Reflecting down memory lane.......

As part of transitioning my life to follow God I have finally decided to get my master's @ Southern Seminary.  I have no idea where this road will lead me but it's one that for the first time am super excited about.  In honor of applying to the school (for God) I thought I would post the required testimony portion of the application.  For better or worse here it is:

Reflecting on my life to write this for Southern Baptist Seminary has been eye opening to the works of God that I now know were lost through the years. Even the days of when God wasn’t a part of my life, I now see where I have always been a part of his. It is true as the scripture states “God never stops working” and my life is proof of that.


I didn’t grow up attending church regularly. I did go to the occasional bible school, youth events and Sunday school here or there, but that was the extent of it. Mom made us get out of bed and walk to the church occasionally. She would attend church sporadically and was a believer, but she never revealed her personal relationship with God to me or my sisters, from what I remember. I am not sure she fully experienced a relationship with Christ now that I think about it. Nevertheless, she believed in God and forced her kids to get some religious education and enrichment through the years. I can see now that during these early years God had planted the seed.

Growing up I was always into sports. I started playing basketball at age 7 along with other sports like volleyball, tennis and softball in my later years. My true love has always been basketball. As a matter of fact, I wasn’t very good at basketball when I was starting out. There are a couple of memories that are truly etched in my mind that seemed to carve out some personality traits in me that I still carry around today. Although I practiced and played basketball a lot during the summers, I did not see much progress in my skills. I think I scored a whopping 6 pts my whole middle school career (yes, that’s 6th – 8th grade). I never got any playing time. I was a true bench warmer – and boy there were some games by butt ached from sitting. Every summer our basketball schedule consisted of area youth leagues in Charleston and Seymour, AAU, camps and off season open gym games and practices. Yes, all of that in just one 10 week summer. The summer before I was entering into the 8th grade I was asked to “not” play with my normal team but to play with the 7th grade teams. Can you imagine the humility and embarrassment? Every time I stepped foot on the court I would not be playing with friends but playing on a team with kids that were a year and grade younger? Wow, that was a blow to my self esteem! To my credit and due to my love of the game, I stuck it out and finished the summer and my 8th grade season but there was bitterness in me. I felt consumed by it. So, I decided to quit putting myself through all the torture and didn’t try out for basketball my freshman year. I remember sitting in home room while all the players were dismissed to the gym for tryouts. Over a period of three days I sat in that room determined to move on with my life. However, it was through the understanding kindness and consideration of one coach- caring enough for me, that helped changed my mind and my life. He didn’t say it would be easy but he promised if I gave it my all, things would work out (thanks Ben Watts!).

Although I did play on the Junior Varsity team my freshman year (while most others made varsity), I dressed a few varsity games and had some amazing moments in those short minutes. My sophomore year I played varsity mostly for defense. Actually, I was basically told to not shoot the ball…EVER! However, by my senior year, through my determination to improve, I was on the all time leading scorers list and had obtained a few awards. Trust me, I worked hard. I stayed late after every practice. I went in early when we didn’t have to. I gave it my all in every practice and game, even when my body was tired and my head told me to stop. I knew by the end of my junior year that I wanted to play basketball at the college level. I had gotten a few offers from other colleges but my eyes were fixed on one place-Judson University in Elgin, IL. Instead of being recruited by that school, I hunted down the coach, sent in player tapes and practically begged to play. He had no idea who I was or what he was getting himself into. Judson is a Division 2 NAIA Christian school. Why this school? I believe it was God’s plan for my life. I visited this campus in my middle school years. From that visit forward this place was etched in my heart. I can’t explain the feelings that I experienced while there. Peacefulness, excitement and happiness were just a few. I visited several other colleges while in high school but there was nothing that compared to what I felt at Judson University. My eyes were locked on this college. So, now all I had to do was convince the coach to let me play. I truly believe God was calling me to a much higher place than a basketball court. I now see the bigger purpose that this college served in my life.

God used my desire and talents for his Glory. I received several awards throughout my career at Judson. Some of my favorites were: Judson female athlete of the year (2 years I believe), NAIA freshman of the year, I made it to the 1,000 pt. club in 3 years and most recently I had the honor of being inducted into the Hall of Fame. I prospered on the court most definitely, as a player and a leader. I spent lots of hours in off season training (and I thought high school was hard!). On top of that I spent many hours being mentally and emotionally fine tuned as a leader by Coach Tory Gum. However, above all the worldly honors I received, the most notable honor was accepting Christ into my heart during my sophomore year. I believe Judson helped water the seed that was planted so many years prior.

I truly wish that from that point forward my life could have been nothing but great times filled with my service to God. However, in all honesty, even though I had the foundation of God in my life and Jesus in my heart, my relationship with Him never really took off. Although I learned so much about Him in college, I lived my life, my way, the moment I stepped off campus on graduation day. I tried to control my happiness and fate. I had a solid career, house, and husband and began starting a family. Every piece of advice that I listened to was starting to take shape. I thought I had executed my life pretty well. In the midst of all of my successes since college, there was always something inside me that said I was on the wrong path. Something deep inside that told me there was more to life than this. Because of that feeling I felt unsettled and I had to figure it out, and try I did. I was always dreaming and coming up with a new path for myself. Anywhere from starting a new magazine, becoming an interior designer and a construction designer (yes, I came up with new names to fit my new path!). I would do research and get so far with each new endeavor, but there was always something inside that didn’t feel right about it. Something told me that the jump wouldn’t make me happy. It wasn’t until the age of 36 that I gave up that control. I felt desperate. I threw my hands up and said to God, “I am yours do as you will.” I have been actively seeking Him ever since.

He has provided me a vision of service that revolves around internet and social media, building up communities and giving back to Him and to the church for His service. In recent months, I have helped a couple of local churches understand the power of promotion and how to use of social media to grow God’s kingdom. God has helped me lay out a vision for each of them and then help them implement it. I no longer have my comfortable corporate job. I have chosen a different path, one that has been revealed to me by Christ. I’ve been working at dedicating this past year to being a Godly leader for my family and following God’s call for me by helping and serving the church. I want to build stronger communities and transform the world by spreading the Good News. Using the power of technology – video, audio, promotional based websites and social media – I believe God is calling me now to a place even higher than what I am living today. It is my heart’s true desire to work inside of God’s world in some capacity, implementing the vision He has provided me. I have the skill set to do what he has called me to do but I desire the education to help support it. I believe today the seed that was planted and watered so long ago is now growing strong and healthy, through God’s calling.