STUDENT TESTIMONIALS

"Corrie Ten Boon once said “Every experience God gives us is the perfect preparation for a future only he can see.” My two months in Nicaragua was certainly an experience that God gave me that I’ve never had before. Staying in a full-time Missionary’s home, studying in a foreign land, and getting practical cross-cultural work were only a few of the factors that made up a life changing experience. There were many obstacles we had to go through, several comfort zones that had to be abandoned, and new challenges that had to be overcome.  In the season that we were there I truly believe that an eternal investment was made in my life and a time of preparation was wrought throughout the course. 

ONE OF THE GREATEST LESSONS I LEARNED WAS THE FULL THOUGHT OF DISCIPLESHIP. THOUGH I HAD SOME UNDERSTANDING OF THE GREAT COMMISSION I FELT AS IF A LOT OF RESTRICTIONS AND LIMITATIONS WERE REMOVED FROM MY KNOWLEDGE OF THE GREAT RESPONSIBILITY THAT GOD HAS GIVEN THE CHURCH TO MAKE DISCIPLES. GOD HAS RENEWED MY MIND AND A REVELATION HAS COME TO SHOW ME MY CALLING IN A GREATER LIGHT. IT’S FRESH, IT’S NEW, IT’S CLEAR! THERE IS A LARGER VISION THAT HAS COME TO MY HEART. ALSO, WHILE I WAS GONE I AM CONFIDENT THAT GOD CONFIRMED MY CALLING AND GIFT! PRIOR TO COMING TO M.A.P I ONLY HAD A PERSPECTIVE OF MY CALLING AS ONE WHO IS TO PREACH. I QUICKLY RECOGNIZED THAT THIS WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO GOD NOR BENEFICIAL TO THE KINGDOM! I STARTED TO SEE THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD THAT CHRIST HAS GIVEN GIFTS UNTO MEN (EPH. 4:11-12) AND IT WAS IMPERATIVE THAT I DISCOVERY WHAT CHRIST HAD BESTOWED ME WITH. BECAUSE OF THIS GREAT DISCOVERY, I CAN NOW PURSUE TO FUNCTION AS GOD HAS CALLED ME TO. FINDING MY IDENTITY IN THE MINISTRY HAS BROUGHT A REVOLUTION TO MY CALLING. 

AN ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR ME WAS THE TIME WE SPENT WITH THE PASTORS OF THE MISSION. STAYING IN THEIR HOMES, EATING WHAT THEY EAT, AND IDENTIFYING YOUR LIVES WITH THEIRS WAS VERY PROFITABLE TO ME. I NEVER KNEW THAT SOMETHING THAT APPEARED SO SIMPLE COULD BE SO LIFE CHANGING. BUT IT WAS IN THESE TIMES I DISCOVERED THE TRUE VALUE OF BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS. IT WAS OFTEN WHERE I COULD NOT COMMUNICATE ENOUGH TO PREACH BUT IT WAS IN THE MOMENTS OF EATING AND CONVERSING WITH THEM THAT I FELT GOD WAS TEACHING ME LIFE LESSONS. THE WELCOMING OF THE PASTORS AND THE NATIVES FOR THE FOREIGNER REVEALED TO ME THAT GREAT REALITY OF THE FAMILY OF GOD. I SEE THE FAMILY OF GOD AS ONE THAT IS LARGE AND WORLD-WIDE. SINCE COMING TO M.A.P I AM PERSUADED THAT MUCH HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME. REGARDLESS IF IT WAS THE LONG BUS RIDES, THE WEEKEND STAYS, THE POWERFUL ENCOUNTERS WE HAD IN THE SERVICES, OR THE TIMES OF STUDY. IT HAS ALL ACCUMULATED TO BE ONE OF THE GREATEST LIFE CHANGING STORIES. I KNOW WHERE MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS REQUIRED. I’M EXCITED TO GO FORTH WITH THE NEW VISION AND PURSUE TO FULFILL GOD’S CALLING ON MY LIFE."

JOSHUA LINDSEY- 2016 MAP GRADUATE