Testimony of:
Tony Loftus

God’s calling on my life

The men’s campout in 2004 was powerful to say the least. Little did I know, that it would take almost a year for it to sink into my heart. This campout was to be different from past campouts, in that, the main focus would be on our young men. We invited them to come so God’s word could bring truth to what it means to be a Real Man. 

The theme “Real Men” focused on four areas: Real Men-Reject Passivity,

Real Men-Accept Responsibility, Real Men-Lead Courageously, Real Men-Expect the Greater Reward. These were a great stepping stone for the young men in our church; but for me, putting them into practice would not happen for a few months. 

Most of my life I have seen my father, other fathers and husbands fall victim to passivity and lack of responsibility. My eyes and ears were open at this campout, my heart however was stirred but not changed. After all, I was a good father and husband according to how I was taught and was modeled for me. This was how the world taught how you should be a father and husband. 

The husband is the spiritual leader of the household. I was not being that leader, nor was I being the father or husband that called me to be. In order for me to answer this call, it would take more than seeing or hearing or ever stirring. True change comes from the heart, then an action needs to take place. 

Through prayer and subtle changes, admitting to my family I had been doing things wrong for a long time. By omitting the passivity, excepting responsibility, leading courageously, expecting and seeing the greater reward, our relationships in our family is amazing and continues to grow into the Godly family He has called us to be. 

The 2005 campout will be a continuation from last year. I can’t wait to see what else God is calling me to do. Only this time, I won’t wait a year to change my heart. 

Testimony of:
Don “Tad” Tadlock

I was saved when I was ten. But I didn’t truly give my heart to the Lord until I was nearly 30. I was raised going to church every Sunday although my father rarely attended and my mother was sporadic in her own attendance. My brother and Sisters also attended every Sunday until they graduated high school and left home. Even with all that, church was just “what you did every Sunday”, not a time to share you love for God.

My first real experience with the Lord came one year while attending a Church Camp in our local area. Some of the people who were leaders there really had a relationship with Jesus. And it showed. These college students and ministers from other congregations wanted nothing more than to share their love of the Lord with everyone. I knew then that there was more to the Lord than the Sunday morning meetings I had experienced.

But nowhere else did I receive this influx of Jesus love. The world had control of my home and the church I attended as a youth was so full of religiosity that there was no one available to teach me how have a relationship with Jesus.

After graduation, I spent my last summer at home adjusting to the life of an adult. Then I joined the service where church was where you went on the weekend to get away from the instructors, not to worship the Lord. And my duty assignments were more worried about having manpower on hand than what day it was. Needless to say, Jesus and I didn’t have more than one or two conversations during my entire tour of duty in the Air Force.

Getting out of the service is a story in itself that I won’t bother to go into here. However it is a time of note as it was then that Jesus began to work in my life on a regular basis. I had met Leigh, my wife, although I didn’t know I would marry her at the time, just prior to my discharge from the service. After my discharge, I chose not to return to my home in Kansas, but instead make my way here in Arkansas. Leigh’s father was apparently touched by the Holy Spirit, as he invited me to live in his house while I got back on my feet. The Lord continued to have its way in my life as I moved from job to job while going to college at night to receive my degree in drafting technology. During my stay with the Bowen’s, my relationship with Leigh progressed as such things due. In the fullness of time, I proposed, she accepted and a marriage was in the offing. 

This brought about a series of events in it’s own right. A head on collision with a drunk driver, laid a seed of financial blessing that took nearly a year to flourish and blossom. Leigh and I were married in September of 1993. Two weeks prior to that date, our insurance company approached us about the final damages on the motor vehicle accident of a year ago. We were blessed to be given enough money form the settlement of that accident to enter marriage with no credit card bills, and the purchase of land and a home. Only the Lord could have orchestrated such timing and blessings to cause all of these things to happen in order.
This being said, I recognized the Lords work in my life even then, but I had not surrendered myself to his reign. I still believed that “I could do all things through Christ who strengthens me”. I thought if I wanted to do it, the Lord would make sure I would succeed. How far from the truth I was on that point. My life was plagued by almost successes. My marriage was deteriorating, and my relationship to my wife and children was stressed to say the least.
Then in April of 1999, I was introduced to a body of believers that reminded me of my time at camp. A time when I knew there was more to the word church than going to meetings every week. By the time I had attended the first celebration service at Christian Life Church of Sherwood, I knew that this was the body I belonged with. Since then I have missed only a handful of celebrations with my church family. I have also been able to begin to build a personal one on one relationship with my Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. Gladly have I given myself to him, and gladly do I continue to grow in His presence. My relationship with Him has caused me to renew my marriage to my wife, to have a relationship with my children, and to love my life as I never have before.

I still see the Lord at work in my life everyday. But now, instead of taking that work for granted, I pause to take the time to thank him for all His wondrous works. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I have seen the Lord work through me to touch another life. Even when I am woefully inadequate for the purpose, the Lord has stepped up and His presence and His words have filled my heart and mouth to do His good work.
I continue to seek after the Lord every day, and He continues to work in me to perfect me for His service. Even while he uses me as I am to further His kingdom.

Testimony of :
Jeannie Smith

I have known about the Lord almost as long as I can remember.  My parents and their families knew the Lord.  My paternal grandfather was even a Pastor. My parents were from two very different denominations, married young and did not attend church for many years. In the 7^th grade I met some priceless young people who influenced my life. Their example of actively loving Jesus, along with a Grandmother who gracefully shared Him, prompted me to obey the Holy Spirit’s drawing. I gave my life to the Lord at the age of twelve and began attending church regularly. Regrettably, there was no one to guide me in the practical ways of walking in constant communion with Jesus, growing in relationship and falling in love with Him.

The lack of discipleship and constant crisis affect of dysfunctional family life left me standing on the outskirts of His Kingdom, with only occasional glimpses of what the Lord might have for my life.  Interestingly enough, I learned much of the Word and was privileged to be present when others gave their hearts to the Lord.  Unfortunately, I had no revelation of what had truly happened and had no continuing role in supporting them to grow in the Lord.

Through the years I experienced an increased gnawing and resounding cry, “There’s got to be more than this.  Why would Jesus have to die if all there is to Christian life is what I’ve seen or experienced?”  The Lord, who has been so Faithful and True, kept His hand on me and continued to mold me into something of use to Him, although I certainly had no idea He was doing so.

After graduating from college, the Lord worked into the tapestry of my life to become roommates with a dear, non-compromising Believer.  She attended a “different” church and invited me to hear a man share about how he had become filled with the Holy Spirit.  I attended, and did not miss a Sunday after that.

I enjoyed the fresh way of living, discovering many new things, yet I continued to have that constant, gnawing yearning for something more.  Over the next twelve years I experienced God’s favor and provision, as well as the hurts resulting from broken relationships and unwise, hurtful decisions coming from the lack of spiritual fathering/mothering and discipleship.

In the Lord’s providence He selected a remarkable, Godly husband for me in 1990.  Steve immediately expressed a new dimension of the Lord’s character in my life.  We grew together in Him, yet that gnawing grew from a nagging ache to raging hunger.  In 1993 the Lord brought two ladies to Steve’s job from Christian Life Church .  They were experiencing the Lord in wonderful ways and, even though they knew we served the Lord in leadership at another local church, periodic invitations to attend their Friday night Bible studies were offered.  One Friday night we visited.  The Holy Spirit began a work of gentle, quiet nudges taking nine months to reach their full effect.  After an investment of much prayer, I was filled with joy one Sunday morning when Steve announced, “I just feel like we are to move to Christian Life Church .”

The Lord wonderfully prepared the way for us to move from our church home and join Christian Life Church . The Lord’s preparation and timing was important since Steve was pursuing ministerial credentials in our affiliated denomination.  He revealed our move to both pastors and our home church sent us to CLC with tremendous blessings, much as they would send out missionaries.

We immediately became involved in the activities of CLC.  What is more important, however, is the transformation that began inside our hearts and spirits.  Our values, ideas and opinions were challenged and we began to experience revealed truth and building healthy relationships with the Lord and others.  To highlight the past ten years would take many pages and hours.  I am so thankful for the opportunity to really KNOW the Lord and His character and to be changed into His likeness more and more as I follow and obey Him.  I solemnly believe that I would not be alive today if He had not ordained for us to become a part of this local body.  I am so thankful for His love for me and that He truly is the Good Shepherd who knows His sheep and calls them each by name.