FALL 2011M A G A Z I N E

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Champion Life Magazine

purposes to equip

people to live successful

Christian lives.

ABOUT US

For we are Gods

workmanship,

created in Christ

Jesus to do good

works which God

prepared in advance

for us to do.

— Ephesians 2:10

8 Living on Purpose by Kevin Gerald

1 6 What Do You Want ? by Jodi Gerald-Cameron

2 4 Finding Yourself by Champions Centre Team

I N T H E K N O W

6 25 Year Tribute

2 0 Champions Foundation Update

I N E V E R Y I S S U E

3 Let’s Talk

4 You to Us

1 4 Champion Finds

2 6 Real Life Champions

2 8 k. Wise

FE

AT

UR

ES

16

Fall 2011 | 1

ExEcUTivE PUbLiSHERS

Kevin Gerald & Sheila Gerald

EDiTOR-iN-cHiEF

Jodi Gerald-Cameron

SENiOR PROjEcT MANAgER Jen Mueller

ART DiREcTOR Dallas Drotz, Drotz Design

cONTRibUTiNg EDiTORS Abbie Buck, Corianne Burton,

Andrea Dashiell, Kim Ludwick, Stephanie Jannsen, Raelynn Poulin,

Leslie Powell, Elizabeth Woody, Judi Shackett, Mark Stewart

cONTRibUTiNg PHOTOgRAPHy J. Hobson Photography

cONTRibUTiNg gRAPHic DESigN Venessa Koehn & Mickey Elliott

cONTRibUTiNg WRiTERS Kevin Gerald, Jodi Gerald-Cameron,

Mica Griggs, Sue Kahawaii, Robin McCoy, Steve Shackett,

Brandon Stewart

DiSTRibUTiON Kim Ludwick

PRODUcER Champion Life Magazine is produced by Kevin Gerald

Communications (KGC). KGC is a department of Champions

Centre in Tacoma | Bellevue, WA, a non-profit organization.

TO SUbScRibE

www.championscentre.com

Phone: (toll-free) 888-935-6914

TO SPONSOR If you are a business who would like to partner with

our magazine through distribution or sponsorship please contact

us at: 253-475-6454 x361

QUESTiONS / cOMMENTS / iDEAS Let us know. We welcome your

feedback. Please write us at: championlife@championscentre.com

MAiL

Champion Life Editorial

1819 E. 72nd St.

Tacoma, WA 98404

Produced by Champions Centre Publishing © 2011. All Rights

Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without expressed

written permission is prohibited and a violation of applicable laws.

2011 copyright

Printed by Capitol City Press

148th Ave.coffee shop

N O W O P E NShort walk from Bellevue College

(Entrance of college, Landerholm & 148th Ave)

Follow us on

Let’s taLk

as We HeaD INtO tHe FINaL seasON OF tHIs YeaR, I’m so excited for what God has

in store. Sheila and I have been celebrating 25 years in ministry this year, and we are proudly declaring

that the best we have done is not the best we can do! Now is the time for us to press on into the

future that God has for us.

Have you ever considered that God has a purpose for you? He created you with certain strengths,

skills and passions. I recently challenged our church family with this thought, and then

compelled them to find their flow. I asked them to finish this statement: “I’m

in my flow when...” To do this, you simply need to find out what comes

naturally to you. What do you do without much thought? Find this, and

you will find your flow. You can read more about this, and get tips on how

to find your flow, in Living on Purpose (Page 10).

When presented with a God-destiny, too often people focus on

what it will cost them rather than focusing on what they can gain.

On page 23, you will find an article titled, Finding Yourself. If you

haven’t noticed yet, this entire issue is dedicated to steering your

thoughts toward God’s plan for your life. When you get to the point

where you are ready to embrace all that He has for you, get ready

to experience God in an entirely new way!

“It’s not about how you look but rather how you see.” Your talents

and abilities were given to you not for your own gain, but to add

value to someone else. Your purpose can be the answer to

someone else’s need. Everything that is within our

ability to do, we must do. We must celebrate the fact

that all of our abilities come from God our Creator,

who entrusted us with gifts and talents to glorify

and honor Him above everything else. And the

truth is, sometimes our own desires can be the key

to igniting our God-given purpose. Get inspired to

ask yourself the often underestimated question

What Do You Want? on page 16.

As you read this issue, remember that our

collective purpose is to take God with us into

the world that is more than ready to receive

Him. Let’s not be silent—let's take action and

go after all that God has promised for us.

Fall 2011 | 3

We want to hear from you!

Please write us at: championlife@championscentre.com Mail: Champion Life Editorial, 1819 E. 72nd St., Tacoma, WA 98404

YOU to Us

THANK YOU everyone for your over the top love/generosity. It's been the best week of my life in ministry...now we launch the second half. — @kevingerald This song seems to be our theme song. Its been 25 years since @kevingerald & I moved to the Northwest. "Never Once… ♫” — @sheilagerald I plan to preach on favor later this year. @kevingerald has a great series on the subject going on right now. Thx Kev, it's blessing me... — @stevenfurtick

@kevingerald is the greatest communicator of HONOUR I have ever heard... #authenticlife — @DarleneZschech

Wow—just got out of a meeting with some of the @ccbellevue team, & we are doing something FUN & CRAZY at the end of Sept at both campuses. Love it! — @jod1gc

@kevingerald @Sheilagerald thank you for your courage to lead a relevant life altering church it allows so many of us to find purpose in God. — @toddgriggs

Our church staff reading for September is the book "Forces That Form Your Future", very pumped to then share with True North. — @TrueNorthNJ

Even when you feel unappreciated or not needed...Stay in the place God puts you. Don't let the wrong thing drive you out of the right place. — @kevingerald

Twitter Poll--We asked: “Titus 2:10 (NIV) tells us to make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. Finish this—"We make God attractive when...?”

We make Christ attractive when we don't have to tell people we are Christians...they just know by our actions. — @BIG_LUis

When we are able to win games but still be humble. — @codyshackett

I make Christ attractive when I see the best in people and circumstances, consistently. — @amberperi

When I'm willing to go out of my way for someone that I may not even know. — @tysonramsdell

First of all, congratulations on 25 years!

Secondly, I loved reading the article

on ‘Momentum’ in the Summer Issue.

There is such a feeling of momentum

at Champions Centre and I love being

along for the ride. There’s no where else

I’d rather be! —josh b.

Thank you for your Real Life Champion

stories. I always flip right to this section

of the magazine to see whose story

was featured. This last issue, the story

from Steven and Autumn was so great.

It's just good to know that there are

real people, living real lives that are

committed to the cause of Christ. It's

so encouraging! —Diane A.

I have finally found a church where

I feel so comfortable. I can't wait to

go back. I want to thank all of you for

being so kind and warm. It was because

of this I made the decision to make

Champions Centre my home.

—Thomas S.

Thank you for the ability to share

the magazine and messages with

others who may never look it up for

themselves. With just a 'click' you could

send a video off to a friend. I sent

"Be Brave" to two people who I know

needed to hear it as much as I did. And

talk about being timely, a message that

was given three years ago ministered to

me right here, right now! —gail K.

Champions Centre Tweets

Here are some of the

recent online tweets we’ve

seen about Champions

Centre in 140 characters or less. Join the

conversation at twitter.com.

Comments from our readers:

4 | Champion Life Magazine

http://championscentre.com/bold

THE MEMbERS FROM PEOPLES cHURcH AND MERiDiAN cHRiSTiAN MiNiSTRiES

WHO HAvE bEEN ON THE jOURNEy ALONg SiDE US FOR 25 yEARS.

thanks to the many volunteers and friends who have been with us over the last 25 years. We are looking ahead to the future, because the best we have done is not the best we can do.

The best is yet to come.

6 | Champion Life Magazine

0:06 / :45

WATcH THE viDEO ONLiNE »

Congratulations on 25 years

Champions Centre! And a

big thank you to Pastors

Kevin and Sheila Gerald for

their tireless commitment to

the house and God's calling

on their lives. You are making a difference in the

Northwest, so grateful you are here. MELiSSA H.

Thank you Pastors Kevin and Sheila, for allowing me

the honor to serve at Champions Centre. TANZ c.

We don't tell you guys near enough how much we love

and appreciate you. I am so thankful for you, who you

are as a person and as our

pastors, your leadership and

your vision for God's house.

I am so excited and honored

to be a part of a growing

church that just keeps on

getting better through the

years. DARLA R.

I love my Pastors Kevin

& Sheila. They are some

of the most generous &

empowering people a

young leader could hope

for. bRANDON S.

Pastors Kevin & Sheila

- Congratulations on 25

years and thank you for the incredible impact on mine

& Debbie's life. We love you! jAMES g.

Congrats to Kevin & Sheila on 25 years of pastoring

Champion Centre. Your wisdom & compassion is

unmatched. Love ya! MARcUS M.

To my Pastors Kevin & Sheila—thank you for investing

into me as a kid and now my kids. Claiming my next 62

generations serving God's House! jESSicA j.

Congratulations to Kevin & Sheila on 25 years of

ministry in the Northwest. Great leaders. Great friends.

We love you guys! KiRK b.

Happy 25 years to Champions Centre and the amazing

Geralds. LEON F.

Happy 25 years of ministry anniversary to Kevin &

Sheila! Your family & ministry is an inspiration to us!

We love you both! EARL M.

Kevin, thank you for being the leader that you are

& staying committed to advancing the local church!

Excited for the next 25 years! jONATHAN O.

Kevin & Sheila—I adore you

both; Grateful to have married

into a family committed to

your vision as well. My biggest

blessing. cORiANNE b.

Happy 25 years of ministry!

You two are incredible! So

blessed & honored to be part

of the church family! LiZ b.

We absolutely love you guys—

your next 25 will be a season

of much harvest as seed sown

comes to full blown fruit.

cHARLOTTE g.

Thank you for making a way so generations of my

descendants will follow jumping & leaping & praising

God, grateful! MicA g.

What an honor to walk by you both. Thanks for

sticking it out so I can carry the legacy to my family,

here's to the next 25 years, heart and soul. TiNiA N.

Thank you Kevin & Sheila for everything! I am so

grateful that I get to be a part of what God is doing

through you! LUiS R.

PASTORS KEviN & SHEiLA ARE HONORED by cLOSE FRiENDS PASTORS TERRy & jUDiTH cRiST DURiNg Tc 2011

Fall 2011 | 7

F YOU STOOD AT A FREEWAY AND WATCHED THE

THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES GO BY, YOU WOULD SEE A

LOT OF VARIETY: different types, makes, models—all created for a specific reason. There are small economy cars, mid-size cars, fast cars, family cars, minivans, small work trucks, utility trucks, big transport trucks, dump trucks., trucks with 4-wheel drive, recreation

vehicles, buses. Each one serves a specific purpose. Each automaker can tell you the purpose of the various types and models of vehicles that you see on the road. And while we’re on the subject of variety, what about other types of vehicles? Someone could ask, “If we have cars, why do we have airplanes?” I can tell you this—the people who build airplanes know why they’re building airplanes and not cars.

I could go on and on. Aside from cars, trucks and planes,

we’ve got boats. And what about bulldozers? Cranes?

And battle vehicles, like tanks and Humvees? Each and

every one of these things are created for a very specific

purpose, and each purpose may be different from the

next. But one thing is for sure—they all serve a purpose.

Purpose is defined as the reason for which something exists.

Many people are on a slippery slope psychologically.

They are disconnected from God’s plan and purpose

for their lives. They live empty, unfulfilling, unrewarding

lives. Experts say Americans are experiencing an

unprecedented amount of what they call “psychological

misery”. Some cold, hard facts for you:

• It’s estimated that by the year 2020, depression will

rank 2nd in major illnesses, next to heart disease.

• About 14.8 million adults in the U.S. suffer from

depression.

• In young people, suicide is the 3rd leading cause

of death.

8 | Champion Life Magazine

The cure for this epidemic of depression is for

people to get reconnected to the idea that they

are alive for a reason bigger than themselves.

People are desperately in need of a true and

genuine sense of purpose for their lives; a

reason to exist. I can assure you of one thing: NO ONE knows

the purpose of something as well as its CREATOR. Just like the

automakers know the purpose of the cars they are designing, so

does God—our creator—know the purpose for each and every

one of us. So knowing what God says about purpose is the right

place to start in knowing your purpose. Here are a couple things

to remember:

1. Know that you have a PurposeRecently, we asked a handful of people on the street two

questions: “Do you believe in God?” And then, “Do you believe

He has a purpose for your life?” A lot of people believe in God,

but a lot of people don’t think that God has a purpose for their

life. Belief in God, and knowing His plan for your life, are two very

different things.

Scripture says: for we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ

Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to

do (Ephesians 2:10). How are we not sure that we were meant—

designed, even—with purpose in mind? We have solid assurance

in the Word of God—He has a purpose for our lives. We have

scriptures like this in our hands to validate us, to assure us, and to

proclaim to us that God has a purpose for each and every one of

us. It’s time for us to get motivated for change. Do you sense that

you’ve settled into a place you were only intended to pass through

- or that life is slipping by and you don’t feel as if you’ve been

living intentionally? Get motivated to change the way you

think! So often, we create ceilings in our lives because of

the way we program ourselves - and we will continue to hit

those ceilings until we resolve to make the change within us. We

have to know that we have a God-designed purpose for waking up

every morning; a purpose far beyond merely just existing... And we

have to know that we have the ability and call on our lives to walk

and live in that purpose, each and every day.

Link up with purposeful people in your life. If you’re wondering

how you move from where you are to a more purpose-filled life, I

will tell you this: you don’t do it alone! Get connected with people

who are being intentional with their lives. Like Proverbs 13:20

says: “He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion

of fools suffers harm.” >>

I asked people on social

networking to fill in the

blank for me, regarding

themselves: “I am in my

flow when .”

The answers were

phenomenal.

“I’m in my flow when I am

networking and meeting people.”

“I am in my flow when I am

bringing order to chaos.”

“I am in my flow when I am

collaborating and

encouraging others.”

“I am in my flow when I am

writing songs to connect people

to God.”

“I am in my flow when I’m writing

something that is hard to

verbalize.”

“ I’m in my flow when I am

helping men manage lust.”

“I’m in my flow when I am

improvising, creating,

rehearsing, performing,

strategizing, assimilating.”

0:06 / :45

WATcH THE viDEO ONLiNE »

Fall 2011 | 9

2. Identify YourPrimary Purpose

The search for purpose has the

ability to turn into hyper self-

focus. If we’re not careful, when

we start to think about why we

are here, we can head down a

road of excessive self-analysis.

The search to uncover your

purpose becomes more about you. We become

introspective, analyzing ourselves from every

angle. Remember, in identifying your purpose:

Your primary, overall purpose is still to glorify

God . . . whatever you do, in work or in deed.

• Sowhetheryoueatordrinkorwhatever

youdo,doitallforthegloryofGod.

— 1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV

• Foreverything,absolutelyeverything,

aboveandbelow,visibleandinvisible,

everythinggotstartedinHimandfinds

itspurposeinHim.

— Colossians 1:16 MSG

• EverythingcomesfromGodalone,

everythinglivingbyHispower,and

everythingisforHisGlory.

— Romans 11:36 LB

•

Think about it like this, all instruments

are created with one common

purpose in mind—to make music.

A guitar is different from the

piano, which is different from

the saxophone, which is different

from a drum or a cello, but they

ALL are designed by their creators to

accomplish one goal: making music. In

the same way, first and foremost, you and

I are instruments; a music-maker . . . designed to

glorify God! “Do whatever your hands find to do,

and do it with all your heart as unto the

Lord.” (Colossians 3:23)

3. Excel in your personal Purpose --Your FlowOnce you know that you

have a purpose, and that

your primary

purpose is to

glorify God, then

it’s time to be

the best at being

you. God spent an

enormous amount

of energy to make

you—so don’t spend

your energy trying to be

someone else! Let’s go back

to the instrument analogy, if

you’re an instrument—what’s

your sound? In other words, what are your

strengths? How are you wired? Don’t get hung up on

trying to be someone else—a different instrument—

when you are designed otherwise. Be you! Use what

you have received to serve others. Do you make

people laugh? Bring people joy? Do you love to

help people in trouble, or are you assigned to serve

someone with a great talent or gift (like Jonathan to

David)? Are you an advocate—a voice

for those who have no voice?

Are you a writer? Musician?

A wealth creator; a gifted

financial supporter?

Think about the “whatever scriptures”:

10 | Champion Life Magazine

Do what you were created to do, but don’t do it

solely for money, recognition, or to get noticed—

your flow, your purpose, it isn’t about any of those

things. Do it to add value, from the grace God put

on your life.

When are YOU in your flow?

Now, don’t confuse your flow with your job

responsibilities—your flow transcends a job

description. Your purpose is not to be a banker,

or a flight attendant—your purpose goes beyond

those titles. There are a lot of things about being

a pastor I don’t like; things that are not in my

flow. But my flow is something that carries over,

and is something I do not only do as a pastor,

but also in everyday life as a dad, a friend and

husband. I’m in my flow when

I’m locating and

co m m u n i c a t i n g

wisdom. That happens

when I’m “on the job” but it also happens with

whatever I’m doing because it’s my personal

purpose. Your flow is what you do easily,

naturally and wherever you are—whether it’s

at work, at home, or at church. Your flow is

something you do well—maybe even better

than most. God has a specific grace on your life

to do what He put you on earth to do. When

you’re outside of your “grace zone” it will feel

awkward and uncomfortable . . . like David

putting on Saul’s armor. However, when

you’re in your Grace Zone—in your flow—

you may only be equipped with one sling

shot, but you are able to defeat Giants! Your

flow brings you fulfillment and satisfaction. Your

flow is a strength that others will see and validate.

Your flow may be obvious to you, or it may be

something that takes some careful consideration

and reflection. If you’re still searching for yours,

spend some time and think about it tomorrow as

you go about you day:

“I’m in my flow when .” >>

“I’m in my flow when I’m locating and communicating wisdom."

Champion Find:Summer of the Ant

Find it at kevingerald.tv

Fall 2011 | 11

is the lead pastor of Champions

Centre in Tacoma and Bellevue, WA.

For great resources from Kevin,

visit kevingerald.tv.

Kevin Gerald

We have to know that we have a God-designed purpose for waking up every morning; a purpose far beyond merely just existing.I pray that you would be blessed with a fresh sense of

anticipation for your life inside your flow. Raise your

expectations. So often people get bogged down and

discouraged because they let disappointments and

setbacks steal their anticipation for what God has in

store for them in their future. Don’t lose sight of the

promises of God! Tough times steal your hope and

diminish expectation for what God can and will do

in and through your life. Lift up your eyes; remember

what God has done for others, and what He will do

for you!

12 | Champion Life Magazine

http://www.championscentre.com/scrooge

CHaMPION FINDsEFFORTS AND COURAGE ARE NOT ENOUGH WITHOUT PURPOSE AND DIRECTION. -JOHN F. KENNEDY

PODcASTiNg

Download or subscribe to free podcast episodes from Kevin Gerald and Champions Centre on iTunes. Video streaming and MP3 downloads available on kevingerald.tv.

14 | Champion Life Magazine

Pardon Me, i’m Prospering

(Book; 4 CDs, DVD)

Don’t feel like you need to apologize for

having or wanting a blessed, prosperous

life! This 10th anniversary edition reminds

us that prosperity is a Bible word and is not

something to be ashamed of in our lives.

Tc 2011: Team church conference 2011

(16 CDs; DVD)

Team Church Conference is where lives are

drastically transformed and teams learn practi-

cal tools that build the Kingdom of God. Listen

again and again to the inspiration and wisdom

from two full days and three nights of TC 2011.

Honor Revolution

(2 CDs; DVD)

God called His people to lead a

revolution of honor—beginning

with, and flowing from the

house of God. You too, can be

a carrier and communicator of

honor: Honor up, honor down

and honor all around!

Forces That Form your Future (Book; 6 CDs, DVD, Small Group)The will of God is not "whatever happens" and "whatever happens" is not necessarily the will of God. There are nine forces at work in your life that are forming your future. In this powerful series, Kevin Gerald shows how you can choose to use these forces to your advantage and create opportunities of a lifetime.

Summer of the Ant

(6 CDs; DVD)

The wisest man, Solomon, told us

to go to the ant and learn from

its wisdom. In this series, discover

the anatomy of the ant from our

perspective: Purposeful, Partnership,

Preparation, Productive, Provision,

Persistent and Participation.

First Love

(4 CDs; DVD)

Have you lost your first love? Love

has a tendency to grow cold. This

can happen in any relationship, it

can happen in your relationship

with God, it happens with church,

or in your marriage. Falling in love

is the easy part, staying in love

is the challenge! Whatever your

situation is, return to your first love.

The Proving ground

(Book; 3 CDs)

God will require each of us to prove

our potential at one level before

being promoted to the next. In this

book (and audio series) from Kevin

Gerald, discover the nine tests that

prove your personal potential.

Every church has a culture

(Book)

You can be intentional about creating

the right God-given culture for your

church. This book is intended to help

both pastors and members engage

in the never-ending process of

creating a purposeful church culture.

253.475.6454 ext. 361888.935.6914kevingerald.tv

RESOURcE yOURSELF AT KEviNgERALD.Tv

Go online to find a wealth of resources, including free wisdom tips from Kevin

Gerald and mp3s of messages.

Fall 2011 | 15

HAVE YOU EVER SAT DOWN AT A RESTAURANT AND BEEN ASKED BY THE WAITER, “WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO ORDER?” I remember the first few times I went

to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner; they have close to 200 menu

items from salads to omelets to tacos to burgers to pizzas to pastas,

plus, three or four pages dedicated to an assortment of cheesecakes

and other luxurious desserts. (I think you get the idea.) I felt completely

overwhelmed by the selection being offered but I needed to figure out

what I wanted. If such a simple question like, “What do you want?” can

become overwhelming at a dinner table, how much more complex can

it become in life? At first glance it seems harmless enough, but it takes

some people a lifetime to figure it out.

There's a great story in the Bible about a man named Nehemiah.

Here's a quick history lesson to put Nehemiah’s passion in perspective:

In 586 BC, a king named Nebuchadnezzar invaded Judah, captured

Jerusalem, and took many of the Jewish survivors back to Babylon.

Nearly 50 years later, a Jew named Zerubbabel led the first remnant

back to Jerusalem to rebuild the city. The temple was rebuilt in 516 BC,

but the wall of Jerusalem was still in ruins by 445 BC. So Jerusalem

was defenseless against her enemies. That is when a Jewish cupbearer

(enter Nehemiah), living a world away in Babylon, got a crazy idea.

Nehemiah heard the news that the city had been destroyed and even

though he had never been there himself, he was so distraught at the

news that he wept, prayed and fasted. Then, in the second chapter of

his autobiography we see these five incredible verses in which he is

asked the very question we began with: What is it that you want?

WHAT DO YOU WANT?BY JODI GERALD-CAMERON

“In the month of Nisan in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought for him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had not been sad in his presence before; so the king asked me, "Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart." I was very much afraid, but I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?" The king said to me, "What is it you want?" Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, "If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my fathers are buried so that I can rebuild it." — Nehemiah 2:1-5

16 | Champion Life Magazine

WHAT DO YOU WANT?So, here's the deal: This king—King Artaxerxes—

was the most powerful man in the known world.

And, Nehemiah was a cupbearer—a servant—who

was given an extraordinary opportunity. And he

immediately seized that moment and communicated

exactly what he wanted. What does this story have

to do with you and me and what we want? Here's a

couple things I've learned:

The chances are high that Nehemiah had similar fears

to what we face. Things like: what if this doesn't work

out? What if I fail? What if they don't understand?

What if I mess this up? And yet, since Nehemiah knew

what he wanted he pushed past his fears and

spoke up. Nehemiah was just doing his job. The

King noticed he was a bit upset and Nehemiah

decided to be honest and put out his request. It

would have been so easy for Nehemiah to stay

comfortable in his great job working closely with a

powerful king; he probably had nice living quarters

and good food and lifelong friends all around him.

But, he was drawn to a greater and higher cause

so he pushed the fear of the unknown away and

told the king what he wanted.

Great things can be born out of disaster, great

opportunities can come out of hardships. If you've

been in a struggle just remember that the best of

things can come through the worst of times. In fact,

God is at his best when life is at its worst. Even if you

don't know the full answer to “what you want,” try to

identify something and start moving! Now is not the

time to shrink back. Ask yourself, what would you do

if money was no object? What would you do if you

knew you couldn't fail?

The initial decision-making process can be what

paralyzes people in the beginning. A person feels like,

if I get going somewhere and I'm wrong, I'll mess it up

forever. Some people can be afraid of clarity because

then it eliminates all the other options. Whatever it is

we're afraid of, if we can get even a glimpse of what

we want for our future it will give us the motivation

we need to push past the fear.

1People who know what they want push past fear.

“. . . I WAS VERY MUCH AFRAID, BUT I SAID TO THE KING . . .” — NEHEMIAH 2:2-3

2People who know what they want are ready when the

opportunity comes to tell you what they want exactly.

“THE KING SAID TO ME, "WHAT IS IT YOU WANT?" THEN I PRAYED...” — NEHEMIAH 2:4-5, 7-8 >>

Fall 2011 | 17

We'll never be sure if this prayer was a brief prayer for

courage and wisdom, or if he went away and prayed for

a length of time, but he seemed ready with an answer

fairly quickly. Here's a snapshot of what Nehemiah was

asking, and he was pretty specific so he must have

taken some time to think this through:

Step 1: Convince the king to allow me to leave his

service in order to rebuild the wall around a city that,

in years past, posed a military threat to this area.

Step 2: Convince the king to lend financial

support to the building project.

Step 3: Procure letters from the king to the

governors in the surrounding areas asking them to

provide me safe conduct along the way.

Step 4: Work out a deal with Asaph, keeper of

the king’s forest, to procure enough lumber to build

the city gates as well as a home for me.

Step 5: Ask king for the title of Governor of Judah.

Step 6: Organize and equip the inhabitants of

Jerusalem.

Step 7: Begin Construction.

Interesting isn't it? Nehemiah not only pushed past

any fear he had, but he was also able to articulate a

detailed answer when asked the question, “What is it

you want?”

It is worth the time and energy it takes to know what

you want. It's so easy to get pulled off course or get

distracted in life when we haven't taken the time to

answer this question. In fact, many of our

problems are just by-products of not

being able to answer this question.

We don't know what we

want. We've either

never defined or simply

forgotten our goals,

values, and passions

so we're out of

touch with our heart's desires. When we're reacting

to life instead of having a proactive approach to

life, we end up frustrated and disappointed instead

of happy and fulfilled. And, for a lot of people their

RESPONSIBILITIES HAVE NUMBED THEM TO THE POSSIBILITIES AROUND THEM AND THE PASSIONS WITHIN THEM. If we can take some cues from

this guy Nehemiah— he knew exactly what he wanted.

A passion had been conceived. He had been praying

and thinking about it for several days or weeks or

months while going about his everyday life until the

King posed the question. But when the opportunity

came, he was ready for it. ‘Prepare yourself and your

day will come’ is how Abraham Lincoln said it. Take the

time now to ask yourself the hard questions and be

prepared so that when your day of opportunity comes

you'll be ready!

3People who know what they want receive backing

and favor from God.

“AND THE KING GRANTED THESE REQUESTS, BECAUSE THE GRACIOUS HAND OF GOD WAS ON ME.”

— NEHEMIAH 2:8 (NLT)

God is not the author of confusion. One of the biggest

hindrances of seeing God move in our lives (in the form

of his favor) is the lack of clarity we have for our own

lives. Nehemiah prayed for favor before he even had

an audience with the king (Nehemiah 1:11). Nehemiah

hoped that the king would feel something when he

heard about the plight of the Jews in Jerusalem—it

PSALM- And he will give you the desires of your heart.- I'm going God's way, not my own way...

18 | Champion Life Magazine

was a long shot, because the king was not known to

be a compassionate man. He knew that unless God

intervened on the king's heart, there was no way in the

world that King Artaxerxes would feel sympathetic

toward Israel. After all, kings who preceded him were

the ones who tore the city apart to begin with. So,

Nehemiah prayed for God to sway the heart of the

king, and God did it! King Artaxerxes became a

primary player in the reconstruction of the wall in

Jerusalem. If God could sway the heart of that king to

finance the rebuilding of the wall around Jerusalem,

he can certainly change the heart of those who stand

between you and the purpose God has given you.

Even Jesus asked people when he walked the planet,

“What can I do for you?” I believe he still asks that

question to us today. Heaven is like the king asking

you “What do you want?”

It is God who works in you to will and to act according

to his good purpose (Philipians 2:13). When I was

growing up, what I wanted to “do” changed several

times. At one point I wanted to be a doctor, then a

nutritionist, a coach, a business owner, an athlete,

and, then a pastor. Plans changed along the way, but

looking back I can see a common thread—I always

wanted to use my voice and influence to help people.

Even though I didn't know exactly what I wanted all

the time, I figured out what I wanted in those seasons

of my life and got moving in a positive direction.

THE PRIMARY REASON MOST OF US DON'T SEE GOD MOVING IS SIMPLY BECAUSE WE AREN'T MOVING.

See, most of us want God to provide some kind

of miraculous sign before we commit . . . have you

ever been there before? But it doesn't always work

like that.

Our friend Nehemiah didn't wait for a sign. He had

the courage to put his job (and, really his life) on the

line in front of the king that day. And when he did,

God confirmed the passion with signs following. The

king didn't just write him a nice reference, the king

basically wrote him a blank check.

I've learned that more often than not, faith doesn't

follow signs, but instead, signs follow faith. It is a biblical

pattern. And, I've seen it several times in my own life.

From seventh grade on I knew I wanted to get a full ride

basketball scholarship to a large university. I not only

visualized it constantly, but it got me up in the morning

before school to practice once I got into high school, and

it kept me late after scheduled practices at night, I was

recruiting my parents and friends to rebound for me so I

could practice my shot for hours—and when no one was

available I would shoot baskets alone for hours. When

I decided to entertain the idea of attending Western

Washington University and agreed to tryout for the

team they were only offering me a partial scholarship.

By the time the tryout was over, I’d had one of the most

amazing shooting days of my entire life (before or after!)

that day, and following the tryout the coaches took me

to dinner and offered me a full ride scholarship. I acted

first in faith and signs followed.

What I'm trying to say is, just do something and

watch God follow up your faith with His favor. See if

you can answer the question for your life, “What do

you want?” If you don't have the answer just yet, don't

give up your search but also don't stop moving! Allow

God to show up in your life by doing what you can do

with what you have on your way to finding out what

it is that you want. And, once you discover what you

want I believe you’ll be able to push past fears, seize

the opportunities set before you, and live in God’s

constant and increasing favor.

Jodi Gerald-Cameron lives her life out loud. With her

experiences in the athletic world, a BA in Management

and raised in a household of strong leadership, Jodi’s

passion is to inspire wholeness in everyone she meets. Fall 2011 | 19

CHaMPIONs FOUNDatION UPDate

Habitat for Humanity (Hope)Local neighborhoods are restored through our partnership with Paint Tacoma Beautiful, Habitat for Humanity, and other organizations that assist with cleaning up blighted communities, parks and schools. By the transformation of just one home on a block, we inspire the neighbors to also take steps to improve their own homes and yards.

Seattle Homeless Outreach (Hope)Each month, our teams serve

hundreds of meals to homeless

men and women on the streets

of Seattle through our Seattle

Homeless Outreach. We offer

HOPE to the hurting each

month as well as practical

support through distribution

of donated clothing, hygiene

and first aid items.

Tree House at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital (Hope)Through our partnership with the

Tree House at Mary Bridge Children’s

Hospital our volunteers prepare and

serve meals to families who have a child

with a serious illness. The Tree House is

their temporary home away from home,

allowing them to stay near their child

during the hospitalization. Not only

are we providing home cooked meals,

we offer a temporary respite from the

stress they are undergoing.

Tacoma Rescue Mission (Hope)Once a month, our volunteers visit the Tacoma Rescue Mission, another one of our partner organizations. Meals are prepared and served to residents of the New Life program, as well as hundreds of homeless individuals and families in Tacoma, WA.

This year, we purposed to bring

HOPE, FAITH, COMPASSION

and EDUCATION to our world. We were able to partner with several local and international ministries that allowed as many

people as possible to be a part of

what we are doing. We invite you

to consider how you can become a partner with the Champions

Foundation. championsfoundation.com

20 | Champion Life Magazine

Champions Forever Home (Compassion)The Champions Forever Home is located in Johannesburg, South Africa and was dedicated to serving the needs of children who have been orphaned or abandoned due to the AIDS pandemic. Sub-Sahara Africa has an estimated 12 million children who have no adult to care for them. Compassion is also offered through our response to world-wide disasters, as we give financially to agencies on the ground that are in the best position to respond immediately to the needs of survivors.

American English Academy (Education)In Sofia, Bulgaria we partner with AEA as they serve to bring a first class education to children and teens who will one day be making the decisions that will change and improve their nation’s culture.

End Human Trafficking (Education)We partner with Shared Hope international and RapeforProfit who help us educate people about modern day slavery and human trafficking.

Together we make a difference (Faith)Faith can move mountains, and we help inspire faith by supporting Los Angeles Dream Center, Samaritans Purse, World Vision, and other faith based groups that are changing the world around them.

HOPEOur vision is to bring HOPE to our local community.

FAITHOur vision is to inspire FAITH around the world.

COMPASSIONOur vision is to deliver COMPASSION to people in need everywhere.

EDUCATIONOur vision is to promote EDUCATION and bring awareness to issues of the day.

Back to School Bash (Hope)Throughout the year we partner with Pierce County Foster Care Alliance as we host several parties and special events for foster children, such as the Back to School Bash. At this event, hundreds of foster kids not only receive all of their school supplies and back-packs, they also enjoy free haircuts, barbecue lunch, face painting, and getting to play on giant bouncy toys and playground as well.

Justice Project (Hope)Our Justice Project Team visits

widows who are without family

members to assist them. The

special projects teams clean up

overgrown yards, help organize

and clean homes and complete

minor home repairs.

Cascade Regional Blood Services (Hope)We are able to help in our community through several blood drives each year by partnering with Cascade Regional Blood Services. By setting up mobile donation stations, we make it convenient for people to donate. So many lives can be saved through this one act of generosity.

Fall 2011 | 21

Finding your Purpose in

life is not only important,

it’s necessary to enable

you to fulfill your life’s

goals and dreams. Each

of us has a Purpose in

life if it’s only to please

and serve the Father. Over the

years I’ve learned how that particular

position really should be a default position

for everyone. Your true Purpose in life will be illuminated

when you serve the Lord. Additionally, I’m thankful for

being raised in a ministry family where I learned how to

serve in the house at an early age. It actually prepared

me for my future and for “living on Purpose” for the

Lord. Discovering your Purpose does not necessarily

happen instantaneously but in reality can be a process

that evolves over time.

I discovered my real Purpose when I was in my 20’s

working as a Human Resource Director in State

Government. I had just graduated from college and

my father was pastoring a growing church. I was

constantly being pulled towards involvement in the

church, but the pulling was on my own heart and

not by my Dad. It’s funny how that works, but it truly

seemed like my mind would wander and I would think

continually about how I could help and be of service

to the Church. I had a great position in government

and a career that was becoming very promising. I was

indirectly being groomed by the department Director

TEAM PERSPECTIVES

STEVE

SHACKETT

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

22 | Champion Life Magazine

and knew that if I just stayed

long enough, my positioning

would be set. Yet every year I

stayed in government, the more

I desired to leave for ministry.

You should understand that I had

no ambition or desire to become

a platform person or speaker like my

father, but rather to help support the

vision that he had—that was what my

Purpose eventually became. Purpose

in its direct sense is defined as “the reason

for which something is done or created and

or for which something exists”. I believe that

my true Purpose became that of an enabler or

one who facilitates another’s vision. In effect,

one who makes someone else’s vision come

to pass. It’s interesting that Phil Cooke, who

is a media producer in Hollywood and has

produced films in more than 40 countries,

recently said, “Creative people in Hollywood

are a dime a dozen, but finding someone who

can actually implement that creativity [is] worth

their weight in gold”.

Finding your Purpose can also be hard work. It

takes time, consistency, and patience. It also takes

courage to live intentionally for the Purpose God

has given you. Realizing my Purpose and truly

embracing it has allowed me to “live on Purpose”

and stay the course when things get crazy and

clouded. As amazing as it may seem, things

at Champions Centre can indeed get wild

and crazy. As the Executive Director over

Operations and Human Resources, I interact

with not only the entire staff, but I oversee

the basic day-to-day operational functions of

the church at both campuses. We’re a very

busy place and it’s not unusual for most of

the staff to work long hours even late into

the night. Recognizing those challenges has

strengthened my resolve to know where

my strength comes from when situations become

difficult and the answers are not coming as fast as

I’d like them to. God’s word is truly a lamp unto my

feet and a light for my pathway (Psalm 119:105).

There is certainly fulfillment and satisfaction

when you are in your natural flow and Purpose

of what God has called you to do on this earth.

Purpose is much bigger and transcends what you

do as a job. Identifying and finding your passion

also enhances your Purpose. In taking a recent

Strength’s Test I discovered that I was an Arranger

as well as a Relator. My very best flow is in building

relationships and motivating others to action. I love

directing the orchestra! Having served in ministry

now for over 35 years, it’s continually exciting

to see others find their flow and Purpose

for living. Developing good habits and the

ability to create a daily routine and sense

of flow are vital to finding your ultimate

Purpose in life.

Let me conclude by saying that I love what

I do and if I were honest with you today,

I’d like to feel that no one else could ever

do what I do. I say that knowing that while

no one is irreplaceable, God has made me

for a special Purpose. If you’re truly where

you’re in your flow and place of Purpose,

then God has given you a peace and a

place where you function best. It’s been

said that all men have a common destiny,

yet each man must also work out his

personal salvation for himself . . . In the

last analysis, each man is responsible for

“finding himself”. Go find your Purpose

and flow in it.

There is a clear distinction

between living in your

Purpose and living your

life. I know the difference,

because I have lived most

of my life just living it, and

not living it on Purpose.

“For you died to this life and your real life is hidden with

Christ in God.” — Colossians 3:3

I know that somewhere in the core of every person

lies his or her unique, personalized Purpose. It may

lay dormant for years, like it did in me. But it is clear

that God not only wants us to live but to live the life

ROBIN

MCCOY

DIRECTOR OF GUEST

& MEMBER RELATIO

NS

Fall 2011 | 23

that he planned for us to live, on Purpose. God does not

mean for us to live mediocre, going-through-the-motions,

just-getting-by kind of lives. So, what would your life be

like if you simply threw up your hands and said, “Okay

God, I give up, I surrender—have your way in my life. I

don’t want to miss a thing! I want everything in this life

that you want for me and I will do whatever you say, go

wherever you tell me to go, do whatever you want me to

do. I am yours, heart and soul.”?

This was and is my cry to God. Surrender! Give it up! Give

it all up and be willing (now this is something God can

work with)!

For everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank after rank of angels – everything got started in him and finds its purpose in him. — Colossians 1:16 (MSG)

Not too long ago I began to aggressively go after whatever

plan and Purpose God has for me. The first thing I can tell

you is if you do this, get ready to get really uncomfortable, because God is going to shake you up. I had never

thought that I would be in full time ministry, and yet,

I am. I had never thought I would pray all the

time and in front of other people, and yet I do.

I had never thought I would go visit people

in the hospital, but I find that at times I am

compelled to go. Your Purpose just may lie in

your “I will never . . . ”.

I have been on staff at Champions Centre

for over four years now. This may not seem

like a big deal to you, but it is a big deal

to me. Prior to coming on staff, the longest

I had ever been at any one company was

four years. And with most companies

only one year. Each new position offered

promotion and more money. I was moving

up in my field, creating great contacts and

building a great customer base that would

be attractive to any employer. I was all

about success, money, position and being

valued by the standards that society has

deemed valuable. Your Purpose is not

in your job, your position or your title . . .

Although it may be a part of the plan, it is

not your Purpose.

One thing that I loved was networking. I loved

connecting people. Who knew this was the seed of

God’s Purpose in my life. Yet, I was stressed, overworked,

had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, I didn’t sleep

well because I was always worried about business and

I knew I did not want to be at the end of my life (which

was probably going to be shortened by stress) with

regrets, having never made a difference . . . I did not just

want to exist.

“For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. — Ephesians 2:10 (AMP)

At the end of your life, what will others say about you?

What do you want God to say to you? At some point, you

will ask these questions. Begin with the end in mind, what

do you want to do with this one miraculous life God has

given you?

I love that God does not just put us in one place and leave

us there. I get bored very easily—and God knows that.

He has so much more for us than we can ever imagine.

I came on staff at Champions Centre to help connect

people to the life of the church . . . But there is more. God

is continually stretching me, working in me, building me

and calling me to more.

When you allow God to do whatever He wants, He ignites

your potential and Purpose and He blesses you with more

than you could have ever dreamed of.

Not only do I get to do what I love (and that really would

have been enough), I find that I am more “others”-minded.

I find that God puts people in my path and on my heart

daily and I get to encourage them and speak words of life

into them. I get to see the joy in others as they begin to live

out their God-Purposed life. I get to live a full on, all out,

exciting, vibrant life and I get to see how very much God

loves all of us—all the time! How absolutely cool is that?

So, if you are asking yourself, “Have I missed it? Is it too late

to do what I was put here on earth to do? Do I have the

energy, the stamina, the fight and focus left in me to great

things for God?” I am here to tell you that it is never to late!

God has placed you and me on the earth at this specific

time for a Purpose and His Purpose will prevail.

“I can't tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn't fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren't small, but you're living them in a small way. I'm speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively! — 2 Corinthians 6:11-13

24 | Champion Life Magazine

If you grew up going to

youth camp with me, you’ll

recognize the picture above.

It’s the main meeting hall at Camp

Waskowitz, in the mountains of Washington.

It is the very building where I felt God call me into ministry,

during our services where we converted it from the old

rundown building that it is into our “auditorium” for the

week. That building was the site of some of my great

moments with God.

That building was the birthplace of my desire for ministry.

Funny thing: this year marks ten years I’ve been in full time

ministry. I can’t believe it, but I already have my first decade

under my belt. It’s been amazing to see how my own

personal Purpose has come alive as I’ve surrendered my life

to something bigger—the cause of Jesus and His Church.

Recently in Church, we were worshipping and I felt God

tell me that if I wanted my next ten years to be greater

than my first ten, I needed to return to the basics I had

when I first started. I’ve often heard it said “what got

you here won’t take you there” (and there is some truth

in this statement). However, I’ve seen people move on

from certain, non-negotiable things too quickly, as their

Purpose begins to unfold. Often they seem small or

insignificant, but in reality they are some of the strongest

and most important stones in our foundation.

This is the myth of progress: The small things that got

us started are unimportant. My opinion is that it is the

small, first things in life that are the foundation for how

God wants to build our lives. Just as a house is built on a

foundation laid first, our lives are built on the foundation

of what got us started.

Listen to what is written to the church in Ephesus in

Revelation 2, “Yet I hold this against you: You have

forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you

have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.”

So I started asking myself, “What got me started?” Why

did I get involved in ministry in the first place? Why did I

sense that this was part of my Purpose? Here’s what

I came up with:

• A desire to keep my relationship with God red hot.

• Giving honor and respect to every opportunity

that came my way, not treating it lightly.

• Being faithful to serve in my church week in and

week out, even the weeks I didn’t feel it.

• A humility to receive from mentors, and realize I

couldn’t get there on my own.

I’ve recognized that the lure of greater things in life is a

constant undertow that can pull me under—it’s strong,

convincing, and compelling. To think that we somehow

graduate from the simple, but important things that

got us started is a lie we tell ourselves in order to feel

important and significant. It sounds great at first. And

yes, there are things in life that you will move beyond

as your responsibilities increase. But to get far from the

basics is the facade of cold love.

My journey in ministry began with serving in church

every weekend. Sure, I was 12, and my “ministry” involved

doing name tags at the kids check-in counter, probably

somewhat against my will, since my parents were the

team leaders. But serving in church was something I was

raised on . . . it was a non-negotiable. It was in church

that I discovered my gifts, put them to use, got my start

in ministry, met my wife, met my life’s mentors . . . the list

goes on—all because the DNA of my first love.

The farther you get from first things, the farther you will

get from your first love.

Going back to that youth camp where I felt called into

ministry, I told my Pastor at the end of the service, “I

want to work at Champions Centre, even if it means

vacuuming the floors.” I pray this heart never leaves me.

If you haven’t done this in a while, I challenge you to stop

and ask yourself this question: What got me started in

my Purpose? What are the small, seemingly insignificant

things that opened up the door to something bigger

in my life? Once you can answer that question, make a

commitment to never let those foundation stones be far

from your mind and life.

BRANDON

STEWART

CHAMPION LIFE

GROUPS DIRECTOR

Fall 2011 | 25

Larry and I were raised in Christian homes and have known Jesus as our savior most of our lives. Subsequently, we were involved in church

related activities all of our early years

(singing in choirs, playing instruments, etc.). Larry’s

dad was a pastor of one church for 55 years in

Louisiana. It is this type of legacy that we come from.

Our bent toward volunteering and worship is almost

automatic. As a result our entire family has been

involved in the church as well.

We are blessed with five children, fourteen

grandchildren and one great-grandson. All of the

children and grandchildren of age, are saved and

are involved in ministry of the churches they attend.

Peoples Church/Champions Centre has been a place

to continue this legacy of service to God’s house.

Early in 1974, my husband and I started attending

Peoples Church with Pastor Shackett and Larry

served as a board member and usher. The kids were

involved in youth groups and choir. Ironically or not,

all of them met their spouses in church.

Champions Centre has been a driving force in

our lives with incredible teaching by Pastors Kevin

and Sheila Gerald. We were captivated by Pastor

Kevin’s clear vision and wisdom shown during the

transition of the merger. It was a “no brainer” that

he was indeed the pastor we were looking for once

he communicated his blueprint for the merger. The

weekly messages and books are truly an inspiration

to us as a family.

Here are just a couple examples from our family how

the legacy continues to live on:

ReaL LIFe CHaMPIONs

Larry and Billie Norris and Family

Champions Centre has been a driving force in our lives with incredible teaching by Pastors Kevin and Sheila

26 | Champion Life Magazine

We are so blessed to be members of the Champions Centre family to share and feel the love shared back to us

Mark and Cynthia

Cronkite (our daughter

and son-in-law) got

involved early on

in the prayer team

leading the new

Christians into their new walk with the Lord. Cynthia

served in choir, and Jesus of Nazareth and Scrooge

The Musical Productions in make up, construction,

set development and art work. They currently are

involved with Celebrate Recovery and pastoral care

team providing meals for families who are in crisis.

Jeff and Demetria Zuniga (daughter and son-in-

law) were involved in the choir and orchestra. Later

Demetria moved to the Children’s department

where she still serves. Jeff serves in God’s Gang

(elementary age kids) with the sound and media.

Their children also assist them in this vital ministry.

We are so blessed to be members of the

Champions Centre family to share and feel the love

shared back to us. We do some traveling around

the states and end up seeing what other churches

are doing. Well, nothing comes close to the

powerful worship, spirit of excellence! It feels so

good to come home to Champions Centre where

we have such outstanding volunteers, staff and

leadership in Pastor Kevin and Sheila.

Fall 2011 | 27

It’s one thing to find your purpose, and it’s another thing to fulfill your

purpose.

Think about it. We can’t get an education or diploma by starting to go

to school: we get it by continuing to go to school. And it’s one thing

to meet and marry the love of your life, but even greater to continue

working to keep that marriage successful in the years that follow. It’s

not what we start that matters, it’s what we continue . . .

As a believer, if you want to experience God’s best, and enjoy a God-

empowered life, there are some things that you should start and

never stop. These are things that you continue in day after day, week

after week, month after month, and year after year in order to see

continued success.

The Bible teaches us that we are called to be people who:

continue in our love for god.Let’s be people who are committed to never lose our passion to

honor and serve God.

“Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love . . .

Repent and do the things you did at first.” — Revelation 2:4-5 NIV

continue in a life of confidence and faith.Life isn’t always easy. It’s not always understandable. But let’s

determine to be people of faith. Let’s be people who don’t

allow circumstances to keep us from continuing a life of faith

and confidence.

“Say this: “God, you're my refuge. I trust in you and I'm safe!"

— Psalm 91:2 MSG

continue connecting and being involved in church life.“Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and

I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” — Psalms 23:6 NIV

When David wrote this psalm, he was referencing his power to

choose what he will be continuing the rest of his life! Choosing to

stay committed to God’s house is key to a life of purpose.

continue when others don’t.“Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but

Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted

them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.”

—Acts 15:37-38 NIV

Chances are that not everyone in your world will be a good influence as

you pursue a life for God. Stay focused on your purpose and the God

who walks alongside you even when others may fall away. Remember,

It's not what we start that matters, it's what we continue—Let's be

people who continue!

k.WISETo Be Continued . . .

champion Find:To Be Continued...

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28 | Champion Life Magazine

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