Turn Up The Volume
As we approach the end of this year (too fast I must say!), this blog post is a testimony written for my current Christian education coursework. With appreciation and in honor of the love our church has given my family, my two Sons, and me; here is a testimony I share with open-hearted joyful gratitude. Amen.
Blessings and warm regards! My name is Doris Jones and I currently reside in Ramona, California (San Diego County). My church family is First Congregational Church of Ramona, founded in 1898. I’ve been a member since 2003, currently serve as our Office Administrator, am Co-Leader of our Women’s Fellowship, and facilitator of our monthly Women’s Tea.
I was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and raised in the bayou country part of Louisiana; forty-five minutes southwest of New Orleans. I moved to California at the youthful age of nineteen and have lived here ever since. I began working within the industry of healthcare thereafter and my career spans over three decades in that field as a Medical Administrative Assistant, Training and Development Coordinator, mentorship, credentialing, and an extensive list of various nonclinical skillsets.
In the early ages of my childhood, my mother was on a seeking journey with God and would bring us to new churches; resulting in having us baptized within the new church each time. I was baptized five times by the age of nine. Shortly before turning ten, she left, and we moved in with my stepdad’s Catholic parents. They sat us down and explained that going to Church on Sundays was a must; ‘Not going’ was not an option. However, in direct contrast to this strict direction, they shared that ‘being’ Catholic was a choice we would get to make. This open manner and freedom of choice is one of my fondest memories related to my spiritual journey. It shaped a large amount of the rest of my life and attention to having a relationship with God. It was my choice to accept the invitation and I was baptized a sixth time in the Catholic faith and attended catechism school.
At the age of fourteen, I became a foster child and resident of MacDonell Children’s Services residential home in Houma, LA; led by co-directors: Sister Janice and Sister Ann. Again, attending church was a must, but continuing in a specific faith was not mandatory and the choice was left to me. I choose the option to continue catechism and was confirmed at Holy Rosary Church of Houma, LA. My remaining teen years were as normal and healthy as one could hope for. It was truly the best years of my upbringing. Even though I was a foster child in the foster care system, it was a foundation of right living I still appreciate with gratitude today. After high school and aging out into adulthood, I moved to California.
My twenties were spent living a simple life; work and a brief marriage that ended when I was twenty-nine; and there was no inclusion of church in my life during that time. The good, bad and/or ugly of it: Freedom of choice? Lead me down the road of living life … however I wanted to live it. There were many seasons completely void of any real connection to God. There was a rock-solid foundation within me of belief and, thankfully, this saved me repeatedly. My life experiences range from wild, reckless, careless, and defiant with a drastic contrast to my occupational career and Motherhood; both of which I was dedicated to maintaining.
In 2003, I resumed attention to the inclusion of Church attendance when my oldest son was three months old and began attending First Congregational. I served as a Sunday school teacher periodically with occasional lapses in church attendance throughout the years. Despite my own lapses or absences and some struggles personally, including a second divorce, my sons maintained their upbringing within our church with the guidance of church congregants, their Father, myself, and, most importantly, their own inner calling from God to keep them grounded.
In 2011, I was reborn to a life and journey of living spiritually on an entirely different level… mostly a serious one. A real one. A clean and sober one. I began my journey in recovery on June 11th, 2011, and have maintained my clarity of mind, sobriety, and living clean since. Throughout this last decade of returning to the Lord, I’ve increasingly grown in my connection with Him. My spiritual dream is to have a peaceful and serene life…lived on God’s terms. A life lived with reliance and trust in Christ. Obstacles faced in my growth have been traced back to the rebellion and defiant pursuits of gratification without care or concern for the effect on my soul. These paled in comparison to the desperate need underlying it all for a real connection to my Creator. In finding my way into the rooms of recovery and being diligent in thoroughly working the suggested steps of programs, I found my way back to God. Through finding humility and willingness to be taught a better way to live, I found a humble and genuine desire to be a Woman living as God would see fit rather than my own childish ways.
Galatians 5:13 - 13 You, my brothers, and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
This past year, 2022, has proven to be one of an entirely new chapter, a new and refreshed season in my life as a Christian woman. I came into this current calendar year having completed several bible studies and solo worship at home with the dedication to living as a Christian woman and serving God in my endeavors, volunteering, or other calls in my heart to pursue. Many of these solo studies were prompted by the closure of worship services during the covid lockdowns. After the new year, my youngest son and I renewed our church attendance and have made it a wonderful weekly commitment. This has been especially wonderful for us since we have both missed my oldest son while he is away at college. While the three of us together is my ‘heaven on Earth,’ this time has given me a closer one-on-one relationship with my youngest son.
In addition, I began working in our church office this year as Office Administrator. I’ve also begun assisting as Co-Leader for our Women’s Fellowship. This has grown into more fellowship activities with the women of our congregation, and interaction with more Christian women walking with God and has enriched my spiritual journey to live well in His Word. I launched, organized, and facilitate a monthly Women’s Tea for the women of our church and all those within our Ramona community.
In summary, the return to enthusiastic church attendance, participation in ministry to our women’s fellowship, working in the church office; as well as my efforts and time spent in mentoring other women in recovery has led to this ‘turned up’ volume to my inner calling. I described this to my Pastor as a ‘song’ that was playing in the background for years now; ever increasingly being turned up in volume. At one of our recent teas, during the discussion on the topic of prayer, it overcame me that the volume was ‘cranked’ up high! to MAX volume! I found my way to Christian Leaders Learning by being prompted by this BLAST of divinity within me, urging me to be in action, be heard, and be shared! My primary initial spiritual dream is to continue ministering to Women in our church family as well as our community, leading Bible studies; as well as other areas of interest for me: Youth, young adults, Christian education (for myself and others), church literature; as well as sharing my fine art painting and poetry gifts with our congregation thru workshops, events, or worship participation.
God has been calling me for an exceptionally long time. I’ve been slowly, and sometimes quickly, answering Him and doing something about it. Because I’m FINALLY listening, no longer hitting ‘mute’ AND I don’t intend to stop! I see myself as a minister of love… of God’s love. It is my calling to love by example and encourage others to strive for the attainment of living their life with joy and gratitude. To show love and living for God, in honor of God, and to widen the net to reach others. To reach those in need or in despair. I hope to be a living example of God’s grace to all I meet.
May God provide and allow me to continue this endeavor to walk with Him and be in action to assist others to join the journey. May He give me the strength to overcome challenges, be of a benevolent heart, and be of service to those less fortunate. Dear Lord, give me strength and enthusiasm as I participate in the growth of my Christian education, spiritual maturing, and living a joyful loving Life.
