We have all been influenced in our God-walk by others. I like to call them Cloud of Witnesses. That’s what Paul called them in the book of Hebrews. Legacy is important. Let’s celebrate it.
This project is for those who attend or attended Covenant Presbyterian Church in Palm Bay, Florida, although we would love to hear your faith story as well. Just submit your personal testimony to bjack2723@aol.com and I will consider including it in the book to be published in August 2016.
Guidelines and example:
MY PERSONAL CLOUD OF WITNESSES TESTIMONY
YOUR NAME________________________________
YOUR FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE OR LIFE VERSE:
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
____________________________________________
PARARAPH ONE:
The person who influence (d) (s) my faith walk, loving me in a special way so that I have abundant life through Christ (was) (is) my (friend, grandmother, pastor, acquaintance, Bible study leader, or other
Influential person) named _________________(optional)
PARAGRAPH TWO:
Briefly tell how this person witnessed the love of Jesus, your necessity for salvation, or strengthened your faith so that you took action, became a believer, or changed in some way.
PARAGRAPH THREE:
Which fruit of the Holy Spirit’s presence best applies to this person’s witness to you? ( love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control) Why do you honor this person who inspired you?
PARAGRAPH FOUR:
How has this person’s witness to you affected your life? Why should this testimony be shared to the benefit of others, and why are you changed because this person is (was) in your life? Do you have an attitude of gratitude for what this witness did for you, or how this person influenced you for the better?
PARAGRAPH FIVE:
How have you become a minister to others through your faith in Jesus Christ? How have you too become part of the “Cloud of Witnesses” as evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit as He guides your life? As a result of this self-reflection, share how this story will bless others and needs to be told.
CLOUD OF WITNESSES BOOK PROJECT
COVENANT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
PALM BAY AND MELBOURNE BEACH
WHAT: a book of compiled stories to the glory of The Holy Spirit’s use of His servants to witness to us.
WHO: Covenant believers who reflect on those who have influenced their faith walk. Godincidences
occur, where the Holy Spirit uses us and others to influence believers’ faith
WHEN: deadline for entries, July 1, 2016 to be published by September 1, 2016
WHY:
- Jonathan Culley’s sermon on April 24
- The baptism of an international student that day, a direct result of prayer and ministry to him
- The influence of the Ministry Fair so we can share the faith with others
- The sermon series Forty Days of Passion and Purpose.
- That are all ministers of the gospel.
- The stories and testimonies of others can be an inspiration to us in the Christian walk.
HOW: Submit your story according to the outline presented before the deadline of July 1, 2016.
Follow the guidelines.
RESULT:
- a book of inspiration
- an opportunity to self-reflect with thanksgiving to others who have shared the faith with us
- a testimony of The Holy Spirit’s work among us
- Book profits will go to Faith Promise as a witness of the Holy Spirit’s work in Global Missions projects we sponsor.
- Books will be for sale at Covenant (bought at considerable discount)
- book will be available at com. and at bettyjackson.net. All royalties will be paid to Global Missions.
GUIDELINES:
- That Godincidences occur, where the Holy Spirit uses us and others to influence believers’ faith
- That this book is not to glorify individuals, but to glorify His Name. Show only the relationship. Use only the person’s first name, or a pseudonym.
- That each story needs to be less than 500 words, single- spaced, Times New Roman 12 pt. font.
- This will be sent to Betty Jackson as a Word Document (not PDF) by email or submitted as a personal copy to her by the deadline of July 15, 2016. Email address: bjack2723@aol.com with the subject line saying Cloud of Witnesses.
- That you will get your picture taken so people can associate your name and your story with you.
Dates will be announced. NO PICTURES of other people you mention in your testimony or other photos of yourself. They have to be a certain size and pixel strength. No exceptions.
- That Betty Jackson may edit your entry for margins, length, grammatical inaccuracies, or inclusion.
- Open to members, attenders, former members, children/adults, all who testify to Jesus as Lord.
MY PERSONAL TESTIMONY: BETTY JACKSON
Pastor Al was my pastor during my teen years. He was my spiritual hero, and I still fondly remember a particular sermon which influenced my entire Christian walk.
This sermon was called “Saints in the Grandstands” and used several texts from Paul’s writings about the church. He urged us to be on the playing field, not just in the stands watching the game, and that Christ would build His church either with us or without us, and nothing would stop the church’s influence.
Because of this sermon, I have actively embraced the Christian life, knowing that when I am using the gifts God gave me for Him is the best way to use my life, and that I can contribute to the growth of the faith of others because I am so grateful for what Jesus has done for me.
Pastor Al helped each of us to find our potential gifts, to develop them, and to use them in service to others. I will be forever grateful to him that he cared enough for each of us, kids and adults alike, to bring us to the point where we each found a niche of service, whether it was playing the piano for youth group,
making cookies for a meeting, giving invitations to other people to join us, sending us as delegates to county-wide youth conventions or meetings, going on missions trips or caravanning during the summer, and writing articles for the church newspaper. I did all of these things as a high schooler, and have used the skills I developed and my talents to serve Christ’s church ever since.
Pastor Al showed me love in caring about others, the joy of service behind the scenes without recognition, the peace of finding a calling and mission worth living for, patience in learning new skills and failing sometimes, kindness and encouragement, faithfulness in studying the scriptures and knowing the foundations of the faith, gentleness with us new believers when we had questions or doubts, and self-control, teaching us discipline and the importance of Timothy’s verse in our lives.
I am sure Pastor Al was put into my life at a formative time so that I could learn by example, and know that he would be the first one to humbly suggest he had faults, but I did not see those, or ignored them, because I knew he loved the Lord and served Him as best he could.
He inspired me to do the same. I do not serve to find favor with God. He indeed will build His church without me and my attempts, but I witness to Christ as the center of my life and never want to just watch the game from the grandstands, but to be in the race, on the team, and win others to Christ. Because I ran the race well, used my talents, and exhibited my all-in attitude for the purpose of serving my Lord with my best efforts always, I’ve followed my faith hero’s steps and I’m thankful he is among my cloud of witnesses where the Holy Spirit has put him in my life.
About the Author
