Here are the important questions answered:
I respect your opinion, and request that you respect mine as well. I enjoy healthy faith-based discussions, but thoroughly dislike and feel disrespected by "proof-texting*" arguments.
(*Proof-texting: the practice of using isolated, out-of-context quotations/verses from a document to establish beliefs or opinions.)
My name is Kelli.
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.
The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved
me and gave himself for me." -Galatians 2:20 NIV
I am going through a program called CLI (Church Leadership Institute) to become a Pastor.
-->With this statement, it is true that I believe in and support female pastors, deacons, and leaders in the church. In reading the Bible [in it's context] I find no evidence stating God believes otherwise.
-I am part of an American Baptist aligned, small town church. I am the Youth Leader at my church, and very honored by the gift to walk with them in faith and discovery.
-I was blessed to be baptized in 2009; a life long wish that met fruition at a critical time in my life.
-I have been a life long believer of Christ! I could not tell you a time that I never knew God or did not believe in Him.
-I still feel amazed that my husband and I have moved back to my original hometown, and that I am serving in the church that I knew as a child and get to raise my son there.
I believe the Bible is the inspired and inerrant Word of God, and is His love letter to us.
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking,
correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God
may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." -2 Timothy 3:16-17
Our salvation is based solely on Grace from God. No acts or "living good" can buy you into heaven.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves,
it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast." -Ephesians 2:8-9
I believe in God- The Father, Christ- The Son, and the Holy Spirit- Our Indwelling Presence. I believe Christ was the sinless, human son of God sent to save our lives through dying on the cross and rising again on that third day and claiming us in eternity with him should we commit ourselves to Him.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For
God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but
to save the world through him." -John 3:16-17
I fully respect, honor, and serve the physical church (four walls) and the togetherness that we are called to, but personally believe that The Church (globally) is what we need to get back to honoring, as well. We are all disciples of Christ, and it is time to start representing as the family we are.
"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them." -Matthew 18:20
"What then shall we say, brothers and sister? When you come together, each of you
has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation.
Everything must by done so that the church may be built up." -1 Corinthians 14:26
I believe that Christ called us to love and save, but He also told us to keep each other accountable.
"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on
earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Farther and of the Son and
of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end
of the age." -Matthew 28:18-20
Therefore, I do love you for the sinner that we all are, but I will lovingly teach the path that leads to Christ not the path that makes you happy.
If you want to give yourself to God, and don't know where to start. Contact me.
"If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your
heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is
with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your
mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." -Romans 10:9-10