How did I hear about Atlanta School of Ministry (ASOM)? This question goes back to summer of 2015. I was volunteering at Lost Valley Bible Camp in Gaylord, MI as a Junior High Group Leader. A team from ASOM was there representing their school and performing arts before the daily services. I thought they were cool, but I didn't think they had what I was looking for. The first couple days of the week long camp I walked past the booth barely looking at what they had to offer. Then one day I saw a banner that listed all the different arts they do. I took special notice of the fact that they had a worship program.
At the next meal I decided to take a closer look at what they offered. Here I met a student named Alix. We became good friends and I filled out an information card, hesitant on checking whether I wanted them to mail me information about the school. He encouraged me to look up the school online, and when I got home at the end of that week, I did just that. What I read on the website amazed me. What amazed me the most was how low the financial cost it was to attend a school so far away!
With this information, I consulted my parents. Let's just say they weren't the most ecstatic about it😅. I allowed this to dictate that maybe I shouldn't go to the school. After a bit of thinking this, I began having dreams about being at ASOM. I felt in my heart that was where God was calling me to go. I noticed on the website that there was a thing called Campus Days. I decide completely on my own to sign up and visit the school. I save up some money, purchase a plane ticket, and decide to not inform my parents on any of this. I write on the calendar the date I'm leaving and leave it at that.
November comes around, and finally my mom sees what I wrote on the calendar. At first, my parents were very upset that I did this without informing them. I am sorry I did that, but I didn't want to be talked out of this. I had to see if this was really what God was calling me to or not. My dad reminded me that I'm not going down there to sign up for classes, just going there to check out the school. I agreed to this and when I got to ASOM, I looked around and thought, "Really, God? THIS is where you're calling me?" I'll leave it at that my thought was not one of shock and awe like it later became. It became that way through the times of worship I got to participate in.
After one of the sessions, Dan Palmer came over to me and shared with me what he saw the Lord speaking to him. I was greatly encouraged by what he said and then I came into agreement with God that this was certainly where He was calling me. Since getting home from that, my parents were still not sold on the idea of me going to Atlanta for school. I'm saddened by their lack of support, but am still encouraged by Alix to come to the school. I decide to work towards going to ASOM in the fall of 2016.
Pulling myself up by my bootstraps, I work with endurance towards this. I send out support letters asking friends and family to join me in this wonderful journey the Lord is taking me on.
I can't tell you how absolutely happy I am to finally be here. It feels like I've wanted to be here for years longer than reality. Is it everything I thought it would be? No. It far surpasses that. Here I am learning so much about who I am as a person, who God really is, God's Kingdom, and my place/role in His Kingdom.
I want to extend to you an opportunity to join me in this journey. I'm just a little over $2,000 away from having my first year completely paid off! If you'd like to partner with me in this way, you can mail checks to: Atlanta School of Ministry, PO Box 54532, Atlanta, GA 30308 and put the name 'Samantha Scott' in the memo line.
Thank you for taking the time to read this entry and being a part of this wonderful journey!
~Samantha 😄
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