Transforming Faith
 
As they lead us through the vision for the year of experiencing a transformational faith, each of our Elders shares their personal story of transformation.  
 
Rob Kallenbach
 
David Parker
 
 
Dee Vanderburg
 
It is our hope that each of you have or will meditate on how God has transformed you.
 
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)
 
Upon the decision that this would be the topic that each elder would speak to, I began to search through my memory to find that point at which I was transformed. Looking for that situation that would have equaled changing from a caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly led to this quick summary of my search through my life:
 
 
Burt Miller
 
Paul writes to us about being transformed in Christ’s image, about being transformed by the renewing of our mind, about being a new creation, and about following and allowing oneself to be led by the Holy Spirit in 2 Cor 3:18, Rm 12:2, 2 Cor 5:17, Gal 5:16, and Gal 5:18, respectively. Gal 5:16 reads “So I say walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” and Gal 5: 13-14 reads “You my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge in the flesh, rather serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command; ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
 
The transformation starts at baptism with the gift of the Holy Spirit (Ac 2:38). We need to stop and think about the magnitude of this gift. God’s spirit is now living in each of us. “Do you not know that your bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” (1 Cor 16:19).
 
Each of us has both the responsibility to consciously follow the Spirit and, at the same time, to allow ourselves be led by the Spirit. When this is done, the love command will be fulfilled in our life. To walk in the Spirit is, therefore, a way of life.
 
 
 
 
Jim Provence