Welcome!

In my life, Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship with a living God, a God who created me, who loves me, and who wants the best for me.  I believe in a God who created me so that He can draw pleasure from my existence.  I believe that Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of God who lived on earth in the form of a human before being crucified on a cross, lying in a grave for three days, then defeating death (and in turn, Satan's plot for death and destruction on the earth) after three days.  I believe that the Bible is God's word, written to me like a good friend writes a letter.  I live in expectation of the return of Jesus, when the believers (including me!) are taken up into Heaven and are able to live in the very presence of God.  In extreme gratitude for what He has done for me, I choose to serve Him with my life.

Telling the world about God’s love for them, what could ever be better?  I consider it a great honor to be a disciple of God, chosen to be His hands and feet.  “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere…”  This verse really tells what the Lord wants me to do.  I feel that it is my job to spread the news of the Lord, and the most exciting and exhilarating experience I have ever had were the times when I was able to lead someone to meet God as their Savior or when I personally grew closer to God.

No matter what job I do, no matter what country I end up in, I will serve God.  Whether it is as simple as smiling at someone, or as hard as leaving my family to serve in a foreign country, I will serve God willingly, cheerfully, generously, and diligently.  God has given me the privilege of being able to serve in whatever I do.  Whether I become a teacher to orphans, or a graphic designer, or if God has something entirely different in mind for my life, I will serve Him.

A Short History of My Relationship with God

October 9, 1994 was the day that I personally accepted Christ as my Savior and the relationship with Christ that I had seen in so many other people became real to me.  I have attended the same church since the week or two after I was born, and am very fortunate to live in a family of Christians.  I had seen how God works in and through those who have a relationship with him, and I wanted to have the same thing in my own life.  So on one Sunday, I went to my Sunday school teacher and asked her if she could help me to have God in my own life.  Then we prayed together and I was a new creation in him.  I didn't understand many of the facts of Christian life, and I, like so many children, saw Christ solely as a Friend, and a Brother, but not so much as a Savior.

Since that day, I have continued to learn about my Lord and Savior by reading my Bible, and talking to him as much as possible.  I have had my "ups and downs" and grown closer to God as well as pushing Him away, but each experience in my life has helped me to change my relationship with Him.  By attending multiple church camps and retreats, my life has grown stronger in leaps and bounds.  In between the leaps and bounds however is a steadily growing relationship.  Even before I was saved, I was a member of a local program that encouraged the memorization of scriptures and the learning more about the Lord.  Following my completion of that program, I joined the church’s youth group where I continued to learn about Jesus.  It was during that time that my faith became truly real.  I began doing my personal devotions on my own, as well as being a member of a group that helps keep me accountable.  Through my devotional times and times I take just to listen to the Lord, I have developed my relationship to a high point.  It has not all been a happy increase.  There have been times of struggles and pain, but now, looking back, I am able to see that those low times were times of strong growth, and times of learning more in depth about my God.

My life verse is 1 Corinthians 9:19 - "Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible." (NIV)

About Go! - A Mission Site

I started up Go! - A Mission Site after my mission's trip to Australia.  I realized on my trip how crucial it was to communicate what was going on in the mission field to help those at home know how to best pray for you.  I really enjoyed making the Australia site, and as I have felt the Lord's leading, I felt it was important to design a site that would let people know exactly how to pray for me while I'm following the leading of the Lord.  While thinking of names, the traditional "mission" verse, Matthew 28:19 came to mind.  In the NIV, the verse says "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit."  I really like this verse, especially the word "go."  The word used in the original manuscript is πορεύομαι (poreuomai) which means literally or figuratively to travel, make or take a journey, or traverse.  Taking the meaning of the word literally, it is exactly what I do when I go on my mission trips, I make a journey to draw people to God.  The figurative meaning on the other hand represents the "journey" of growing closer to God throughout my life.  Both meanings of the word apply to my life, and are applicable, and perfect for the name of this site.