A testimony on Discovering the Christian Life

A testimony on
Discovering
the Christian Life

By Mel Dahlgren

SAN JOSE AND WATSONVILLE, California—I had been looking for a tool that would help “equip the saints for the work of the ministry” as Paul exhorted us in Ephesians 4:11.

When headquarters sent a representative from the Center for Church-Based Training to present Discovering the Christian Life, it struck me like a uniquely played guitar chord. It sounded beautiful and addressed two great needs for our church. 1) Preparing and equipping our church for ministry and, even more critical at the moment 2) creating a safe environment for sharing our spiritual journeys together.

The San Jose and Watsonville congregations have five small groups averaging around a dozen in each, which is a little more than half of our two congregations. I asked a guest, Christine Park, who at-tends one of our groups, to share her testimony. Christine runs her own Java ’n’ Juice business and is unable to attend church.

Here is her testimony:

“Being consumed with the fear of condemnation and the feeling of inadequacy as God’s child (stemming from insecurity in my relationship with God), I spent many nights on my knees toiling over the uncontrollable sense of guilt and begging for mercy and forgiveness. It was emotionally quite draining.

“Then I was introduced to Discovering the Christian Life. I was so taken by the book, I finished it in two days. And it just about changed my whole attitude toward God, church, fellow Christians and my life. I still get down on my knees every night but to give thanks to God for all the blessings he has bestowed on me, and I finally found the peace that I was desperately seeking for but could not achieve in the past.

“I no longer feel insecure about my relationship with God and his love for me. This book takes you from the first step of being saved by grace to the final stage of becoming a fully mature Christian and guides you with each and every step in between.

“In spite of my innate tendency to doubt and question, what transpired during the discussion on the topics of this book led me to discover profound insights about my relationship with God and convinced me rather triumphantly of the assurance of my salvation.

“I felt like a three-year-old Christian before reading this book, and after finishing it, I came out feeling like a mature middle-aged Christian equipped with powerful wisdom and knowledge of God to serve the one and only Master, the Lord in heaven, Jesus Christ.”

Seminars

The Center for Church Based Training offers one-day seminars for anyone in a leadership role in their church. Here are the dates and locations for this year:

Seminar dates

Aug. 16 Greeley, Colorado

Aug. 18 Seattle, Washington

Aug. 30 Riverside, California

Sept. 1 Brentwood, California

Sept. 13 Chicago, Illinois

Sept. 15 Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Sept. 27 Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Sept. 29 Baltimore, Maryland

Oct. 11 Tucson, Arizona

Oct. 25 Plano, Texas

Nov. 15 Des Moines, Iowa

Nov. 17 Minneapolis, Minnesota

CCBT will offer three tracks at each seminar:

Track 1: All to Maturity: moving people from milk to solid food (Hebrews 5:14).

Track 2: Many to Leadership: equipping people for the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:12).

Track 3: Pro-Active Governing Boards: leadership that is spiritual, effective and enjoyable (Hebrews 13:17)

Registration rates

$89 Group Rate, four or more, up to two weeks before the seminar

$99 Individual Rate, up to two weeks before the seminar

$129 Per Person, within two weeks of the seminar

According to Dan Rogers, superintendent of U.S. ministers, “Church Administration enthusiastically endorses these seminars and encourages pastors and church leaders to attend one in their area”. Information about the content and cost of these seminars can be found at www.ccbt.org or by calling CCBT at 1-888422-2896.

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