Anne and Susan share their stories of becoming equipped to do God's work through leadership training classes, despite their fears and hesitations.
initially I had reluctance
in taking the leadership training classes over the years, as folks have talked
about these leadership training classes. Well, and just these more advanced
classes in general.
I was like, Nope, not going
to. Nope, not me. I knew that I would be older
I haven't been in school in a long time. I cannot remember
Bible verses to save my life.
And then just the fact
that I'm not the best student in the world. Early on when I was in my early twenties
and I failed and couldn't finish them, the overcoming
the initial reluctance came from our home church leader. A female asked many of us women if we wanted to take the class. I struggle with invasive thoughts. I'm sure everyone does. And we need disciplined minds,
but I just don't have one. But with the classes right away, just the study Even though it's hard work, it's
not the exhaustion and I get from the constant thinking that I do. So that in itself has disciplined me. After finishing five leadership training
classes, I'm finding a more disciplined brain. I have a depth of knowledge
and understanding of Scripture as an inspiration for Scripture,
taking these classes gives you a depth and a confidence
and even just in one on one conversations, I'm able to encourage
and to comfort people in ways that I would not have been able
to do otherwise. And these classes equip you to do that.
Anne I knew each other from home church,
but we weren't really close. you really do
gain a camaraderie in the classroom. But specifically when you do it with someone from your home church, going through these classes
together has created this bond that we could never have
had just by attending home church. there's a closeness
and a bond that happens. And it just does.
We come from very different worlds,
different backgrounds, and we think differently, but we love each other. It's got to do with God
and studying his word together.
I know the Spirit's so much better
now than I could ever have had had I not done these classes.
There's just so many things. I just had so many thoughts. It was so daggone good.
And every class in particular struck me. There was a gentleman
who from one of the African places that was joining on his phone in a tent at 2:00 in the morning. And I was fascinated and awed and humbled
by the fact that this man took the time out of his sleeping
time to join this class. He had such a hunger
for the word and to learn. And here I am sitting on my couch with my two dogs and a coffee
and my air conditioned house with plenty to eat and plenty of,
you know, comfort around me. The Holy Spirit started convicting me
at that point that I needed to not take these classes for granted
if the Holy Spirit is working on you and you feel that you're being tapped
on the shoulder, don't hesitate.
Just say yes. You will never regret it.