Nothing is more important to me than accomplishing the will of God for my life. So, when God revealed to me in November 2008 that Bible college was the next step in my journey, I was excited. I’d sat in a Charis Bible College interest meeting at a Gospel Truth Seminar and thought about how awesome it would be to attend. But I had already done the college thing, you know? Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt. Was it possible that returning to school really was part of God’s plan for my life?
But, certain that I had heard from the Lord, I decided to attend Campus Days2009. From start to finish, it was amazing—from the worship, to the teaching, to the tour of the college, to the first-year student named Rhonda who “adopted” me for the duration of the three-day event. Taking me and a few others under her wing, she went out of her way to make us feel welcome and comfortable. Before we all left to return home, one of the other “adoptees” paid my application fee so I could enroll in the college! I returned home with high hopes, even though I had no idea how God was going to work everything out.
Four years later, I was still in my home state of Florida, and I didn’t seem any closer to making it to Charis Colorado than I did when I left Campus Days.
Growing frustrated and even a little anxious, I decided to visit one of the Charis campuses in my state. Perhaps the Lord wanted me to attend a local campus so I could stay close to family. Brimming with anticipation, I visited Charis Jacksonville. But as wonderful as it was, I didn’t receive any confirmation from the Spirit that I was supposed to attend there. I headed home in tears.
Fast forward one year. After I sold my home and put my stuff in storage, I packed my car and headed for Colorado with my first year’s tuition in hand. My time had come.
Finally!
But you know what? It was worth the wait. And as I stood in line the day I registered for classes, something amazing happened. Standing in front of me was Rhonda, that same first-year student I’d met more than five years earlier! She had taken a break after graduating from second year and was returning for Third Year.
Has God whispered “Charis” in your ear? Have you felt Him tugging at your heart? It’s not too late to make plans to attend Campus Days 2017, April 20-22 in Woodland Park, Colorado. There you’ll experience firsthand Charis’s culture of love, transparency, and excellence. Attendees will meet and mingle with Andrew and other Charis instructors, sit in on classes, tour the campus, learn about the local community, and receive practical relocation information. You can register for this three-day event at campusdays.org. If you’re not able to make the trip to Colorado, you don’t have to miss out! Tune in via our live stream.
I’m just finishing up Third-Year Ministry School at Charis, and for the first time in my life, I feel like I’m finally beginning to tap into what God’s plan has been all along. I don’t have all the answers yet, but one thing I know for sure—the best is yet to come!
