Champion Life Magazine

WINTER 2009

04

Stop Worrying About Tomorrow

09

Find out how you can experience an Extreme Home Makeover

14

Loud and Clear: Young adults open up about this generation

20

Let’s Make a Deal

CON T EN TS

COVER STORIES

p.09

Executive Publishers Kevin Gerald Sheila Gerald

Publisher Jodi Gerald-Cameron

Senior Editor Hannah Cheshier

Senior Project Manager Jen Kling

Art Director Sandy Roberts, Rusty George Creative

p.04 p.14

Marketing & Communications Tinia Nelson

Contributing Editors Mark Stewart Raelynn Poulin

Contributing Photography J. Hobson Photography

Contributing Graphic Design Venessa Koehn Mickey Elliott

Contributing Writers Kevin Gerald Terry Crist Mark Stewart Jackie Jones Jodi Gerald-Cameron Sue Kahawaii Felix and Juliet Khumalo Abbie Buck

FEATURES

04 09 14

LIFEOLOGY

by Kevin Gerald

“Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps

DESIGNER FAMILIES Terry Crist

- Sandra Carey

OPEN MIC Interview by Jodi Gerald-Cameron

“Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.”

Distribution Kim Ludwick

Producer Champion Life Magazine is published by Kevin Gerald Communications (KGC). KGC is a department of Champions Centre in Tacoma | Bellevue, WA a non-profit organization.

Questions/Comments/Ideas/Email championlife@championscentre.com

Mail Champion Life Editorial 1819 E. 72nd St. Tacoma, WA 98404 Produced by Champions Centre Publishing © 2009.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without expressed written permission is prohibited and a violation of applicable laws.

2009 copyright

you make a living; the other helps you make a life.”

IN EVERY ISSUE

03 08 10 18 20

- Proverbs 9:9

LET’S TALK

BEYOND UPDATE

ABOUT US

CHAMPION FINDS

REAL LIFE CHAMPIONS

K. WISE

Champion Life Magazine purposes to equip people to live successful Christian lives.

Printed by Capitol City Press

WINTER 2009 1

Let’s Talk “He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who cherishes understanding prospers.”

- Proverbs

19:8

If you and I are going to experience the life and purpose that God is calling us to live, wisdom is our invaluable resource. It’s more than just accumulated knowledge, years of experience and sound understanding–it’s the discretion and insight to apply these things. The great news is that wisdom is not some far off, mystical sensation reserved for ancient sages. God makes it available to all of us and all we need to do is ask ( James 1:5).

In Lifeolog y (page 4), I want to help you see that wisdom begins with recognizing that God’s will is not simply whatever happens in life. God has given us the incredible ability to choose, and even though He has great plans for our lives, He doesn’t force them on us. We must choose to partner with Him. What’s the difference between a house makeover and a home makeover? People. If you’re ready to see some changes happen with the relationships in your life, don’t miss Designer Families from my friend Terry Crist (page 9). He’ll share some real, life-tested wisdom for building strong relationships at home, church and work.

If you’re like me, you’ve noticed that the young adults of this generation have a lot to say about life. In Open Mic (page 14), Jodi got together with a handful of young adults to talk about some of the issues that the Millennials are facing today, and when you read their feedback, you may be surprised to find out that age isn’t a prerequisite for wisdom.

God has great things for you in this season of your life. As you take some time to read this issue of Champion Life Magazine, I hope you’ll be inspired to seek God’s wisdom in all aspects of your life!

WINTER 2009 3

It’s something we all have in common. We’re curious about the future, wondering, “What’s going to happen in my life tomorrow, next week and next year?” It’s human nature to think, analyze, and study life. Sometimes the conclusion of that study is to worry about the future. Today, there are so many negative messages bombarding us through the media. People are worried about paying the mortgage, putting food on the table, whether or not they will have a job tomorrow, putting their children through college, retirement and caring for their families. These are real concerns of life, but I’m convinced simply worrying about what’s going to happen tomorrow won’t change the outcome.

Lifeology By

era ld Kev in G

Many people assume that the future is a mystery that we have little or no control over. Some view themselves as victims of fate, dependant on the next lucky break. They sing a powerless mantra of Qué Será, Será and plod through life. For believers, the powerless motto changes just slightly. They declare that “whatever happens is the will of God and the will of God is whatever happens.”

The Seed You Sow Words

Feelings Habits Relationships

Belief

4 CHAMPION LIFE M AGA Z I N E

The truth is that God has given us the ability to choose. There are things that happen in life that are not the will of God, but happen because of our choices. God has a good plan for our lives, but He is not going to force it upon us. His involvement is subject to our choices. When we choose to take on an attitude of faith and believe God’s best for us, we are empowered.

That’s what this whole Lifeology thing is all about – the study of our lives and how we live by them.

When I was in my late 20s, I recognized how quickly life passes by. I began giving serious thought to my future and I meditated on the ways that it was being formed. I realized that I had a part in my future if I viewed myself as partnering with God. At that point, I knew I had a God-given role in forming my future and that it was not based on “whatever happens.”

As I begin to study my life and the lives of successful people ahead of me, I discovered a number of factors at work that create the life we live. Here are a few of those factors that I found.

1. Belief ccording tells us, “A 29 9: w he tt done Ma h will it be thing me to your fait so u can have to you.” Yo t wrong ur heart, bu nt yo in right ou am nd and no ght in your mi ri or ns tentio for of good in te sa ll co mp en Do you motives wi s. ef li be ing self-sabotag the short end of t go u yo k you in th you believe Do k? ic ity? rs the st ve ad ountable have insurm

you er whet her Are Do you wond p? am p or a ch are a chum ur most Yo ? ak we or you strong ys win. liefs alwa do mina nt be believe d an d Go th Part ner wi says d Go e wh o th at yo u ar at He th e ev li d be best you are an s Hi s and wa nt loves you key to is is Th fe. for your li nts you life God wa create the live! and me to

2. Relationships Another factor that impacts our future is the Relati onship Element. When I board an aircraft to take me to anothe r city, there are teams of people who are involved in my journey . There are members of the security team who keep me safe.

There are the pilots I trust to be competent and qualified to get me to my destination. There are the flight attendants, who make the journey comfortable and more enjoyable. This team helps me get to where I want to go. My journey is better, safer and complete because of these people. In the same way, your life’s journey will involve a team of God-assigned connections. I want to encourage you to evaluate the relationships in your life, take the initiative to surround yourself with people who will help you get to the places that God destined for you to go.

3. The seed you sow life, then harvest in your and plant d ason, a farm er partner with Go In planting se responsibly to ng in di en ed sp se ss any seeds of doesn’t just to is us ts ro ly. If you e seed he plan and giving gene s. the ground. Th re kind ness in si d de an he ve the crop desire lo determined by t en t seeds of love the Seed Elem your life, plan This is where r the lives of ou in g in ss ap in sh and kind ne co mes into play e th about what you sa me way that others. Think t lives. In the es rv ha est and don’t s rv hi ha es that want as a farmer recogniz we ed into the e small seeds, just toss any se e is inside thos th est that you on rv d ha se e ba Th “seeds” ground.

We need to plant lt of the s. su re in our live t will be a re ant ge harvest we desi pl to s w. ed so ne u farmer seeds yo know that the of he wants a crop if s ed se e pl ap al desire a financi apples. If you

WINTER 2009 5

4. Habits There is another big element in the development of our lives: the Habit Element. The power of our success or failure is in what we do repeatedly. Great people have great habits. One does not become a coffee drinker because he drank one cup of coffee, or a smoker

because he smoked one cigarette, or a generous person because of one gift given. We improve our live s when we change our habits. Don’ t put all your energy into getting rid of bad habits. Instead, focu s on developing good habits to replace the bad ones. For example, giving compliments breaks the habit of being critical, eating healthy foods breaks the yearning for unhealthy foods, and paying attention to time breaks the habi t of being late.

5. Feelings

Consciously or unconsciously, feelings affect our lives in a powerful way. The Feelings Element is definitely a factor in your life. Colors, music, movies, weather and words all affect how we feel.

How we feel impacts our moods and attitudes, which ultimately influences our lives. Our feelings are so subjective that we gravitate toward what makes us feel good, regardless of whether or not it’s actually good for our future. Marketers know this well, as they compel us to buy their products, visit their destinations or sign up for their services, all based on the emotional impact of their advertisements.

Use your feelings to your advantage. The Bible tells us to, “be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind (having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude),” (Ephesians 4:23, Amplified Version).

Without renewal, our minds would automatically be drawn to feelings of self-pity, worry, sadness and anger.

6 CHAMPION LIFE M AGA Z I N E

6. Words More than a sound, words are a creat ive force and an element in how our lives are formed.

They have the power to bring blessing, healing, encouragement and wisdom or hurt, sham e and discouragement. Words are a force for good or for evil, because Scripture tell s us that life and death are in the power of the tong ue (Proverbs 18:21). Words change the course of history. The words of Abra ham Linc oln and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. pointed us toward the goal of justice and equality, and Patri ck Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death’’ speech connected with his countrymen and ralli ed them to victory in the Revolutionary War. How would your life be different if your words were more positive, uplifting and encou raging?

Words have the power to bless or curs e the future. The people you influence are counting on you to speak words of life, truth and hope.

Kevin Gerald is the lead pastor of Champions Centre in Tacoma and Bellevue, WA. His book and message series, Forces That Form Your Future, are available at the Champions Centre Bookstore and online at kevingerald.tv.

Champion Find: “Forces That Form Your Future”

This is what I love about the future: We can do something about it. We can partner with God to live the lives He has called us to. These are just a few of the factors that impact our life.

We don’t have to feel powerless, pessimistic or anxious about what lies ahead. It is never too late to decide that you’re going to take ownership of the choices you make in life. Know that God’s will is not just whatever happens, but that His desire is that you make the right choices to partner with Him and live life more abundantly.

S E I L I M A F DE SIGN ER t together one t when you pu What do you ge l opinionated house, severa very run down lled days? The -fi seven stress designers, and me Makeover: ’s hit show Extre answer is ABC aining people m re . For the two gins Home Edition ch episode be en the show, ea Morning d oo who haven’t se “G g tin rpenter, shou with Ty, the ca us megaphone h his ubiquito ug ro th !”

Family surprise an rs other designe as he and the ws that their ne e th ith w family unsuspecting

e ceive a complet selected to re g tin ci ex an home has been ay are whisked aw makeover. They it’s to a brand n they return, he w d vacation an new world! ere’s only one ve this show. Th ng Judith and I lo ewhat misleadi with it. It’s som tween be e problem I have nc re ffe di is a world of e because there and an extrem use makeover ho e m an extre r. home makeove

Designer Fam

ilies, Continue

d on page 12

WINTER 2009 9

Champion Finds

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7 1 Dating the Church

2 Become a Better You

(2 CDs; DVD) There are a lot of professing Christians who like to date the Church, but “church dating” holds people back from the plans God has for their lives. The truth is that God loves the Church passionately and has a great purpose for the Church. The strongest argument for why we should love and care for the Church is simple: because Christ does.

(3 CDs; DVD) On a scale from 1 - 10, where do you see yourself? God didn’t create you to be average.

You were created to excel! In this series, Kevin Gerald will teach from Joel Osteen’s book, Become A Better You. This teaching will inspire and motivate you to look deep inside yourself to become a better spouse, parent, boss or employee, leader and friend.

RESOURCE YOURSELF @ KEVINGERALD.TV

10 CHAMPION LIFE M AGA Z I N E

3 BOLD Men’s Conference ‘08 (4 CDs; DVD) This BOLD Men’s Conference Set includes powerful teachings from Pastors Keith Craft and Kevin Gerald. Relevant issues and healthy humor will equip you to face the challenges of the world today openly, honestly and confidently.

Go online to find a wealth of resources, including free wisdom tips from Kevin Gerald and mp3s of messages.

4 Forces That Form Your Future

5 Fear Not, God Is (2 CDs; DVD) The question is: Are you living as if God is or as if God is not? There are approximately 365 “fear not’s” in the Bible-one for every day of the year. In this series, Kevin teaches who God is and why we can walk by faith instead of fear.

(Book; 3 CDs) The will of God is not “whatever happens” and “whatever happens” is not necessarily the will of God. There are nine forces at work in your life that are forming your future. In this powerful series, Kevin Gerald shows how you can choose to use these forces to your advantage and create opportunities of a lifetime.

6 Mind Monsters

7 Champion Life Magazine

(Book; 3 CDs; DVD) Mind Monsters come to steal your joy and peace, disrupt your relationships and rob your contentment in life. Kevin Gerald will show you how to stop those negative invaders of the mind that will throw you off course of God’s plan for your life.

Sign up for a free subscription.

Champion Life Magazine is a publication by Kevin Gerald Communications and will equip you to live a successful Christian life!

Podcasting Check out Kevin Gerald’s FREE Podcast now available through iTunes. Search for “Kevin Gerald” or “Champions Centre” in the iTunes Store. Video streaming and MP3 downloads are also available on kevingerald.tv.

FALL 2008 11

Designer Families, Continued

SSESS YOUR HONEST LY A NT EN V IRONM E

ES NOT A HOUSE DO A HOM E .

M AK E

invested a o, Ju dith an d I Seve ral ye ars ag into designing ou nt of en ergy co nsid erab le am ssion for the pa r ou of e. Because our dream hous ha rc se property we decided to pu great outdoors, ild a stately, fully bu d city limits an s just outside the e. Af ter month g and glass hom finally we modernized, lo e, sit e m ho r the perfect of searching fo over lo ok in g a d hi gh in a bay, tle es N it. d fo un l setting fo r ea id e e, it was th pi ctures qu e lak was located, we e the proper ty s rural living. Onc gan the proces be d ueprints an r. lo co of ro selected the bl d an ts , carpet , tile ne bi ca g sin n oo tio of ch pres enta er in a be au tif ul It ca m e to geth to live in. There ed ht lig de be d ul wo ne yo an that r got arou nd to ob le m . We neve was ju st on e pr bu ild in g it.

e top of the list t this issue at th The reason I pu make personal to u are unwilling is because if yo up the idea of ight as well give changes, you m s. r relationship building designe people who have s are the result of Designer familie tion at others fingers of accusa stopped pointing onal changes rs pe e th e ed to mak and have decid , parent, or se em a better spou that will make th nships are tio la re end. Healthy le who are even a better fri

op lt of healthy pe always the resu ing others. rv se committed to

sed on making are naturally focu Now, most of us , so it takes an n needs are met sure that our ow ing someone rv se on s t to focu n, wh en I intentional effor fte O g th eir ne ed s. to bu ild else an d m eetin g lin gg ru st e s wh o ar y co m es co unse l fa m ilie sa ey , a lot of wh at th met. My he alt hy ho m es ing be t no e ar s y need ey should th down to this: “M at wh hild is not doing /c fe wi d/ an sb hu at I desire and I’m not getting wh be doing, and so what I deserve.” e ironic? The mor hear something ss le e th , Do you want to et m s tting yo ur ne ed th e m ore yo u fo cu s on ge be in life. An d to g in go e u’r fri en d or a fulfille d yo as ch m eo ne else, su tisfie d sa yo u tr y to get so ss le e th s, t yo ur ne ed e yo u sp ou se, to m ee or m y, th e be. C onve rs el their g tin yo u’re go in g to ee m d an

g others focus on servin yo u w ill fin d th at yo ur e or m e th ne ed s, being met . own needs are

n inciples that ru ose Kingdom pr rld wo e Th .

This is one of th rld is wo principles of th r nu m be r fo counter to the t ou ok “lo of iloso phy t lives by th e ph th at life is m os bl e te aches us Bi e s” th t en rd Bu bu e.” on other’s we “bear one an uld wo u yo rewarding when as rs he and “do unto ot .

(Galatians 6:2) (Matthew 7:12) ” us to un do have them who went ry about a man ere heard a funny sto many people, wh ce of ar t attack. e on I he tru is ild e ey m m a Th g sa The is concerned. ctor af ter havin ips sh do ion his e lat d told se re an to eir e renovating th man’s wife asid they never get her, unsatisfied, but doctor took the d ot e an an Th g led at tin lfil th en fu ev un life are of changes in only hope of pr d r kin he e all at th e th r ov ing m he ak re around to m ones they’re t attack was to fferent from the ably fatal, hear doctor di e ob Th lts pr . su life re e d’s uc an prod s in her husb receiving. sources of stres a list of things accustomed to to give the wife d de ee oc pr en t th Bu . sband’s stress hu hip r ns he io to do to reduce novating a relat re ed of ed e ne tru e is sh we e g three homeThe sam perseverance including: makin , patience, and keep him alive, d r an e house ou th ng ing pi ep lo the time, money ning and deve ls ever y day, ke g sig ea m de in ed t ok es co inv wi ing th anythin have to never disagree e well worth it. sband hu e immaculate and th , ce offi e relationships ar they lef t th he might say. As id to her. The a process. at the doctor sa vation, there is no wh re fe e wi us his ho d y sis ke ba as e th t and then told as en With ever e om rv m se a ree statements ght carefully for th ou ng th to wi s fe llo ke wi fo ta to die.” e it Th ges that id you’re going necessar y chan , “The doctor sa in him e, m for making the ho ur all lat io nships in yo . and complex of bu ild he alt hy re in yo ur ch urch e most difficult th en is skill, ev e, ge or nc ria s, ar tie es M ires pa yo ur bu sin hips and it requ u can yo t, Bu human relations . th ow and spiritual gr g tact, emotional if you are willin a great marriage ild bu d an design t. en m on ss your envir to honestly asse

12 CHAMPION LIFE M AGA Z I N E

E DIV INE EM BR ACE TH R R EL AT IONSH IPS. FO BLUEPR INT

HELP OF A SECUR E THE M. DESIGN T E A

urself home ing as a “do-it-yo ere is no such th ria ge.”

Th ar m lf se an ur at yo n” or a “d o- itour generation tio in t va ar no itect ’s ap re ch g Ar llin r fa Families are need the Maste have either building te because we Not only do we ’re ra d we . te at us en wh ve ed ga ow ec unpr s in order to kn blueprints God int e th pr d a design ue te bl ed jec ne re o neglected or an for building building it, we als pl r ’re te we as y m s wh product Hi d e an wing ner home is th other Instead of revie help us. A desig vice from ever y to ad together ht am ing ug te rk so wo ’ve n our lives, we ves, and childre ed the church of wi nd , te ds at an e Spirit. sb e’v ly hu W . of ce idance of the Ho inciples imaginable sour the self-help pr rg y under the gu build y ne pl n’t sy ap es in to do ed od il tri G Oprah and e feet of Dr. Ph SG) tells us, “If th (M at t 7:1 sa 12 e .” e’v alm ks W Ps ty. shac r of pop-spirituali ilders only build the basis of shee the house, the bu ge our lives on an pl a’s ur and tried to chan La .

Dr iritual friends e said “amen” to se counsel of sp ses we’ve willpower. We’v also need the wi and in some ca , e blical values.

W ing Bi ild th bu wi s hip ip for relations t our relationsh t, we are still or Bu . pp us su e o wed, can nc wh llo ue fo infl l, believed and rk. even let Dr. Ruth e wrong counse ng an d relationships wo ni r Th ou sig e de ak in m rk to wo strug gling y ye ars of ha rd ro e close st m de so d ionship. So, fin ging debate veloping a relat k them to rse, there is a ra as de wo d rs an s te . ip at ed m sh e fin To mak healthy relation ld even be de th ou wi sh ds loping in. ge en ve ria fri de ar ll m over the way a s that you are sti ships formed ea ion ar lat in re u r yo ne r to sig men e of de r.

We live in an ag Master Designe signer – not the eds occasional n tio ra ne ge by the wrong de a y relationship ne in er ing ev , liv e lly ar na ere and Fi we that l! o “have been th The net result is in dysfunctiona from others wh t ck when we pu ba ” in sy nk ea fu ’t “ e isn imes that that has put th image. ne that .” Somet in do maintain a certa m s with the pressure to can th e bi g prob le el e of fe e vic ad on p at hi th I be lieve e right relations lost a prop er th y ’ve wh our we ’s at ke at ta th Th e is fo r it to al and error. W m ar ria ge to day G od inte nd ed 00 you years of tri at 30 ve y wh sa er of g ev in ge n nd an un de rsta ed inst itu tio for an oil ch automobiles in a hu m anly devis our homes in se, but it’s be ! We se e it as lously maintain oo ch icu et we m e as it W ex s. d ile an m r make sure that te e en W it n e. that we ca igin, an d sin ce er ve their valu or es pr its to in r e de eckup with vin or di is their annual ch only wo rk not. M ar riage ildren have had t of G od , it will ch r e degree ar m ou he sa e e th th in t s pu or iginate ntist . Why not it is reso urce d de en l ca wh lo st yoff can e be pa th d e ionships? Th od . Fo r at its hi gh est an th e Word of G or t into our relat ine. in eff ag d of im un t fo s igh le m :3 u by pr in cip rding than yo at Prover bs 24 wa ok re lo e a or ke m ta be e, ju st on e exam pl are bu ilt on hes us , “H om es (G N B) as it te ac un de rsta nd in g.” of wi sd om an d th e fo un da tio n ue pr int bl st te

e grea Th e Bi bl e is th hi ps . It althy re latio ns he g in ild bu on tw ire yo ur ho to s ic he m at co nt ai ns th e sc yo ur co m m un ic at io n p sex life, deve lo em ot io ns , an d br in g ur yo ch ri nd yo u. sk ill s, en th e pe op le arou in st be e th t ou

Y CRIST years. They AUTHOR: TERR ried twenty-five have been mar o ty of Grace, wh Ci r rts sto ea th pa e college swee Together they ar .” do ist ro Cr “F th di ed m Ju Terr y and little Yorkie na a, Ar izona. ing sons and a tsdale and Mes mpuses in Scot have three amaz ca th wi , ch ur site ch a thriving multi-

PATRICK

JODI

JODI (26) works in full time young adults ministry in Tacoma and is married to Ryan.

JACOB

JACOB (25) is a mortgage advisor in Seattle, WA and is engaged to Julie.

JULIE (23) directs Need-A-Break Services and is engaged to Jacob.

LATASHA (23) is in full-time children’s ministry in Tacoma, WA.

MIKE

LIZ (31) is a full-time mom to two great kids and is married to Mike.

MIKE (32) is a Chiropractor in Tacoma, WA and is married to Liz. NICK (20) is a sophomore at Pacific Lutheran University.

PATRICK (19) is a university student and a drummer on Champions Centre’s worship team.

USE YOUR VOICE. CHIME IN.

JODI

Express yourself. The Millennials or Mosaics, as the teens and young adults are often called these days, are all about expressing

LATASHA

their opinions. With this in mind, we’ve asked a few young adults to answer some questions about themselves and about their perception of this generation.

14 CHAMPION LIFE M AGA Z I N E

MIKE

Many people acknowledge God as the creator of the world, but believe that He’s not really involved in our everyday lives and the circumstances of our world. How do you think that this perception impacts how our generation approaches life?

Our generation tends to approach events, decisions, and relationships without including God. They tend to “do what feels good” in the moment and deal with the consequences later because life flows better according to their plans and they don’t feel accountable to a higher power. I think as Christians in this generation, it is our job to remind each other that God is big enough to see it all, yet intimate enough to care.

We live in a generation that puts all their faith in science and cannot grasp the things unseen.

They have a hard time seeing how God can be active in their lives when they can’t see God.

I heard a pastor once say “When you don’t think God is there, turn a chair towards you and there He is. It’s that real.” Often times when I don’t feel like He’s there, I literally imagine him walking or sitting next to me encouraging me to tell Him what is on my mind. This is not only a reminder, but also my accountability for talking to God. It’s important that we see God as active in our daily lives for just that reason: accountability. As a child, you wouldn’t steal from the cookie jar if mom was in the kitchen. Realizing that God is always there is a way to protect yourself from doing things you know you shouldn’t do, to help you acknowledge the things you shouldn’t have done, and a reminder to repent before the LORD for such things.

NICK

I still have a mentor and we have been meeting for the past year and a half. It has been such a blessing. He is not only my mentor who I receive encouragement, prayer and advice from, he is also my close friend who I enjoy being around and just open up to. In looking for a mentor, look for someone that is not around your age, not a family member, and who is older than you. It should be someone who you can trust and open up to and share anything with. The mentor should be someone that constantly is there to build you up and not tear you down and has the time to instill their care and wisdom into you.

JODI

I think with close friends and mentors, it’s important to be choosy with who we allow to influence our lives the most.

These are the people who we let into our inner circle of life and impact our decisions and ultimately our destiny.

What about singlehood, marriage and family in general?

Let’s hear about friends and mentors from some of our panel. What are some characteristics that you look for when choosing friends?

When choosing close inner-circle type of friends, I look for shared core beliefs. I also look for friends who are relaxed and know how to have fun. I want friends who are open and honest with me. This means they tell me things I need to hear even if I don’t want to hear them.

Liz and I went through an 18 month period where we started hanging out with a new crowd because they were neighbors and we felt we could introduce them to God. Instead, we fell to the dark side and faded away from our Christian friends. This led to a very bad place and we have identified that our choice of who we spend time with is one of the most important choices we make for our family. People who love God like we do and have given up their lives for Him are our number one criteria. We look for people who live their lives with integrity and purpose and who we have things in common with.

NICK

I look for someone who shows themselves friendly and takes the time to acknowledge my name and invest time with me. They smile when they greet me and smile when they say goodbye to me. They pray for me and love to be around me.

JODI

Have you ever had a mentor in your life who greatly impacted you? What advice would you give a young adult who is looking for a good mentor?

LATASHA

a mentor is to find someone you want to grow up and be just like in more than just one aspect of life. If you want to be a millionaire, find a mentor whose finances are in order but also has managed to raise a great family and have a great walk with God. Also, and most importantly, pray about it. Ask God to open your eyes and heart to a mentor who is right for you as well as for you to have an accepting heart. God’s idea of a good mentor may not immediately be your idea of a good mentor.

I currently have a mentor who continually impacts my life! She has been my mentor in my relationships, finances, career and family. She challenges me, grows me and provides wisdom and advice where I can’t for myself. The best advice I can give to a young adult looking for

JACOB

JULIE LATASHA

I met Julie at Champions Centre in 1998. We were friends for many years, but not necessarily close. Throughout high school and college our paths crossed multiple times. We ended up randomly meeting up again in January 2008 after not seeing each other for a few years. We knew we were going to get married very quickly in our dating relationship. We both shared the exact same core values that led us to marriage.

A personal relationship with Jesus Christ was something that both of us placed extreme value on, as well as family… and we constantly have an incredible amount of fun together… And, I was totally attracted to her physically.

I never thought you could “just know,” but I was wrong!

I’m in a serious relationship—I met Luis in Wisdom For Life Leadership School! I knew Luis was the person I wanted to marry by first knowing what I wanted in a husband. We began developing a friendship and that was when I noticed the qualities in him that I wanted in a husband. Once we begin cultivating a dating relationship, those qualities multiplied. Oh…and he’s REALLY good looking (wink)!

WINTER 2009 15

NICK

I think that the most difficult thing for singles is that thought that eventually surfaces when being around the opposite sex… “She could be the one.” The most rewarding thing is taking that thought and giving it to God. It’s then me trusting in God for my future wife and letting Him know all that I want her to be like.

JODI

Our generation has a lot of opinions about relationships when it comes to issues like living together and sex before marriage. Is it a grey issue? What would you say to people to encourage people to get God’s perspective on these issues?

LATASHA

MIKE

JULIE

JODI

JACOB

LATASHA

God’s perspective on premarital sex and cohabitating before marriage is black and white. If we are searching for His perspective, that is what we will receive from Him. However, there is room for grace, allowing us to be forgiven and providing a fresh start for those who are truly seeking His will in this area of their lives.

I am one who did not make the right choice initially and then failed to fulfill this commitment when dating my wife. Although we tried, we made choices to put ourselves in situations that made it challenging to abstain.

We would definitely go back if we could and make different choices.

I would remind people that, if nothing else, the statistics show us that you put your marriage at a much larger risk if you live together before marriage.

I appreciate everyone’s openness and the answers we got through the surveys that hundreds of you participated in. Let’s move on now to the meaning or purpose in life and how your current job helps you accomplish it. What’s your life’s purpose?

What would you say to a young person who is unsure of his/her purpose?

My life’s purpose is to spread the Word of God. I do this through my words, but much more importantly and more often through my actions.

Every action I take brings me closer to God or takes me further away from Him. I want people to be able to look at my life and see God. Our ministry is wherever we are at. We don’t have to preach from the pulpit to fulfill the Great Commission. We just have to allow God’s light to shine through us in every situation.

who is unsure of their life’s purpose, I would encourage them to find someone to help them discover it. I would also encourage them to dig deep and find the things they are most passionate about and derive their life’s purpose from those things –and spend time with God, mentors, and seek counsel.

LIZ

My life’s purpose is to educate people about truth. Someone doesn’t need to be sure of what his or her occupation will be or who they will marry, but if they know God, they should purpose to let other people know who God is.

MIKE My life purpose is to help sick people turn their

life around and be well. This includes educating them about the choices they make in regards to their health, but I also have the opportunity with everyone I interact with in my office to show God in me. This is my ministry as well as my career.

My advice is to find something that you love and figure out how to have a career within it.

93% of Christians thought that believers should tithe, but 23% reported that they don’t personally tithe.

JODI

My life’s assignment is to love Jesus Christ, and to love people the way Christ loves me.

My life’s purpose is to worship the LORD in all that I do, especially through music.

God has blessed me with the gift of drumming and I want to spend my life worshipping from behind the drums; not to be seen and heard by man, but to give honor and praise to God. Young people, discover what you’re good at and what you love – the gifts that God has given you. I truly believe that if there is a passion in your heart, and if you’re sold out for God, He will use you in whatever arena you choose.

Thank you so much to our panel for sharing some pieces of themselves with all of our readers and for everyone who took the time to participate in our My Generation survey. We saw a variety of responses to the different categories of questions we asked, but there was one thing that we saw consistently in every survey and every age group who participated: passion.

Let’s take that passion and use it to bring us closer to God and to live the life He’s called us to!

73% of participants spend three or more hours volunteering in their community.

88% of Christians who responded agreed that God is the all-powerful, all-knowing, perfect creator who rules the world today.

79% answered that their friendships are important or very important in their everyday lives.

Less than 8% of those who are currently married were virgins on their wedding night.

More than 88% of participants who have never been married have had sex.

My life’s purpose is to “encourage others and amplify their self-worth.” For someone

Search Facebook: More than half of the married participants met their spouse through a friend, family member or at church.

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PATRICK

Anthem Young Adults Network or: myspace.com/anthemnetwork

Real Life Champions Felix & Juliet Khumalo Growing up, we always knew that God had a purpose and destiny for our lives. When I was 18 years old, my father passed away, and this left a financial burden on the family. It challenged me to live by faith and to trust God to meet my financial needs on a daily basis. I had to trust God for my education and He provided without fail.

Even though I had an obstacle in front of me, I refused to be a victim of circumstances.

My wife and I came to the US about 20 years ago to further our education and that is when we began to face big challenges. Our biggest challenge in the US was financial. The funds we had brought from home got exhausted after a couple of years since we were not permitted to work in the states. Yet in the midst of all of this, I was able to graduate from Azusa University School of Business, achieving one of my goals.

However, one thing we knew through all this was that obstacles cause us to grow and are instrumental in fulfilling our destiny. We always reminded each other that our lives would not always be characterized by lack. This was just a phase in our journey. We were always hopeful and believed God for a better tomorrow.

A few factors that helped us overcome our obstacles: • Our faith in God was the main thing that was instrumental in our ability to overcome difficult times. We never doubted God’s faithfulness, never doubted His ability to bring us through and never, ever became bitter towards Him even when it looked like we were getting more than our fair share of tough times.

• Our focus, determination and passion for what we wanted to accomplish in life.

• Our belief that “tough times don’t last but tough people do” always kept things in perspective for us.

As an expression of God’s goodness in our lives, in 2000, we started a non-profit organization. It is designed to add value and invest in the future of some young lives in need in Zimbabwe by providing financial assistance for their education.

We started by sponsoring one child and today, our foundation sponsors 21 students.

When we look back, we consider it a privilege to have been in a position of trusting God in the midst of tough times. Even though we went through these difficult times, we have learned more, changed more and believed God more as a result of each obstacle we encountered. We have learned to embrace the seasons of change in our lives.

• Our refusal to give up made us see obstacles as stepping stones to our destiny. Giving up has never been an option or consideration in our lives.

• We live a life of continuous gratitude, choosing to focus on the positive in our lives.

The Khumalo Family

Biography Born in Zimbabwe, Felix and Juliet moved to the US in the ‘80s to pursue their studies. Felix works for Microsoft as a business manager while Juliet works for a large financial services company as a registered associate. They are parents to two wonderful children, Denise and Caleb As a couple that is passionate to serve God, they have been involved in different capacities in the ministry. Felix is a passionate teacher and Juliet’s

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Felix and Juliet are making a difference in the lives of kids on the other side of the world.

heart is in bettering the lives of disadvantaged children. With a great sense of gratitude towards God for His faithfulness in their lives, they founded a non-profit organization in 2000 in order to help disadvantaged children in Zimbabwe go to school.

Currently, their non-profit organization sponsors 24 children who range in ages from primary to college.

Central to what they do is the belief that they “must be the change they want to see in the world.”

WINTER 2009 19

K.Wise

is to see the Rolls Royce or Donkey?

In the 1970s, there was a game show called Let’s Make A Deal. The contestants would receive a prize, and then they would be given the option to either keep their prize or trade it for a mystery behind a door. The items behind the doors might be great prizes or worthless junk. Maybe one door concealed a donkey and one hid a new car. Now, imagine if they showed the contestant what was behind every door, and the contestant still chose the donkey. As crazy as it sounds, that’s what people do every day when they do not choose to have a good attitude.

They could have had a Rolls Royce life, but instead they choose a donkey life.

Attitude is everything. It’s something we learn – just like we might study and train to learn a new skill or trade. Since attitudes are expressed by our body language and words, they are contagious to those around us.

When the Apostle Paul wrote, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5), he was telling us we can catch hold of a new attitude. Believe it or not, our attitude does not automatically improve when we become Christians. A believer can be saved from sin, believe Jesus is the Son of God, and still carry around a bad attitude they picked up years ago.

“... our attitude does not automatically improve when we become Christians.”

There’s no such thing as a flawless attitude. To improve our attitudes, we have to want a better outlook and constantly work at forming it. We have set out to build the right things into our lives. By taking the time to invest in positive input like regular church attendance, encouraging people, reading Scripture, and participating in praise and worship, the more naturally we will develop positive attitudes.

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miraculous

“The invariable mark of wisdom

in the common.” - Ralph Wal do Emerson