Recent Testimony

Recently I was asked to give a five-minute testimony at church. This is what I shared. 

Fifteen years ago when Jason and I were married, I had a desire of continuing my education and going back to college. After we began having our children, I let that desire fade away. I figured that there was no way I could go back to college with a family.

As I grew in my walk with Christ and began to hear His voice more clearly, I began having regular dreams in the night of being back in college. The desire to continue my education began to return. However, I had no idea how it would all work out or what I specifically wanted to learn.

My children began attending West River Head Start when the Beulah center was opened. One of the priorities of the program is to involve families. Over the years, I became a trained parent volunteer and classroom substitute. I served on Policy Council for three years in several leadership roles including chairperson. I became a member of the North Dakota Head Start Association as well as the Region VIII Head Start Association where my voice made a difference.

My passion for the education of young children grew. My passion for seeing these children saved and discipled also grew. My daily intercession went deeper as I began to intercede for the children of North Dakota to know Christ. 

I began to pray and seek His face about taking the next step and becoming a teacher assistant in the classroom. This was the direction He was leading me. 

I enrolled in my online college courses with United Tribes Technical College the fall of 2010. I was also hired as the Teacher Assistant a the Beulah center with West River Head Start. I received more training and gained more experience which carried me through the next several years of my life. Three months later, we moved to Underwood to pastor the Assemblies of God church there. 

I continued my college courses online and began to seek God on how I could begin to effectively minister to children. 

I began taking the courses for the Supernatural School of Children's Ministry through Kids In Ministry International in 2011 and I graduated October of 2012. I launched a church plant for children called Kids Aflame PowerClub which is still continuing to impact McLean County today. 

After praying and seeking His face for direction for our family, we decided to move back to our house in Beulah. When visiting with Eunice Sayler at Job Service, she mentioned that the Hazen Preschool was hiring a Teacher/Director. I smiled and said I would think about it. I disqualified myself and determined that I was not qualified for the position. 

After we finished moving back to Beulah, I began to look harder for employment. Eunice reminded me about the position at Hazen Preschool. I smiled and said I would think about it. Again, I disqualified myself and looked into other employment opportunities. 

Again, I went into Job Service in Beulah in desperation needing to find income. She asked me to take an application for the Hazen Preschool and let them know I was interested in the position. I filled out the application completely and filed it away. I disqualified myself due to my lack of experience and education. I was not qualified to lead a Preschool classroom. 

I began employment with Knife River Care Center as a Cook II. Then I received a phone call from the chairperson from the Hazen Preschool Board. She said she saw my resume online at Job Service and asked if I would be interested in the position. 

I repented and knew that this is where God was leading me. 

I may not have been qualified as a Teacher/Director for a Preschool, but I am qualified as a Teacher/Director of a Playschool. Until I receive my CDA officially, I can still be the Teacher/Director of the Hazen Playschool. I had disqualified myself when in reality, I was qualified just in a different term. 

The board was willing to work with me with my credentials. Today as the Teacher/Director of the Hazen Playschool, I am impacting the lives of 40 children on a weekly basis. I am half way through my Associate Degree for Elementary Education. I am a graduate of the Supernatural School of Children's Ministry. And I know this is just another step along the journey. 

I am amazed to see all that God has done because I said I was willing to go wherever He sends me. I am willing to pay the price and get out of my comfort zones. I am willing to do what He has called me to do even though it's not easy. I am willing to listen and obey even though it seems like I am not qualified. 

This journey is not about me and my wants and desires. It is about furthering His Kingdom. It's about doing His will for my life. I am so grateful that He chose me.