Discipleship Testimonies

Happy Thursday, Ladies! I hope you were all able to take note of the discipleship testimonies that were in the bulletin the past few weeks and I hope even more to see you all at the book study this Saturday. Even if you haven't read the book, it would be well worth your time to come and enjoy the discussion and fellowship. I very much look forward to each of the book discussions.

I cannot speak highly enough of the value of being in a discipleship relationship, whether as the one being discipled or the one doing the discipling. There is great blessing that comes with both sides and huge benefits that I have no doubt we will not fully be able to comprehend until we are with the Lord. Here are a couple testimonies to this:


I'm a check list type of gal. Give me a list of things to do and let me check them off or at least attempt to and I'm content. So when I met this young lady at work with a lot of questions my plan was to basically answer the questions. God's plan was answer the questions while she became a part of my life.
I invited her to church and then small group. We began meeting weekly and I gave her homework which she was always faithful to do. Soon Ashley became more then a co-worker or someone I met with she became family.
She plays with the grandkids, comes over to watch movies, eats with us, naps on our couch and sometimes hijacks my facebook.
I have been privileged to see the mercy and goodness of our God wash over Ashley's life and most recently had the joy of seeing her make a public profession of faith. I have seen the word stretch and grow her into a young woman who desires to share the gospel. Checklists are good but watching a young woman blossom in the word and have a heart for Jesus is a blessing I may have missed if I just stuck to my checklist or had left the "spiritual mothering"to someone else.
I have been reminded this life is not to be lived out alone. This life is to be lived out with passion in " God's design for women and thus adorn the gospel with our lives so we may impact our world as we make disciples of Jesus Christ."
Shelly Smith



I was 'tricked' into a discipleship relationship when I was 15. I was unable to go to one of the Sunday School classes but had really wanted to read the book that was being taught. A friend asked me if I would like to go through it with her during the week, as she was also unable to attend the class. We are still meeting to this day. A few sentences is not enough to speak of the massive blessing that this has been for me over the last 8 years. She offered teaching, direction, counsel, friendship, and love. Today she is one of my closest friends. Because of the benefit that this relationship has been to me, I am very excited (and nervous!) as I have recently entered into a similar one with a younger girl at church. Just the few weeks we have had together have been amazing. Whether its hanging out at Dunn Bros drinking smoothies or whispering in the local library, our conversations have been good. I am so much looking forward to watching as the Lord grows this young lady into a woman whose life is consumed in passion for His glory! I am excited to know her better and develop our friendship. I am eager to come alongside her as she enters into the difficult teen years. And I am anticipating all that the Lord will teach me through her. - Nichole Henry

Noelle's Testimony

Yesterday I posted Jackson's. Now, here is Noelle's :

My name is Noelle Aldrich. I grew up here at this church, so most of you know me. I was born a sinner who couldn't have a relationship with God, because I was His enemy.

My mom and dad taught me to trust and love Jesus Christ because God sent Jesus to die in my place so that I would no longer be His enemy. My grandparents, Aunts and Uncles also taught me that. I have been taught a lot about the gospel from my teachers, like Miss Kim, Aunt Kat, Miss Cindy, Aunt Leila, and my first teacher, Mrs. Cate. Just reading through the Bible has helped me to know the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I trust that Jesus died for me and God says in His word to "believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved". (acts 16:31) And I believe that God keeps His promises.

I want to be baptized because Gods' word says, "repent and be baptized", and I want to obey. I know baptism will not save me. But, I want to testify to you about what God has done for me. He sent His Son to die so that I will not die in my sins and be separated from God, but have eternal life with God.

Ephesians 2:4-7 says: But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

I want to spend my life trusting God's promises, obeying Him, and loving His people.

Jackson's Testimony

Hopefully I can post pics later, but I have no access to those now.

My heart sings praise to my Lord as I reread this testimony my son wrote. Baptizing Jackson and Noelle was not a decision we came to lightly. They have professed faith in Jesus for quite a while, and have asked to be baptized on several occasions, but we made much effort to talk to them and show them how to examine themselves and look for fruit in their young lives. All the time we were continually pointing them to Jesus, and time and time again they would tell us the gospel and declare their faith and love for Jesus. There came a point when they came saying: "The bible says, "repent and be baptized" we've repented, we want to be baptized so we can obey." It is really hard to argue with that.

As you read through this testimony you will see the part that our church has played in our children's lives. Missio Dei belongs to Jesus, He purchased this body, and we love all of you and are thankful for how God has used you in our family's lives. As each of my children wrote out their testimony, we were so excited to see how they view this body of believers. Thus far, you have been faithful to the promise you made when they were babies at their dedications: to help us raise Jackson and Noelle for God's glory. I ask you to continue to help them grow!

Thank you for faithfully laboring in the Lord with us. Here is Jackson's testimony. Tomorrow I'll post Noelle's.


My name is Jackson Aldrich. I have been at this Church my whole life.

I learned about God from my parents at home. My mom and dad read the Bible to us and we have a lot of discussions during family worship or when I have questions after I do my Bible reading. I ask my dad when I don't understand something I read in the Bible and he answers me. We talk about God and Jesus all the time. I have also learned the gospel from many people in this Church. Like, my Sunday School teachers. Nichole, who is very special to me and comes over a lot. Mrs. Cate, my first Sunday School teacher, who is very special to me too. Mr John Herrin who is my Sunday School teacher and is cool. Miss Sherri, she teaches good and is fun. My Aunt Betsy and aunt Leila were my teachers and good Aunts. Miss Kim has helped me as my teacher too and Miss Cindy! All my grandparents! Miss Debbie and Pastor Matt. Pretty much this whole Church--- too many to mention. I love all my teachers, they are so special.

I know I am nothing but a sinner without Jesus, and I deserve death and hell. I have a hard time not sinning. I loved my sin. Now I really hate my sin. I do not want to be God's enemy, I want to be with Him with all my heart.

I know I need to be forgiven for my sin and Jesus is the only way to be forgiven. I believe God sent His Son to die for me and HE rose again in three days. Now I belong to Jesus. I am no longer His enemy. I know HE is my savior because he is causing me to love him and want to obey Him. I feel bad for people who do not know Jesus because I do not want them to perish in their sins. I want them to be with God forever.

I am being baptized because I believe Jesus died for me and I want everyone to know that I truly believe in Him. I want to show that I belong to Him.

Romans 5:1 says: Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

2 Corinthians 5:21 says: He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

I plan on continuing to trust Jesus and teach others about Him; and how through Him, they may be forgiven and loved by Him too.