Witness and Defend

Witness and Defend

For me my faith was always a rather private matter.  In high school and college until I got married I my faith was asleep; hibernating.  I considered myself Christian.  I was born, baptized Roman Catholic.  In CCD I learned the prayers, learned parts of the liturgy, did first confession and first communion.  Although teen life took precedence and I was not confirmed.  After meeting and marrying my wife, we settled on an Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) congregation in the city we were living in.  My faith was awakened from its slumber.

We became very involved in the life of the church.  I even served as a Bible study leader and my wife was a worship assistant.  Although I was involved at levels deeper than at any other time in my life one area that I struggled with continued to be witnessing my faith to other people.  Also working in higher education (an area that can regularly be considered anti-Christian) and sharing my faith with others or being “too open” about being an active and practicing Christian would not have been well received by colleagues.  (At least this is the perception I held).  So I kept that portion of my life compartmentalized.

In August my family and I made a move to Farmville, Virginia.  I took a new position with Longwood University.  The nearest ELCA congregation is almost an hour away.  Since involvement for our family in a church is important we knew we needed a local church and it is also important for our church to be within our community.  We found New Life Church and have enjoyed every minute of our new found church family.  Coming to New Life has made the transition to Farmville far smoother.

Something else that this transition has done has shown me how to start sharing my faith and why I believe that Jesus Christ is the truth and the way.

15But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 1 Peter 3: 15-16 (NIV).

The first part was there… I know that Jesus Christ is my savior and Lord.  But the other I hesitated on… being ready and able to share my faith with others.  I always worried about having the right words to say.  I also worried about the other person feeling as if I was pushing my faith on him/her.  In October I had the opportunity to attend an Encounter retreat.  After that retreat my prayer life has been ramped up and I feel more prepared to share why I have a strong belief in Christ as my savior and Lord.  I am also coming to learn that it may take several conversations with someone before he/she is ready to realize that a relationship with Christ is needed.

This blog and my other social media outlets also serve as a space to share my faith.  Sites like facebook and twitter provide an opportunity to open discussions with others about the place of faith in their lives.  My blog offers a space when I can chronicle my faithwalk and how my faith influences me as a professional and leader.