Hello future graduates of
Kaléo 2016! I’m Melanie Ventura, last year’s Ministry Award winner. Looking
back, I think about all the feelings at were rushing through mind and heart
weeks before starting the program and I am sure some of you are feeling the
same way. This coming year has a lot in store for you... God has a lot in store
for you. As you may know, our lives as Christians is a full-time life of
ministry; and this year will be an incredible foundation for your life of
vocational or non-vocation ministry. Some of you will go on to camp or church
ministry, or even missions. While others of you may be called to secular
post-secondary schooling or workplace ministry. Both are equally ministry.
Throughout the year, I
started to really notice the intentional ministries that the Kaléo Program
comes to develop. As students you will have the opportunity to serve in local
churches to serve alongside of the ministries that are already
established. I have
served in a church setting before and was able to use what I have learned back
home to enhance the experience of youth group here in Ladysmith. You will also
have the ability to serve in ministry here at Camp Qwanoes, I have had the
chance to be a camp counselor and an assistant
head counselor. I was slightly out of my comfort zone at first but through
the whole process I was blessed with excellent leaders to walk alongside me.
There is another ministry that will impact
your lives more than you know, and that exists within your own live-in community.
Ministry opportunities will be all around you. This includes your roommates,
the Qwanoes staff, campers coming on retreats and anyone who comes as a guest. My
advice in this ministry is to be present. This ministry will impact you the
most when you fully immerse yourself in it.
If there was one thing that I know for sure
about a life of ministry, it’s that only way to be fruitful in all aspects; is
for you to build a day
that includes personal devotions with God and digging into His Word. My year
would have looked a lot different if I hadn’t been intentional about my time
with God.
During the Kaléo Program I was able
to grow exponentially in my faith and personal walk with God. I have come to a place in my
Christian walk were I can make choices to discern if what I am taking part in
is reaching God’s Holy standards. God has called me to higher standards. Trust
me I will fail but I can be sure God will take my hand and pick me right back
up. This is my prayer for you and I trust God will do great things for all
of you, as he has for me.
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