So this week I went to Iowa and Nebraska and Fort Collins. And at this particular moment I am at my parents’ downsized domicile in Aurora, hiding under a blanket that reminds me of a sheep pelt. I am just now getting a chance to blog about Faithwalkers, which I wanted to do before I forgot the words behind the thoughts that I thought I thought and the memories I captured there.
Faithwalkers is a conference that happens every year. A bunch of flamboyantly Christian individuals from a rather unified church movement that God so graciously brought me into come together for three days of intense spiritual intervention through prayer, worship, teachings, breakout sessions, daily impromptu faith challenges, and fellowship. (You can listen to all of the talks from this year’s conference here.)
I’m the kind of person to be skeptical about these Christian conferences because I figure you can learn about God in a profound way wherever you go, and these things are all emotional and can be kinda cheesy in that respect. That being said, I was moved by this conference — and not because of guitar riffs that shed a tear in the eye, or charismatic personalities on stage (though I’ve only gained more respect and fondness for the godly men who pastor our churches). Heck no. I was moved by my experience of the Holy Spirit moving around in my heart and mind, and by watching Him move in my dear friends as well.
It was especially moving to see a few of my sisters from my discipleship team boldly enter into vulnerability as we all shared deep struggles of the past and even the present, and grew together in overcoming sinful patterns of thought and behavior.
For instance, a day after attending a seminar entitled “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” (did you know worrying is a sin? Jesus commands you not to do it. So stop it!) my friend Michelle realized that she locked her keys in her car. In Nebraska. The night before we were supposed to head home. How’s that for “the testing of your faith?” Yet as our team supported her and chose to have peace and patience and forgiveness, rather than stress and frustration and paranoia, it was actually a uniting and even fun experience to go on an adventure with my brothers and sisters to find her keys again. And of course, God pulled through like he does.
I don’t even have the capacity to understand everything the Lord has done in the past week or so — much less communicating it to you on a silly little light-up screen while you just sit there. But that’s not my aim anyway. My purpose, of which I was reminded, is to make disciples of Jesus. So read on and to take a look at some principles that resonated with me. Here goes.
