.

Today I nearly cried thinking about him...it's been so long, and there are so many things I need to ask his forgiveness for, because I know I let him down...I could tell by his expression how much it hurt him, and I'll never forget that look as long as I live.

Don't get into condemnation. The Lord forgives you when you pray. I'm sure he was mature enough to know. Have you considered that the season was over. Don't get down on yourself. And if you felt like crying about him= lift him up in prayer to God (maybe the Lord is calling you to intercession over this person). I saw that my mentoring time was over with my prayer partner and we parted ways, not in totally bad situation, but God basicly told me I couldn't follow any longer. It's all for his purpose, not mine=He has a bigger picture that I can't see.

It's funny, I asked the Lord to send her, and she came walking in my office the next day. So I think God knows what we need and don't need. We all go through different seasons. Be blessed in knowing that God is in control and is still with you.

I'm walking alone with God for a season and I'm not going to get discouraged= we must finish the race.

Blessings

candi

[Giaour]

I dont know who led me to Christ unless it was Christ Himself.

I grew up in the church, and it seemed as if Jesus was always there in my heart.

I can't define one exact moment where BAM I felt Jesus enter.

My parents have a big impact on me, they raised me properly and relied on God always to meet their needs.

They have strong faith unwaivering.

I did stop going to church after an abusive church spoiled me.

I returned when my son was invited to attend a service, I refused to let him go without me.

I go as often as I can now.

It is strange that there wasn't a powerful revelation or eye opening experience that I can attribute to my salvation.

I just know that God has been with me always.

[Iryssa]

Thank you for those kind words, Candi...and I promise I'll try not to let it get me down hereafter.

I never actually found condemnation from him (though I may have imagined it)...more of a sadness. He was no longer my mentor by that time, but still a dear friend, and I know he would have hurt for me. *sigh* Okay, I guess, since I've been feeling a burden to confess this, I might as well start now. What happened was this:

New Year's Day, 2004

I woke up, finally, with a terrible hangover around 12pm...we'd been at a party at Ross and Leif's place (Ross is Leif's brother), while Leif was away on a retreat (sortof a celebratory prayer & praise retreat; starting the year off on the right foot, you might say). With a start, I realized that he was due back that afternoon...and I was still in his bed, having passed out after...well, I'm sure you can imagine the sort of things that happen at that kind of party.

I scrambled to my feet and got dressed...but apparently I'd stood up too quickly, because I was promptly sick. Cleaned up at last, I made my way to the kitchen for a glass of water. He was there, and the look of hurt on his face was unmistakeable...and with a guilty conscience, I opened my mouth to explain or apologize or...well anything! But words failed me, and instead I ran out of the house and went home. I didn't answer his calls or his e-mails for a long time, because I was too ashamed, even though there was no condemnation in his words...merely hopes for news and communication.

*sigh* anyway...I know God's forgiven me, and I know Leif probably understands the place I was in at that point...it was probably his pained expression that started to spur me on to getting my act back together. A part of me, though, will never really feel at peace about it until I apologize to him for both my actions and the way I ran when I could have (should have!) trusted friends like him to help me back on my feet.