Mike Jeffords

Occupation:   Paint technician. Student @ SCC.

Description of Ministry in Church:   Teens, lead Bible studies, teach Sunday school.

Ministry Goals for the future:   Short-term missions, lead a LIFE group

Favorite Food:   Cheeseburgers

Favorite Book:   I Kissed Dating Goodbye

Favorite Song:   Face of Love, Undignified

Favorite Singer/Group: Sanctus Real, David Crowder, Switchfoot

Favorite Movie: Pirates of the Carribean

Favorite Way to Spend Free Time:   Swimming, beach.

Personal Heroes:   Mike Curtis, Daniel Strickland.

Favorite Verse: Don't be deceived my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Heavenly Lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:16-17

Most Meaningful Ministry Experience Has Been: 31 Day Challenge 2006.

 

Voltage Leader

 

How I came to Christ:   Free, such an interesting word. It can be used in so many different ways but whenever I think about what free means to me, I think of a day (a moment really) about two-and-a-half years ago. It was at that moment that I truly understood what it meant to be free.

When I think back to who I was and what my life was like before that day, then look at the man I have become and how my life is today, it continually amazes me. See I grew up in a home where both my parents worked so much that we never spent time as a family. My father worked all the time so was never there to give advice or even talk to. My mother also worked and took care of my grandparents. Growing up, I learned to be self sufficient early on. Unfortunately, I soon found myself caught up in one of Satan's snares. As a teenager I began to feel alone and unaccepted by most of the people I met and as a result I wanted to escape the hurt I felt. I used anger to hide my true feelings and before I knew it, it had become a stronghold in my life. In other words, I couldn't break away from my anger and it soon consumed my life. I would respond to every negative situation with anger and aggression, the ironic thing about it was that most of the time I misread the situation. (This due to the issues of rejection weighing me down.) These issues of rejection and anger also put a strain on the few friendships I had and prevented others from developing. The point is that because I was caught up in Satan's grasp, I was causing my own hurt.

I remember that day -- that moment -- when I experienced a breaking free of the loneliness I had felt for so long. It was the moment that I opened my heart to receive God's grace, love, forgiveness and peace. I realized that all of these were gifts from a loving God, the one true God and they were free to all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. I no longer had to work or do anything to receive love and acceptance. I just opened my heart and believed in Jesus to rescue me. He lifted my burdens from my shoulders and delivered me from anger and rejection and to this day I continue to see victory after victory. Ever since that day about two-and-a half years ago, I have experienced a freedom like never before. I am free to love (not be angry), I am free from rejection (because I am a child of God and am accepted into His kingdom) and I am free to walk in the victory that Jesus has won!!!!

For me the word free is more than a word, it's a lifestyle. Free is God's forgiveness. Free is God's love and mercy. Free is salvation and Free is what I am in Christ Jesus. I just want to encourage you right now, if you have a void in your life and you can't seem to fill it or if you feel trapped by feelings of unworthiness or rejection, let Jesus Christ fill that empty space and know that He died for you and that He accepts you, He loves you and you also can walk in victory. So if you haven't made that decision to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, do it now and be accepted into His loving arms and kingdom forever.