The latest WM Kindred newsletter features an inspiring interview of one of the church's members, Linda Presley. I felt it was so inspiring that I'd share excepts of it on the blog for all to read.
Linda and her husband, Phil (former pro baseball chaplain) were both called to believe after they were married. They attended EV Free Fullerton under Swindoll as they grew in the faith. Below is Linda's description of the ways they have been called to serve.
"Did that church nurture your faith?
Hearing Chuck Swindoll preach the Word was a turning point. They had amazing ministries there and we all felt the love and compassion of that Body. The sermons were amazing; that teaching has been the foundation to our life and walk in Christ. A heritage in the faith is what Pastor Swindoll gave our family and his church. That's where Phil and I cut our baby teeth in personal ministry, because we were so well taught and well trained.
What were some of the things you participated in there?
...I was looking to find what I could do to be involved in His salvation plan.
Phil and I always were a team. We got into a variety of things. We were trained and worked with the Red Cross as Spiritual Caregivers. In local emergencies we were "first responders," getting calls at all hours of the day and night to minister to people who'd suddenly been thrown into a crisis. Prior to this, part of the training I received at EV Free was in mentoring women facing crisis pregnancy. We also worked in missions, homeless outreach, and community outreach. We didn't just stay "in the church" - our faith was part of our daily lives, in all places and times, even in the so-called secular world.
We lived and worked and worshipped "shoulder to shoulder" in God's purposed plan for us...
Phil had a statement that he wrote on a mirror in our office: "We may not have it all together, but together we have it all."
Phil and I coached, mentored, supported, encouraged, prayed, worshipped and studied the Word together throughout our lives as believers in each and every task the Lord brought to us. We knew we were called out, together as a team. We were wrapped securely in two things: God's love and the full armor of God. With all this activity, none of it came without resistance, struggle around us, and pressure, but we really felt thrilled and free to be allowed to do this.
It is interesting to me that you and Phil didn't stay with one ministry to the point of boredom or habit.
As we opened our lives to Him and accepted His authority completely, He brought opportunity to serve. We did not create one thing out of another, or try to "build a ministry." He simply opened the door and allowed us to walk through it so we could glorify Him, not us. The military prayer chain was one of the opportunities that God set before Phil, through devotional time that we had before Christ in prayer and petition.Then weeks later, God set upon Phil's heart to minister in New York City at Ground Zero, and he was able to go there for three months. As it grew, the military prayer chain encompassed over 20,000 daily prayer warriors, that also met the needs of our men and women in battle both spiritually and in practical ways."
The Presleys' commitment to living out Christ's love and compassion in the world by surrendering time, lifestyle, money, mind and more is truly inspiring to me, and I hope to you. More on the tenants of their life in pt. 2.
That was great, it really is motivating to work together as a team to bring glory to God! We always get so caught up in our lives that we forget to make time for what is most important and to be really making God the priority, not all the other stuff that can distract us.
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