by Jim Teall, Open Doors USA.
I have been a Christian for most of my life. I have been on many “retreats” in the past so why would I want to pay to go on another one? Wasn’t I doing okay at the Christian life? I thought so and others around me seemed to agree. But then I happened to be at a luncheon where I heard a speaker who was involved in Faithwalking. Now I have been to hundreds of Bible studies and I have heard hundreds of people speak about the Christian life before so how would this be any different than the rest? And yet it was.
I did not hear a tinge of arrogance from the speaker about how to have a successful walk with Jesus. Instead, I heard tons of authenticity about how to have a transparent, missional community that walks with Jesus together and who together were being transformed while seeking to transform society. An authentic and transformational relationship with Christ and with His people. My soul cried out inside me, "Yes, this is what I want, this is what I need."
It was so impactful that I signed up to participate in a Faithwalking 101 Retreat. Yet inside I still kind of expected the typical sing a few songs, pray a few prayers, read a few verses, and listen to some good talks kind of retreat. It wasn't that we did not do any of these things but it was what else we did. We got real, or should I say, in a loving and gentle way we were forced to get real with ourselves, others and God.
Yes, I was an OK Christian doing pretty good in the Christian club, but was I an authentic, committed follower of Jesus Christ who lived his life on mission with a passionate purpose? Jesus is very clear: "If you love me you will obey my commands." I knew that I was not obeying all of Jesus' commands, and that hurt. I realized I had become resigned and cynical to real transformation in my personal life and of there being any real hope for genuine societal change.
Faithwalking 101 and 201 have now put me on a path where I no longer feel resigned and isolated to live out a quasi-comfortable Christian life. My spirit and heart have been renewed to live passionately for Christ with a community of other followers of Jesus that are committed to personal and societal change. I wish I could tell you that Faithwalking is easy. It is not. It is hard. But I am learning more and more each day how to surrender my life to Jesus, making it possible for Him to change me. God is conforming me into the image of His son so that I might live in loving obedience to Him. Well this is what my wife is telling me at least.
What is truly wonderful about this Faithwalking process is knowing that I am not alone on this journey. God has placed a community of believers in my life that not only want to see personal transformation but societal transformation as well. If the world is to change then I must first be changed, and then I need others around me with a common vision to work together to restore humanity to God's intended purpose. I have found all of this in Faithwalking and I am truly thankful to God to be walking with Him and His people by faith so that real change and transformation can and will happen in our lives and in our communities.
Register to Faithwalking 101 retreat.
Register for Faithwalking Missional Marriage.
