Iâm a young, training-to-be-a-pastor, student at Geneva College, majoring in Christian Ministries, with minors in Sociology and Biblical Languages. I believe God has called me to minister as a pastor, to serve His people with the care, counsel, and challenges that have been entrusted to the elders of the church. Particularly, I believe that my calling is to Pittsburgh â the city where God has placed me.
He knew me before my birth, calling me from time-before-time to be a minister of His Gospel. He placed me in a Christian home, an inter-denominational church and then led my family to New Day Assembly of God - the pastor of which (Pastor Jeff Marshall) is one of the most devotedly Christ-centered preachers I have ever had the privilege of sitting under. He taught me all sorts of things about worship, prayer, purity, and redemption but the only reason I know them today is because I am a follower of Jesus. Continuing in this, Jesus has since taken me to Providence Church of Pittsburgh, where under the guidance of Mike Pierson and Jeremy Hetrick, I continue to grow in my walk because I am a follower of Jesus.
Because I am a follower of Jesus, I seek to live like Him and become more like Him everyday through prayer, fasting, and various other practices of faith. I learned the importance of practice, really, from the Emerging Church Movement. I seek to be authentic, missional, and intentionally pursuing and living the revelation of truth according to the clear teachings of Scripture.
Because I am a follower of Jesus, I seek to be in touch with His Holy Spirit. I believe in the full use and activity of the Holy Spirit in the Church today in the process of regeneration, sanctification, and empowering for the ministry of Christ to the world. This makes me charismatic and takes me to another point about Gods activity because I affirm the essential aspects of Reformed theology in regards to the total depravity of mans nature, the sovereign hand of God in Creation, the univeral-limited nature of Christs atonement, Gods effectual calling, and the preserving work and power of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. All this is true of me because I am a follower of Jesus.
Not all followers of Jesus have the same exact perspective or approach to Scripture. What is essential to the faith, necessary to be a follower of Jesus, is contained clearly and succinctly in The Didache of the Twelve, and summarized beautifully in the Apostles Creed and the [Eastern Orthodox] Nicene Creed. For this reason, I am a Gentile who believes in the truth, continuity, and relevance of Torah, and I fully acknowledge its continued application to the Jews. I believe that Jesus (Yeshua) is the promised Messiah of Israel, while continuing to recognize, respect, and analyze Jewish wisdom and lore, particularly with respect to the Scriptures and understanding the Torah.
A Prayer to Help You Comfort Others - Your Daily Prayer - April 25
Have you ever wondered if there is any purpose in your suffering? We certainly don’t go looking for suffering—it comes to us because life is a journey through difficulties and triumphs. Sufferings are a reminder of what Jesus Christ went through and it is a way for us to encourage others.