Speaking of sentences, I need a sentence or a sound bite from you. I know I asked for this once, and a few of you responded but I really need a few more (especially men). So………
- How has Mount Ararat impacted your life? (physical, emotional, spiritual)
- Did you meet Jesus at Mount Ararat? (Become a Christian?)
- Did you take a step in your spiritual life since coming to Mount Ararat?
- Has God taught you anything about giving?
Answer one or more questions in you can!
I found my passion for God at Mount Ararat. I didn’t even know it was missing until I was welcomed into a family who was excited about serving Him and making Him famous. I had been a Christian for most of my life, but it had always been formal and logical. I met people at Mount Ararat who not only had that same faith, but who wanted to actually BE the church instead of just being okay with the stereotype we are given by the unbelievers.
I met my husband there and I found my music there. I love to love on the people I get to encourage, and who encourage me.
Wow,
I can’t even begin to describe how Mt. Ararat has impacted my life.
Just the fact that it serves as my second family and ultimate support (especially through my struggles with Cushing’s disease and the two brain operations that I had from it).
There wasn’t ever a moment that I didn’t feel loved and cared for and I truly believe that the prayers from members (most of whom I don’t even know!) accounted for MOST of my healing along with the love of God.
Mt. Ararat and all of itsmembers will always be in my heart and I cannot imagine how hopeless and lost I would be without them and my Pastor!
Chanelle
Mt Ararat has shown me the love that Christ expects of a Christian family. Love for each other and the world. I honestly don’t know where I would be today where it not for this body of Christ. All I can say is Thank You.
I became a Christian as a high schooler in Mount Ararat’s student ministry and since then it has been a place that feels like home. As a college student at MABC, I was given the opportunity to explore and grow in my passion for student ministry so that I might be able to make the same kind of impact on teenagers that was made in my life years ago.
I learned to love the Word at Mt. Ararat and learned to ask questions that grow my faith everyday. It’s those foundational truths and practices that I first learned at Mt. Ararat that put a desire in me to know more, and eventually led me to seminary.
I met my best friends at Mt. Ararat. I’ve seen people that I love, come to know the Lord here.
I think mostly, I learned how to truly love people, to put my selfish ambitions aside, and how to truly love God, because of my church and the example that is lived out in so many.
Giving (financially, speaking now, but I know God’s concept of giving goes much farther…to our time, our talents, and all of our spiritual gifts) …God taught me at a very early age the importance of giving back to him what was already His in the first place. He revealed this to me in many ways. God gave me a mom that I observed every week writing out the check and dropping it in the offering plate. I now realize how hard this must have been when in some years growing up on a small family farm we had no income at all. In college, God gave me spiritual leaders to teach me these lessons, too, and helped me to begin giving before I had a job. It was then, that I experienced the true joy in giving when I had no means of “replenishing” the amount I had given on my own. From those early adult years until now (even in these tough economic times…mortgage payments, car payments, bills to pay, college tuition, job uncertainty, shrinking stock portfolios…the list goes on and on), I have not thought twice about “not giving”…and, as always, God is faithful and true to His word!
* How has Mount Ararat impacted your life? (physical, emotional, spiritual)
Spiritually and emotionally, MABC has meant so much. I met my wife here, I first learned what it really meant to follow Christ here. I have been discipled by some amazing people at this church, and have had the blessing of passing along to the next generation the wonderful glories of God, just as the Psalmist described in Psalm 145.
Physically, this is a baptist church, so I think I’ve gained 75 pounds in the last 7 years from all the great food I’ve eaten from MABC’s finest chefs.
* Did you meet Jesus at Mount Ararat? (Become a Christian?)
No, technically God saved me on May 11, 2001, the day I graduated from Virginia Tech, while I sat in a hallway at a hotel in Roanoke talking to my good friend Dom about a miracle God had performed in my life earlier that day. Dom led me through the prayer for salvation. But unfortunately, summer on a college campus wasn’t the best place to jump into discipleship–so I didn’t advance in my faith.
* Did you take a step in your spiritual life since coming to Mount Ararat?
To continue the story, I moved back home to go to law school, and it wasn’t until after 9/11 when, just basically having no Christian relationships, my mom convinced me to give MABC a try because they had a young adult group. Pastor Dick Harmon (or maybe it was Juan?) walked me to Higher Ground on the upper floor of old Annex 2. I met John and Kate Jordan, met some new friends, reconnected with some folks I knew from high school, and things have never been the same.
Within a year, we had started The Gathering and for four years served as a planner and worker bee for this awesome service. I had the opportunity to fill in for JJ in teaching Sunday school lessons. I joined the student ministry and began teaching high schoolers. I have had the chance to preach at Flood and Elevate. Last year I had the blessing to bow even lower and serve my church in a larger context as a deacon. To say that MABC has helped me on spiritual steps is the understatement of the century.
* Has God taught you anything about giving?
Yeah, He’s taught me to do it. Don’t fear, do it. Trust Him. I used to tithe on the net. When money got a little tight, I would go below 10%. When money was even tighter, I would make a mental IOU and promise to make up for it on a future paycheck. Through Crown ministries, I started to really learn about the value of the tithe and its important related to worship. Then about a year and a half ago, my wife and I had a conversation and determined that no matter what else was going on in our lives, the first 10% of our gross income would be a tithe check. We have honored that commitment, and God has honored it by eliminating the worry that often comes with money. Has everything been smooth sailing financially since we dedicated ourselves to the tithe? No. There are still difficulties. But the Lord is Jehovah Jirah, and He is true to His name. He provides.
I wanted to be one the 6 that posted to your blog this week! LOL! I was church shopping over the summer of 1998 and ended up at MABC in September. I immediately felt at home and at peace and that GOD was in this place!! My MABC family has carried me through a messy divorce and continues to carry through an even messier 2nd marriage. I have learned to love God and let Him love me. I am so thankful that I have a place to serve and be served, a place to love and be loved, a place to call home when home is not a peaceful place. I was baptized in March of 1999 (10 yrs!!) and my children were baptized in June of 2004. My children serve right along with me and I see the hand of God in my life. Praise be to Yahweh!!