SWO Application 2008 Part 2..:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Spiritual Growth
1. Describe how you became a Christian and the steps of growth in your spiritual life.
Well, I was one of those kids who grew up in church. I was blessed to have parents that thought church and God was important, and taught me about God. From seven months old all the way to my senior year of high school I was in the same church, Westside Baptist in ..:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Fort Pierce Florida, under the same pastor. At around 5 years old, I told my parents I wanted to ask Jesus into my heart. However, it wasn't until about 11 or 12, right before I joined the youth group that I went forward, wanting to be baptized. It was then that I fully understood that God really wanted to forgive my sins and have a relationship with me. However, even though I understood that, I didn't really take the situation seriously until I was an upperclassman in high school. At that time I grew very close to God. There was a lot going on with my family, and I received all my strength and peace from my relationship with Him. Between being a member at Westside, and being a member now at First Baptist in High Springs, I was away at college for a year in Virginia. This was my dark time. Right before I left for school my relationship with my mother wasn't good. I tried to compensate I suppose, by being in a serious relationship with a boyfriend. I was losing focus, and the combination of all my circumstances was beginning to wear me down. College drug me further down. I continued to have relationship problems, because I wouldn't turn to the one whom I know could resolve everything. I had to learn the hard way, and I began to have major problems with authority. I was finally out from under my mothers thumb, as well as from under my boyfriend's unhealthy influence. I think it was midway through the year when I decided I wanted to come home, and right before I came home I hit my breaking point. I asked God to forgive me for trying out all my other options to cope before realizing He was better than any of them. I asked Him to give me the strength to get back on track, and guidance to give my life back over to Him. Since that point, my path has been a determined one to conform to the image of Christ, seek out His will and truly hear out His calling for my life. I want to continue to become like Him, so that I can know Him better and better.
2. At this time in your life what do you feel God is preparing you to do?
I know God has been preparing me to share what I've learned through my experiences and my spiritual growth. With all the good and the rough times, God has been revealing parts of His plan for me. I feel that God has been revealing those things to me, and making me confident to talk about them. I can begin using what I learned in the past to relate to others and help bring them closer to God as they look at how He worked, and is working, in my life.
3. What is your response to the following authority relationships?
A. Parents
Parents have a say over your life. For me, as a teen, it took a long time to accept and respect this, but especially being a girl, I am biblically supposed to be under my father's authority until I am married and under my husband's authority. Luckily, I grew up with parents who also grew up in church and were Christians; however, if the situation had been different, they still would have deserved my respect as my authority.
B. Employers
Employers should also have full respect and obedience as an authority. But, if I was ever asked to do something that would compromise my faith, or beliefs, I would have to back down from the task, because God is my ultimate authority, and will be the only one judging me in the end. (I John 2:27) The consequences of backing down from that task might be difficult, but if I was truly following God, His blessings for my obedience would surely compensate in some way.
C. Government Officials
Government officials are similar to employers as authority figures in my life, only more important on a worldly basis. The bible wants us to obey the laws of the land, which our government officials put in place and enforce. However, as God's people, we must decide what Government officials would uphold our morals and beliefs the best. (II Corinthians 3:6)
D. SWO Leadership
The SWO leadership, as far as I know, is running the camp based on how
God leads them. Their authority should be respected, and it is much easier to do so because we would all share goals for SWO under the same authority…God. As fellow Christians however, we should hold each other accountable for their actions, no matter what their position is. If I did feel led to question the actions of anyone at SWO, it would be prayerfully taken into consideration on how and when to deal with any such situation.
4. How do you study the Word of God? Do you study daily? What are you learning right now and how is it being applied in your life?
I am not currently in a devotional, or any organized study curriculum. I do strive to read God's word daily. I pray before I open my bible and God always leads me to what I need to read. Since last summer, I've also been praying for God to prepare me for working at SWO, if He wills it anyhow. For awhile now I've been learning about relationships. I'm also reading a book called Hiding from Love by Dr. John Townsend, which is all about relationships. This has applied in my life because I've been gradually mending my broken relationship with my mother. We've come a long way, but only because of the strength God has given me and the faith I had to have to let Him guide me through the situation.
I've also been recently learning about complete faith. I've been known as a "worrier", and I've been convicted of not having faith to let go of what I hold onto so that God can bless me and fulfill His promises to me. What I'm holding onto is control, my plans, knowing the details, and having things all laid out my way. I've been learning that you have to leave wiggle room in your life for God and His will, and have faith in Him to bless you in the end.
5. What has been your single largest battle with sin since you became a believer>? How have you sought accountability in this area?
I would have to say that my single largest battle with sin since I became a believer has been authority. A close tie would have to be impure relationships, of which, I believe, is a result of my battle with authority. Looking at it on a large scale, I didn't used to fear God; therefore I didn't give Him proper authority over my life. If God didn't have authority, how could anyone else? Being where I'm at now, I've looked to close adult family members, and church members as authority figures, and gone to them for spiritual advice. Respecting what they say has helped me regain my respect for authority in the world, as well as God's authority. I've realized that authority is important, and I actively seek it.
Impure relationships were also a huge issue. I'm talking about the boyfriend/girlfriend type of relationship. I think this is where I sought out acceptance and love during the time I really turned my back on God, as well as when things at home were a little crazy. For awhile, just feeling ashamed kept me accountable, but I eventually had to fully forgive myself, so I could then accept God's forgiveness. I am thankful that I can seek out God to fulfill what I used to search for in other people. One thing began to keep me accountable here, and now, is God revealing part of His calling for my life. When I joined First Baptist I immediately began to get to know the youth. I'm really close to the girls, and I want them to be able to see where I came from and who I am now. They know it's something I've struggled with, even recently, but because they know I take my actions in this area seriously, as well as their actions we can hold each other accountable. I want my testimony to mean something to them. God is also leading me to NOT be in a "romantic" relationship right now. I respect this, and he has blessed me with amazing and Godly friends
6. What has been the biggest area of growth in your life—spiritually – in the last year?
I think that my biggest area of growth has been first what I've struggled with most (5), but also faith. Because holding onto all those things I struggled with was showing my lack of faith in God to not give me something better in return. I want to give up my whole life to God, and doing that takes faith that I only thought I had. When I realized it was the simple act of holding on that showed my lack of faith, and not really what I was holding onto, then it made me begin to think about faith more seriously.
7. Are you currently involved in discipling anyone?
I'm not specifically discipling anyone specific. Working with the youth at First Baptist, my main group of friends have become some of the high school seniors who are about to be where I was a couple years ago. However, they are all are spiritually in a better place than I was at that point. We are all close, and me being a little older, they look up to me, and for them being so spiritually mature for their age, I look up to them. Through this combination, we sort of disciple each other. With my spiritual knowledge now, I can look back and tell them how it would have helped in my experiences…the ones they are about to experience. They encourage me spiritually because I admire their passion for knowing God at their age.
8. Why do you want to work at Snowbird?
First and foremost, I want to work at SWO because God has called me to do so. I've been in prayer since last summer for Him to prepare me for such a job, and I've prayed over this application numerous times, asking for Him to guide me, and telling Him that I want to obey where He is calling me.
Aside from that, I think the camp experience is amazing, and it would be an honor to be a part of what God is doing there, and share what God has done in my life to all the campers that attend for SWO8, so that God can use me to plant seeds within them.
9. What do you feel would be the most difficult challenge if you are accepted?
Although I know I'd be excited to work there 24/7, the sheer physical aspect of not getting much sleep will eventually have its toll on me. Even chaperoning last summer wore me out, and you put so much more energy in as staff….for 12 straight weeks. God will give me the energy and passion to make it through though.
Doctrine
1. Explain in detail, using scripture, the following doctrinal topics:
A. Salvation.
John 3:16. God sent His son, who is our salvation, and if we receive Him, we will in turn receive eternal life. To accept this salvation, we must confess our sins and believe that Jesus is in fact salvation (Romans 10:9, John 5:24). The gift of salvation is available for anyone who believes (Romans 10:13 John 1:12). (I Peter 1:18-19)
B. Regeneration
Regeneration is the rebirth and renewal done by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5), and through this is the only way to the kingdom of heaven (John 3).
C. Justification
Justification is made possible in redemption and explains the shedding of God's blood for the forgiveness of our sin, and it is this blood only that can declare us worthy of being sanctified. (Matthew 26:28, Psalms 130, Romans 3:24).
D. Sanctification
Through justification, we can then become sanctified, or "set aside" for God's workmanship. We can then start to fulfill God's will in our lives. (Ephesians 2:8-10).
E. Imputation of
1) Sin:
The creation, in Genesis can explain this because when Adam and Eve ate the fruit on the tree, they became sinners, and they were charged with sin, that we in turn inherited.
2) Righteousness:
God is the one who declared us righteous, and through following Him, with faith, we can all be righteous. (Romans 4:6-13) Righteousness comes from justification. (Romans 3:21-24)
F. Glorification
If we are of God, then "the old is gone" and "the new has come." (2 Corinthians 3:13-18, 5:16-21—emphasis on verse 17) (Romans 8:29)
2. What role does the work of Christ on the cross play in each of these?
A. Salvation
Salvation is Jesus on the Cross, and because Jesus is salvation, its promise is carried out on the cross for all those who choose to believe. (Romans 5:8)
B. Regeneration
If regeneration is the only way into the kingdom of heaven, and is only found through the belief of Christ as salvation, He on the cross is the only way to initiate any of this. (Matthew 10:38, Ephesians 3:14-16)
C. Justification
It's the shedding of God's blood…on the cross…that forgives sin. So, if there was not shedding of blood…on the cross…there would be no forgiveness of sin. (Romans 5:9, Romans 3: 25-26)
D. Sanctification
Without Christ dying on the cross we would have no opportunity to become sanctified, thus not allowing Him to fulfill His promises to us, through the works we are set aside to do. (Romans 3:25-26)
E. Imputation of
1) Sin:
Because God had to charge His people with sin, He had to send His son to die on the cross to forgive them, as well as the rest of the future of mankind. (Ephesians 3:14-16, Philippians 3:17-21)
2) Righteousness:
1 Peter 2:24-25. Because Jesus died on the cross, we are able to die to sin, and live for righteousness. (Romans 3:25-26)
F. Glorification
The promise of salvation, issued by the act of Jesus on the cross, is to make new the old. If there was no cross, there could be no renewal. (I Peter 3:18)
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3. List and describe the work of the Holy Spirit in each of these
A. Salvation
It is the Holy Spirit that draws us near to God to be saved. It's what "moves" in us to come to be saved. (John 3:5-7)
B. Regeneration
The Holy Spirit is what actually renews us when we accept salvation. (Acts 1:5)
C. Justification
The Holy Spirit works in us constantly with the ongoing process of Justification, through obedience, because we always need to repent our sins. (John 6:7-11)
D. Sanctification
This is the result of all the work of the Holy Spirit within us. After we allow the Holy Spirit to move us, we can then become "set aside"—the Holy Spirit then continues to guide us where God wants us to go. (Acts 2:4, I John 2:27)
E. Imputation of
1) Sin:
Through God charging his people with sin in the beginning, the Holy Spirit was needed to guide us back to salvation. (Romans 8:9-11)
2) Righteousness:
The Holy Spirit gives us faith through which we become righteous and are then able to yield, by obedience, the direction of the Holy Spirit, i.e. Good works. (Ephesians 5:18)
F. Glorification
The ultimate outcome of the working of the Holy Spirit is making the man completely new, in the image of Christ. (Romans 8:9-11, II Corinthians 3:18)
4. Explain the function of the church and what our responsibilities are in terms of seeking and maintaining community. Are we scripturally accountable to one another for intercession, accountability, and development of real relationships? Explain.
Like explained in the bible, I believe that the church should at like a "body", unified under the belief of God as our savior, and the willingness and wanting to do God's work. I do believe that we are supposed to tell fellow believers if they are doing wrong and hold them accountable. Galatians 6 explains this. In Ezekiel 3:18-19, we are told to tell people of any evil doings, or else their "blood" will be on our hands and we will be held accountable. The same is explained in Ezekiel 33:6. I also believe God intended us to have intimate relationships with other people and believers. In this, I mean loving others how God loves us and to really know one another. John 13 shows this when Jesus, the teacher, bends down to wash His disciples' feet. John 15, where it talks about the branches and the vines also shows the intimacy of our relationship with God that should be extended to others. He also commands here to "love one another as I have loved you."
5. Explain the biblical mandate for:
A) Baptism
In Matthew 28:19-20, God commands us in his great commission to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the son, and of the Holy Spirit." We do this and hold it with such importance because God commanded it.
B) Communion
Communion was shared with us by Jesus (Matthew 26:26-27) so that we can remember his body (bread) and his blood (wine) and what it has done for us. Communion in 1 Corinthians 11:20-34, is deemed as a sin against God unless we are participating in a worthy manner and have searched ourselves before eating and drinking in the remembrance of Christ. We also take part in communion because Jesus told us to take part in it to remember Him and what His death meant for us.
Relationships
1. In your own word, explain your view of marriage, and premarital relationships.
I believe that a marriage should be biblical, and that God will bring one man and one woman together in his own perfect timing. I think it is something to be seriously prayed over and something in which to completely seek out God's will. I have also learned that premarital relationships are not something to be taken lightly. I think that both marital, and premarital, "guy-girl romantic" relationships should both be focused and centered on God, and should only be entered into if God leads both people to that relationship.
2. What guidelines do you have for relationships outside of marriage?
I have been learning, in some aspects the hard way, about guidelines for premarital relationships, as well as any other relationship outside of marriage. For any such guy-girl romantic relationship, if both are truly focused on God within the relationship, both will be convicted of what guidelines to follow, and you should listen and obey what God tells you. Also, I feel like these guidelines are different for each relationship, but whatever guidelines God leads you to obey, you should make them principles to live by in that relationship. You should never second guess what God tells you, or let someone else talk you out of that either, no matter what kind of relationship it is.
3. What is your view/opinion of dating?
I believe, as a Christian, that if you do choose to date, it should only be done between other believers. You want to be equally yoked with whoever could be a possible spouse, and I believe that's what the mindset should be going into any dating relationship. And as always, if God tells you not to date, then don't date. I have been in a dating relationship recently that ended in an unexpected manner, and now God is telling me not to worry about dating. Rather that I should just be patient, and leave it in His hands for sometime in the future.
Apologetics
1. Give proofs for the existence of God. Do not use the Bible.
I have a few proofs for the existence of God without using the Bible. One is that I know in my heart God exists, because I asked Him to be there. Another is creation. Fossil history backs up a six day creation (the way the layers of fossils are found—plants, then animals, etc.), of which is common knowledge in the field of science. My favorite and most personal proof of God's existence is nature. When I lived down in south Florida I used to surf a lot. Being alone, way out in the ocean, early in the morning, with all the sounds of the ocean really makes you feel to something bigger than all of us….God. Also, seeing all the stars in a huge night sky…I can only think that someone as mighty as God could have put them there. Most importantly, a proof of God's existence is faith. People like to believe, and therefore have faith. If there was no faith, then people wouldn't believe in anything, which would only yield to the assumption that there was no God. But, faith exists, thus, so does God.
2. With Christianity holding such strong claims of exclusivity, there isn't any other way to know God personally. How can we be sure that out of all the religions in the world, we are right?
John 4:16 "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Christianity is right because we can have a personal relationship with God who hears and answers every prayer (John 14:14), and blesses us when we give our lives completely up to him. He makes, and fulfills His promises to His children.
3. How could God allow so much evil into the world?
God can allow so much evil into the world because He is just. He judges everyone for their own chosen actions. In revelation 20, it talks about God judging souls in the end. Those who worshiped and praised God were able to reign with Him. It's not His job to "allow" the evil in…we create it, and he judges. Because He is just, He lets us choose our actions, but it's up to us to pass His judgment.
4. Can we be sure the Bible is 100% true? Explain.
II Timothy 2:16 "Avoid Godless chatter, b/c those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly."
I believe this shows the bible is 100% true because if we don't indulge ourselves in the world then we can become more Christlike and develop a more intimate relationship with God. The blessings and faith that follow show its truth. It is also true, because God said that through it we are sanctified. (Daniel 10:21, John 17:17)
5. What is your purpose? Explain.
I'm not sure if I've figured out the specific purpose for my entire life, but as God's people we are to conform to His image so that we can show others His love in order to win them over to salvation.
Just recently God has called me to really use all my experiences to reach out to youth, especially youth girls. God has slightly shown me a possible future in ministry concerning youth, but I'm still seeking His exact guidance. But the verse Ephesians 3:7 really touched me for this purpose. "I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power." This verse encourages me to use my experiences to show God's grace in my life. Its God's strength and will that drive what I want to do.