Where do we experience life change?
Posted: March 30, 2009
I’ve asked Kevin Combs, a friend and fellow church member, to share his testimony. I hope it will bless and challenge you.
While I have always believed in a Creator, I was not raised in the
church. After spending some time with my family at Mt. Bethel, I
accepted Christ just before my 30th birthday. Like many of us, I was
content as long as my relationship with the Lord was on my terms. Why
shouldn’t I call all the shots in my life? I was quickly climbing the
ranks of a large company. I was young, smart, and just starting to make
some real money. I had MY life under control, and I was achieving MY
goals. The only God I needed was the warm feeling I got during the
Sunday morning sermon.
During a Rock Eagle men’s retreat, I was fired up and signed up for a
Thursday night men’s life group. I attended the group sporadically for
a while, but I soon allowed my busy schedule and fatigue from the work
week to be an excuse to skip our meetings. Eventually, I stopped
attending altogether. I would regularly run into the members of the
group at church, and, rather than pour on the guilt, they would always
tell me they missed seeing me and would love to have me back. They kept
me on list for the weekly e-mail list, which was a constant reminder
that I was welcome, but I had better plans for MY time.
In 2001, the Lord began to greatly bless me by showing me that I was not
in control. My company was purchased by a larger one. It was clear
very quickly that the new management team did not think as much of me as
I thought of myself. Although I held on for four turbulent years, I was
displaced (their fancy word for fired) in late 2004. With my
overinflated ego stomped flat, I crawled back to my men’s group,
wondering if they would still remember my name. Without a hint of
judgment, they welcomed me back with open arms. With the love of
Christ, they stabilized my shaken world and offered me wise counsel,
plenty of humor and much needed prayer. I’ve been a faithful member of
the group ever since.
In community, we share our daily struggles and our triumphs. We have
read through Christian books, walked through bible studies, worked on
local service projects and shared plenty of social time. We try to hold
each other accountable, and we discuss the tough questions about faith,
family and Christian action. We also find the time to chat about our
marriages, our kids, our jobs, and, of course, football and politics.
Christ has used my relationship with these men to change my heart. I
know that I can depend on them for anything at any time. We’re all so
busy. It’s hard to even consider giving up a morning or an evening
during the week. Ironically, the time that you set aside to attend a
life group is the greatest gift you can give the other people in your
life.
Where do we experience life change? I believe it happens most readily
in small communities of faith. My life group has supported me (and
sometimes carried me) in my Christian walk and helped me become a better
father, husband, and friend. I can no longer imagine my life without
them in it. Join a life group. Don’t delay. It will change you if you
let it.
God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but
shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world. ~ C.S.
Lewis
Kevin Combs
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Thank you Kevin for sharing your personal story. Your story is inspiring. Mt. Bethel is certainly much more than “the big yellow church.” People are making connections and growing in their faith through the small groups and programs offered.
Comment by LlewSu — March 31, 2009 #