Service to God and His People Is So Satisfying

My parents did a wonderful job bringing me up. They raised me as a Christian in a denomination as they had been. They taught me to work hard and they taught me how to be detail minded, honest, fair, and good to all, with a willingness to take care of others. I will be ever grateful for that. However, as a teenager, I began to sense some uncertainty in my faith and in who I was as a Christian. I began to question the denomination I was a part of. I was at a crossroads, wanted answers to life, and began to search for ways to curb my hunger and to put into practice the Biblical principles that my parents taught me. I had a strong desire to make a difference in life, but did not know where to start. What I was craving was an avenue to serve in and to serve with purpose and meaning. Little did I know that my lifelong dream would be serving God for a lifetime! After I completed college, the search for answers continued until one day someone handed me a small green enrollment card for The Way Ministry’s Foundational Class. Of the many one-liners about the class teachings printed on the front side, two that stood out for me were “Makes life meaningful” and “Disciplines the mind by believing.” The back side of the card was an agreement that read, “I am enrolling in this class because I am searching for an accurate knowledge of the Word of God and desire to increase the power of God in my life.” To say the least, I was searching, and I indeed had a desire to increase the power of God in my life!

Well, over thirty-five years later, I can confidently and thankfully say, “The rest is history!” Like for so many, the class was life changing. As I was taught and began applying truths from the Bible, my life began to have meaning. I learned how to develop a personal relationship with God, and I learned how to pray. As I proved the Word in my life, I started sharing it with others. I learned that I was important to God. With God as my sufficiency, I started a new life filled with believing opportunities at every turn! I grew in my confidence that He is not slack in what He promises and that His power is available to me. Major deliverance followed as I decided to put myself in a position to grow. I began to give back by serving, and that was so instrumental to making my life meaningful. As my priorities changed, I found I had more time to give. Things that once were so important to me now paled in significance compared to living a life filled with God’s Word and making it available to others.

Shortly after completing the ministry’s Advanced Class, the door opened wide for me to serve as a fellowship coordinator. A year later, I went out Word Over the World (WOW) Ambassador, where I was assigned to coordinate our family. What an awesome responsibility that was! Helping people and finding the hungry hearted was so fulfilling, and we met our goal of running a Foundational Class that year! And as if God had not blessed me big enough, I was asked to manifest on the main stage at the opening night of the Rock of Ages, when the WOW Ambassadors were pinned for their year of service. (As a side note, my parents were in attendance, and they got to hear the worship manifestations for the first time! When I was reunited with them later that evening, the first thing my mom asked was, “Where did you learn how to do that?” Oh, what a witness that was!) After my WOW year, I came on Staff at The Way International Headquarters, and that same year I met my wife. A year later, I entered The Way Corps program, where I received training to be a Christian minister. Since graduating into The Way Corps, I have served on Staff. Needless to say, God has blessed my life abundantly!

As a Christian minister for almost twenty-five years, life is still becoming more meaningful, and I continue to see great benefit as I discipline my mind by believing! Service to God and His people is so satisfying, and opportunities personalized for my season of life continue to open. As I put God first, He continues to prosper me physically, mentally, and spiritually. I look forward, with great enthusiasm and thankfulness to The Way Ministry, to what God has in store for me next!

We Decided to Answer God’s Call

I had been going to fellowship for about five years. The Word I had learned had changed my life and brought me a wonderful wife. We were Advanced Class graduates serving as household fellowship coordinators in our area, but spiritually we felt we had reached a plateau. We felt like God was calling us to do something different. That is when we decided to serve in our ministry’s outreach program as Way Disciples. It took believing God’s Word and practicing what we had learned in the Intermediate Class about making the decision to do the Word to successfully answer that call.

The day after we made this decision, my wife was in a car wreck that totaled one of our cars. God protected her, and it was clear to us that the adversary did not like the decision we had made. What was meant to intimidate us motivated us instead.

We also had the issue of an apartment lease we needed to get out of. The plan was to move in with my mother-in-law for a couple of months before going Way Disciple in order to help cut expenses and save money. If someone came along needing an apartment like ours at the time we were planning to move out, it would be drastically less expensive for us to break the lease than if the apartment had to sit empty after we moved out, accruing penalty fees.

We also had another car that we were leasing. We felt it would be wiser to cut this expense, so we began looking for someone to take over the lease.

Additionally, we needed to save money so that we could peacefully get started in our assigned location once commissioned.

These were by far the biggest obstacles in the financial and planning realms that we had ever faced, and there were unmovable deadlines to meet that were only months away. I remember going to the Word to help get fully persuaded of God’s willingness and ability to help us.

I began claiming Philippians 4:19, which says, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” I also remembered that love fuels believing (Galatians 5:6) and that love never fails (I Corinthians 13:8). I also knew that God wants us to speak His Word to others (II Corinthians 5:20). I was convinced that if I could identify the motivation for my desire to have God meet these needs with my love for Him and His people and my desire to do His will, then He would absolutely energize His promises that I was claiming.

We started taking believing action. We spoke with the leasing office at our apartment complex, we networked through friends and family to see who was interested in leasing a car, we started shopping around to replace our other car, and we told everyone along the way why we were doing these things—because we were going on a six-month outreach program to share God’s Word with people and to teach them how to walk with His power. In addition, my wife and I prayed together and encouraged each other with the Word daily.

All the details started coming together beautifully. It was so inspiring to see the promises of God we had read in our Bibles become a reality in our lives. We found a great car, we found someone to assume the lease on the other car, someone moved into our apartment right after we moved out, we were able to save the money we needed, and we had a lot of open doors to speak the Word along the way.

God called us to serve as Way Disciples, and as we decided to answer that call, we worked together with God through the details, and He brought the deliverance. Serving as Way Disciples that year was one of the most memorable and spiritually catalyzing experiences of our lives, and we were able to do it because God honored the Word we believed—the Word we had been taught in this ministry.

This Is the Job!

Before I came to The Way Ministry, I spent time helping those around me in need. Throughout my teen years, I worked with physically handicapped and mentally handicapped adults and children through several different community organizations. But at the end of the day, when I went home, those people were still in need. I had not really helped them, for I did not really have what they needed. My heart was overwhelmed to think of the number of people in need. I was only one person without the resources to change their lives. By my early twenties, I gave up even trying to help them.

I spent the next decade helping myself. I landed a good job with a good career path, enjoyed an exciting hobby, and made many friends. But there was still a void in my heart and life. I believed in God, even prayed to Him, and something inside me still stirred to serve Him. One day when I felt especially like my life was worthless, I prayed to Him for a job to do for Him, something that would mean something to Him. I could please myself and I could please others, but it was all short-lived, and life seemed pointless. (By then I was just thirty-two years old.) God heard my prayer and He answered by way of a coworker. I saw a change in her life and asked her what happened. By her answer, it was obvious she had been born again; she read it in the Bible (Romans 10:9 and 10); and she learned to understand the Scriptures in a class. “Hallelujah!” My heart leaped for joy! I knew God was in the pages of the Bible—I just needed to understand what I was reading! I told her, “I want to take that class.” Two weeks later, I was sitting in Session I.

When we got to the session about “Christ in you, the hope of glory” and “ambassadors for Christ,” my heart thrilled! “This is the job! I am an ambassador for Christ!” The truth of the Word of God taught in that Foundational Class brought meaning to my life: “I am here to help others in need. And now I know I have the tools to help—the Scriptures.”

For nearly thirty years now, I have been enjoying a life filled with abundance and power. Many doors of service have opened to me via The Way Ministry for which I am most thankful. My life is filled with peace and joy because I know I am doing the will of my heavenly Father as I reach out in service to others. I have received instruction and practical experience from The Way Ministry in studying the Word, living the Word, preaching the Word, and teaching the Word. The Word of God I have learned in The Way Ministry showed me the way to the Father. I learned of my savior and lord, Jesus Christ, through this ministry. I truly have a spiritual relationship with God, my heavenly Father. Now I live a life filled with abundance and power, earning rewards for a job well done. I have eternal life and I know it.

My Heart Opened to My Heavenly Father

I was sitting in a ministry meeting in a large auditorium, enjoying the Word that was being taught. More and more, the crowd that was there seemed to go into the background, and it was just the teacher and me. Then it got more personal. I remember thinking about so many great things God had done for me and how much my life had changed since being in the ministry. My heart was full—full of love and peace and thankfulness. Everything in the room by this time had gone into the background, and it was just God and me at this point. It was a very distinct moment when I comfortably felt “at home” with growing and developing my relationship with God and desiring to help others do the same. I decided at that time that it was the direction I wanted to go in my future.

College was fun, especially with a believing household to stand with. But soon I would be moving on, and decision making was crucial. God’s timing is always perfect. This was a pivotal time in my life. I had thought of going into The Way Corps training many times, but this was different. It was like the door to my heart flew open to my heavenly Father in the fullest way ever. After graduation from college, I began The Way Corps training program.

And I would like to add that after serving as a Way Corps minister for over forty years and having had many assignments, if needed I would do them all over again! Avenues to serve God are multiple, and He always honors our hearts of service. With the attitude of giving with love and peace and thankfulness, regardless of the avenue chosen, we can daily expect to receive “heaven’s best”! I know that I have received God’s best over the years, and what is so exciting is that I still experience being “at home”—my God and I.

At Peace, Blessed, and Filled with Thankfulness

I am very blessed to have been raised in this ministry. I was taught at a young age to love God and believe His Word. That was just life for me, and I didn’t know any different. In my early twenties, however, I let distractions into my life, and I got too wrapped up in the world. I got to the point where I lacked confidence and drive, and I was not satisfied with the results in my life. I was internally conflicted because I knew what I was taught, but I wasn’t doing those things.

I had many conversations with my parents, and they, being strong believers and Way Corps ministers, had sound advice that pointed back to the Word each time. I had a close friend at the time who had just returned from going Way Disciple. I’d known her my entire life, and after just those six months, she was completely transformed into a strong and confident woman of God. It definitely caught my attention.

Soon after, I was informed that there was going to be a Region meeting put on by our ministry that would last the whole weekend. I hadn’t been particularly social with the household, but it was heavy on my heart to go. I am so thankful I did. It seemed like each teaching that was taught was just for me. I learned about putting God first and eliminating distractions. I learned about who I am as a child of God and that I am more than a conqueror. I learned that the things that I’ve done don’t determine what I can do for God. I heard more and more about Way Disciple and how it’s changed lives for the better. It was during that Region meeting that my focus shifted from wanting to serve and please myself, to wanting to serve and please God. I started serving in fellowship more, I started doing outreach, and I got my head in the Word.

A couple months later, I signed up to go Way Disciple. It was a truly life-changing experience. I grew in so many ways, and it was after serving God to such a high degree that I knew that’s what I wanted to do my entire life. I decided that I needed to go into The Way Corps. I preferred to go into The Way Corps program married, but at the time I had no one in mind. I had no idea when I’d get married—it could be years down the road—so I started moving ahead with my application to apply for The Way Corps. I had no doubt that God would not only meet my needs but the desires of my heart. I just kept putting Him first, trusting that all things would work together for good.

Well, God honors believing, and He honors those who are faithfully committed to Him and His Word. Not long after applying for The Way Corps, my Way Disciple brother expressed interest in me. We were best friends, and we loved moving the Word together. However, I was not willing to halt my service to God just to get married. We kept dating, knowing that I was going to be going into The Way Corps, and not knowing what the future may hold.

Not too long after all of this, my Way Disciple brother called me on the phone. He told me that before we got together, he’d decided to go into The Way Corps; he just didn’t know when would be the right time to apply. He asked me if I’d be willing to go the following year with him as a married couple. I knew that this was the absolute right thing because I went to God. I prayed and trusted that He would work in me to make the right decision. I felt completely peaceful about the situation and I told him yes—I would go into The Way Corps program with him as a married couple.

Now, almost two years later, I am completely at peace, blessed, and filled with thankfulness as my husband and I are on our way to completing our two years of in-residence Way Corps training. This ministry has taught me the accuracy of God’s Word. It’s taught me how to believe, pray, and understand and enjoy God’s Word. There is nothing else I’d rather do for the rest of my life than to serve God, my heavenly Father, Who has withheld no good thing from me; and I’m so thankful for The Way International, which has provided me a great avenue to serve Him.

Incomparable Satisfaction in Serving God

I came to this ministry at a very difficult time in my life; I was very worried about the present and the future. I was a public-sector employee, recently divorced at that time, with two children living in a relative’s house. My youngest son was with me, while my eldest daughter was living with my mother because my salary did not cover the expenses of my broken family. I questioned what little I knew of the Word of God. I repeated in my mind that if God with His power created man in His image, why did I not have that power, and why was I living such a limited life?

One morning a fellow believer came to me carrying an orange book and told me about this ministry. The title of that book was Power for Abundant Living. I heard about “power,” “life,” and “abundance,” and I wondered how I could obtain that power to manifest it in my life. I needed abundance.

I participated in ministry meetings and decided to take my first Foundational Class in 1992 and to continue to attend the home fellowship. Then I learned principles of health and prosperity, just what I wanted for myself and my family.

I learned that in order to receive anything from God we should believe, and that believing comes from hearing the Word. I learned that the Word is true. I learned countless ways of service, from organizing an event, making cards and banners, even coordinating and teaching in a home fellowship.

Making myself available in service has given me an incomparable satisfaction in serving God. Now I have been faithful for twenty-six years in this ministry, and I have been a household fellowship coordinator for over twenty years; and I can tell you, without challenge, there is no taste of victory. We are more than winners.

Way Disciple—An Outlet to Serve in Love

One of the great truths I’ve learned from The Way Ministry is what God says about service. Before I learned this truth, I had a “self-service” mind-set. I didn’t see the freedom that comes from serving in love rather than out of obligation. “God first, others second, I am willing to be third” was a new way of living.

Learning about the example of Jesus Christ and his total service out of his love for God helped me grow in great ways. Although raised in a church, I wasn’t taught this concept. We were moved to serve out of obligation or guilt. The Way Ministry taught me the truths about service with God’s Word being the only source, and it changed my life dramatically from being self-centered to others centered.

Besides the ministry teaching me this truth, it has given me outlets to live it. The Way Disciple program is an example of that.

In 2008 my husband took a sabbatical from work, and our family went Way Disciple from the West Coast to the state of New York. Our three children were ages seven, five, and two when we left for our commissioning. The opportunity to make this big change in our lives with our family and serve God’s Word in a state very far and different from where we lived was truly amazing. This is something we could not have done on our own. The Way Ministry put all the Word, work, planning, and thought into the program so we could carry out the exhortation to speak God’s Word and serve in love. Going Way Disciple with our family is an experience I will never forget.

I will always be thankful for the ministry that taught me the Word regarding service and that continues to give me outlets to act on the Word I learn.

Motivated to Serve by the Example of Jesus Christ

I went to college—not because I had a great desire to, but because my parents exhorted me to. I felt that I was not ready to leave the protection and guidance of my parents’ home, but I did. While at college I realized I needed something stable to rely on while I was away from home. My parents had raised me in this ministry, so I figured I might as well see if this Bible and God thing really worked.

At some point I found myself reading through Jesus Christ Our Passover. I don’t remember why now. Reading this book gave me an enlightening and joyous understanding of God and His Word. I remember it well enough that I am now writing to share about it.

As I said, I was raised in this ministry. But there were a lot of things I missed learning along the way that I “discovered” in this ministry publication. Perhaps the greatest truth I understood from reading this book was what Jesus Christ accomplished for me and how he did it.

I learned how he had perfect blood. I learned how he was the Passover lamb for all mankind, and how he became the final sacrifice for all of mankind. I also learned of the great love he manifested in giving his life for us, his patience with Peter who would soon deny him, his healing Malchus’s ear in the Garden of Gethsemane, and his silence and patience in the face of unprovoked verbal and physical abuse.

If this is what he did for me so that I could be saved and have a relationship with God, then I owed him the world. I owed him my life. Yet, all God does is lovingly implore me to be a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1).

Since reading this book, I have become a true disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. I have run to serve and have never looked back. As a result of the research that this ministry has done through this publication, I have a foundation to stand on and an avenue in which to serve.

I Never Looked Back

A year and a half ago, I resigned from a company I enjoyed working for in order to serve God. I moved across the country to serve as a Way Disciple and never looked back. When I left, I told God that when I returned I would need a career that would meet my needs that I could pursue for a lifetime. Upon returning home from Way Disciple, I was offered a job for which I hadn’t even applied. This job, my new lifetime career, is exceeding abundantly above all I could’ve imagined or asked for when I first asked for it! This has been an amazing example to me of what God will do for you when you put Him first, serve in love, and give with your whole heart!

Helping Someone Turn Their Life Around

I love God and our wonderful ministry of The Way. What a joy it has been for me to be involved for forty-five years now. I had the privilege of being raised in the Word. There are countless victories, too many to share. Which one will I choose? I ask myself. For me, it boils down to the Scriptures and speaking the Word. This ministry has taught me what I needed the most—the Word of God and knowing His will for my life. I understand and utilize the power of God. I understand and utilize that powerful name of Jesus Christ when I pray. The Scriptures talk about serving one another in love. I have done this a lot, even when I didn’t feel like it. Why? The Scriptures tell me to do so.

One way I have utilized the Scriptures is by believing God to reach hungry hearts. Here’s an example. I had gone door-to-door with a believer and we had lots of “no’s” that particular day. Well, I knew we were not done, and I said, “Let’s go to one more house.” We did and the person who opened the door didn’t look happy with us two ladies. He made it clear to us that he was an atheist and didn’t want anything to do with what we had to share. I brought up how God doesn’t want us to have any fear in life and that got his attention. We exchanged information, and it wasn’t long after that he began coming to fellowship. Then after months of attending, he decided to sign up for the Foundational Class. When he sat through the class, he was pretty distant until he learned that it was “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” This hard-core “atheist” began to have tears rolling down his cheeks, and of course I did too because I knew he got born again and the Word was healing his heart. This man went on to become a fellowship coordinator, and he has helped many people since then. I was thankful to have the Scriptures deep in my heart to push through the circumstances to be able to win him to the Word.

What a victory to know the Scriptures and be able to help someone turn their life around and live for God.