Exodus Freedom
June 8-11, 2011
The Reality of Grace is what makes the Gospel of Christ Good News! While individuals often strive to please and appease God as a means to earn His favor, the reality or the truth is that Grace came down to earth in the form of Christ. Come and experience the Reality of Grace. You will encounter it in the moments of intimate worship, through the words of inspiring stories and impactful teaching and in the unplanned conversations with other attendees.
This was my first Exodus Freedom Conference. Tony asked me to write a little something for the Truth Ministry newsletter, so I thought I would share it here too!
As I arrived on the campus of Ridgecrest, I put my four children and my husband out of my mind. The truth was that I missed them already, but, in my mind, I was there to work. After all, I had never struggled with SSA or homosexuality. This conference was not designed for me. I was there to serve and maybe get to know my colleagues in ministry better. I had just started working for Truth Ministry in March. I felt I needed to show my commitment to the work of the ministry- so I was there to be a part of the team. McKrae and I unpacked the car, already wearing our “Hope for Wholeness” shirts and headed to the bookstore to set up our display. I, like most people who serve Christ, felt like, at least in a small sense, that I had it together. I am, after all, studying to be a minister of the gospel. What I didn’t realize was that God had a surprise for me. He had brought me there to change me. To go into all the details of “how’s & why’s” would make this rather lengthy. So, I will just testify to you that God showed Himself to me in a new way. Not only did I not get to “serve” as I had intended, I ended up in bed sick, but God served me! What a beautiful turn of events!
I walked away from the conference with a new confidence that I was doing (in pursuing ministry) exactly what He intended for me. I gained an assurance of the calling and purpose of God on my life. I walked away with a new view and understanding of brokenness, transparency and realness and how that relates to the body of Christ as a whole and to me personally. He showed me a part of His heart that I had not known before. That alone made this trip worth it! There is something special that happens when God’s people, with an awareness of their brokenness, gather together in a safe environment and worship a kind and loving Father, though that brokenness. THAT is where I want to live. Forever.
I walked away from the conference with a new confidence that I was doing (in pursuing ministry) exactly what He intended for me. I gained an assurance of the calling and purpose of God on my life. I walked away with a new view and understanding of brokenness, transparency and realness and how that relates to the body of Christ as a whole and to me personally. He showed me a part of His heart that I had not known before. That alone made this trip worth it! There is something special that happens when God’s people, with an awareness of their brokenness, gather together in a safe environment and worship a kind and loving Father, though that brokenness. THAT is where I want to live. Forever.
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