I have been doing this ministry for about 3 1/2 years now. I grew up in church most of my young life, was baptized at age 12 and was a regular member of the Sunday school and sang on all the choirs for my age group. However, my life outside of the church was one that didn't line up with how a Christian should be. To put it bluntly, I was a horrible wretch of a human being. I was unconverted. I merely professed a belief in Christ, but there was no fruit of real repentance.
In 2004, the LORD graciously saved me. I had heard the gospel all of my life, but I had never repented of my sin. It was at this time that the LORD granted me repentance. I can't even tell you the exact day, because I didn't even realize that I was actually being born again for the very first time. I had believed I was saved since I was 12. Everyone told me I was saved.
But when I truly repented and placed my faith in Christ, a change started taking place in me. I began to slowly but surely be disgusted by sin, and not just sin in general, but my own sin. I also began to have hunger pangs for God's Word. Anyone who knew me before my conversion could tell you that I was not a reader at all. I didn't like to read anything. But once God started opening my eyes to His Truth, which is absolute, I fell in love with Him and His Word. I couldn't put the Bible down. I would spend hours every night, just reading and learning all I could about Him.
Then, after a while of studying and learning, I wanted to give someone else the same opportunity to fall in love with God. So, I went back into the places I had been before online, and started to witness of God's goodness to them. While I didn't have the gospel understood as well as I do now, God still used His Word to connect me with souls who needed this same grace that He had bestowed upon me.
If you remember Blackplanet.com, I had a personal page there. I had met tons of women online. Some in person, some just internet buddies. Like most people, I was intrigued by all the sinful activity I could get myself into there. Well, Blackplanet.com became my first mission field. I completely changed my profile to reflect the change God had worked in me, and included a gospel message on my page. I started sending out 200-300 messages per day to members of the website, to come check out my page. I knew that if I got them to come there, they would at least have an opportunity to be presented with the gospel.
Well, I got some good responses, and some bad ones. But, with those good responses, the people wanted to know more. They wanted more understanding. So, I began sending out daily devotionals to a group of 5 young people. That group grew to 10, then 20, and perhaps a few more.
As God's grace increased toward me, my level of understanding increased, and so did the level of teaching. It went from daily devotionals that included a scripture and a prayer, to some scripture with an explanation and a prayer, to eventually a full-blown teaching ministry, which is where we are today. I eventually moved the ministry from Blackplanet.com to email, as it was easier to reach more people this way.
I thank God for this ministry. I've gone through much growing pains with it, but God has used this ministry to touch many lives, first being my own. This ministry has caused me to be most diligent in my study of His Word, so that I do not lead His people astray. What a terrible thing for a minister of God to neglect study of His inexhaustible Word!
My theology has grown immensely because of it. I look back at some of the things I used to believe and say, "Wow. I was soooo off in that regard." Thanks be to God for the Holy Spirit, Who set me straight. I still have MUCH to learn.
I am reminded daily by the apostle Paul, that "By the grace of God, I am what I am" (1 Cor. 15:10). With that, came the name By His Grace Ministries. Outside of God's grace, I couldn't even tie my own shoes, let alone teach others how to tie their's...lol.
So, I will use this forum to share with you what God has shared with me. Perhaps you'll disagree with some of my points. That's okay. I'm FAR from perfect and I make TONS of mistakes. But, let's reason together from the Scriptures. Let iron sharpen iron.
I hope you enjoy.
Grace n Peace.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/By_His_Grace_Ministries
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