Testimonies (August 07)

One-on-One Discipleship

"The story starts out with me telling you I'm a sinner. I was talking with Jeff one day (Jeff is my campus staff worker at Shippensburg). We were talking about my father. My father left when I was six - he wasn't the greatest dad... he treated my mom pretty poorly. Jeff was asking me about my dad. My dad was trying to get in touch with me. I wasn't up for that... I wouldn't call my dad. He'd invite me to go see him, and I didn't want to do that. Jeff asked me, 'Have you forgiven your dad for what he's done in the past?' I said 'Sure, of course I've forgiven my dad.' He asked me that question again in the following weeks. 'Are you sure you've forgiven your dad?' I started coming to the realization that maybe there were things that I hadn't looked at. Maybe I was punishing my dad for what he'd done in the past? I realized that's what was going on. I was blind to that fact for a very long time. Jeff pointed that out. This past summer, my dad invited me to go see him, and I did. That happened because I saw the truth of the situation that I am a sinner, and I was wrong."

-Matt, Shippensburg University

Dying to Selfishness

"Thankfully, God has been showing me how self-absorbed I am and has been leading me to die to my selfishness.  We have studied Matthew over the course of the internship, and Matthew 6:19-21 says: 'Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.'  I realized that I have been living as though my life ends here on earth.  I feel tempted to protect my time and my reputation because I'm not trusting that my heavenly life is more significant.  And furthermore, the things I think are mine are really God's." -Anne, DiscipleMakers Summer Intern from Shippensburg University

Missions Opportunities

"Our group from the Penn State DiscipleMakers Christian Fellowship had the opportunity to labor alongside one another as well as an army of retirees at Wycliffe Bible Translators headquarters in Orlando, FL.  These retirees have given their entire lives to serving the Lord.  We also spent time each day reading Scripture, discussing it, and applying it to our lives.  In doing so our group grew in unity with the Lord as the Scriptures molded our hearts; we grew in unity with one another as we labored side by side and sought to serve one another; and we also gained unity with the full time volunteers as we became one in spirit and purpose, pursuing the vision of spreading the gospel through Bible translation."- Jen, Campus Staff Worker at PSU

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