BRINGING THE LIGHT

AMY KEMP

Those who sat in darkness saw a Great Light and to them that sat in the shadow of death, Light sprung up.

We are called to be people of the Light; disciples of the Light. This is the full measure and vision for Bringing the Light and my service to the Kingdom. The light of Christ impacts lives here and throughout the world.
Without the light of Christ we cant see the hope we have in Christ and there is mass darkness. Many are trapped in the dark and live in fear, judgment, hurt, sickness and selfishness. They know no other way, they are longing for peace and for life. Our job is to turn on the light so that people can walk in the light and never return to darkness.

John the disciple calls Jesus the light that shines in the darkness. Jesus is the light that darkness cannot overcome. John 1:5

My Testimony

od where did you go? Did you leave me because I'm still struggling? I don't feel good enough God, I'm so sorry for letting you down. Back in 1998, God ran to me when I didn't know how to run to him. Sitting alone on a couch I was scared, thinking the drugs I was consuming were going to take me over; I uttered the words, "God help me." The moment I called to Him, his grace came swooping in bringing peace and comfort. That night marked the turning point in my life. The very next day I asked Jesus to forgive me, come into my life and heal my broken heart.

His love came to me and filled every part of me. He delivered me from drug and alcohol addiction instantly.

In 1999, an opportunity and dream I thought was lost forever was restored. I was asked to tryout to play basketball for Southwestern Assembly of God University. I went for the try out and was invited to play basketball for the University. While attending Bible college, God began speaking to my heart to share with others what I've been through and tell them about the grace of God that's big enough to save them from the deepest pit and restore their mind, relationships, and future. I loved God so much and wanted to learn more about the Bible. I began asking a friend's dad questions, he was a Pastor of the Assemblies of God church.

He told me and showed me through the Bible that if I sinned, God would leave me. He said, I lose my salvation.

I didn't know how to be perfect.

Those words left me feeling guilty and condemned. I did not want to disappoint or let God down after all He'd done for me. Feelings of insecurity began to take over my thoughts, I felt all alone and worthless. I tried with all my might to keep the law.

I confessed every sin I could think of that I might have done because I didn't want God to leave me.

My image of God was distorted.

I was apart of a Christian music ministry. We traveled around the USA telling others about God's forgiveness and freedom from homosexuality. However, my thoughts of not being good enough really influenced my perception of how others saw me. I supported my band but never had the courage to share my story. How could I when I thought God came in and out of my life? When God intervened in my life He became my super hero, my knight in shining armor; he rescued me from hell itself. But now my image of God was of one who sat on His throne judging and being angry with me. In 2002, after a downward spiral of compromise in my band, I decide to walk away from both the band and God.

When I was 16 years old I was

introduced to a lifestyle of homosexuality. It caused me to question my identity. At that time, I was out of control and lost.

Even though I put my fist up in God's face, He kept on loving me.

In 2004, I woke up one morning grabbed my Bible and sat at the kitchen table. I told God how lonely I was and that I knew I rejected Him and I was sorry. My worst day with God was better than my best day running from him. That morning I wrote in the front of my Bible, today September 7th, I choose to trust you. I want to walk with you God." I thought I was walking towards God but He wanted me to know He was walking with me the whole time. One night while watching a Christian television program I asked God, what is grace? I hear a lot about it but what is it? I need to know if I'm supposed to live by it. Over the next year God began introducing me to grace. He showed me that grace is a person and His name is Jesus.

GRACE
God wanted to show me that I'm no longer under the slavery of law but became righteous when I placed my faith in Jesus. He saved me by grace. He clothed me with a robe of righteousness and labeled me as his beloved daughter. God wanted me to know he loves me perfectly. I know what it's like to be under the law. I have experienced the impossibility of keeping the law. Mixing law and grace is extremely dangerous. It causes confusion and leaves us feeling unworthy. It makes us think that God is sometimes pleased with us and other times He's angry and disappointed with us. We have to make a choice to live in the new covenant of grace and enjoy the blessings, undeserved and unearned favor of God. I pray you will (as I did) receive and enjoy the abundance of grace; it has been paid for in full.

The Rest of the Story

We are called to be people of the Light; disciples of the Light. This is the full measure and vision for Bringing the Light and my service to the Kingdom. The light of Christ impacts lives here and throughout the world. Without the light of Christ we cant see the hope we have in Christ and there is mass darkness. Many are trapped in the dark and live in fear, judgment, hurt, sickness and selfishness. They know no other way and they are longing for peace and for life. Our job is to turn on the light so that people can walk in the light and never return to darkness. John the disciple calls Jesus the light that shines in the darkness. Jesus is the light that darkness cannot overcome. John 1:5

He doesnt just give light, He IS the light that brings the color and the joy to the world around us.
Jesus expresses His mission: The spirit of the Lord has anointed me to proclaim recovery of sight to the blind. Luke 4:18. So we ask the question who is the blind? They are the poor people, the people who are emotionally, spiritually and psychologically blind. They have no understanding of where they came from, where they are right now and where they should be going.

They are emotionally paralyzed. But Jesus said: I have come to the world as its light to keep anyone who believes in me from remaining in the darkness. John 12:46
We give it fancy name evangelism but it really means bringing sight to the blind. Its an act of love and kindness to light the pathway for someone who is lost in the darkness. And, its an act of love for us to proclaim with Paul that there was a time when you were in darkness, but now you are the light in the Lord. Ephesians 5:8 We are light carriers.

The Journey of Being Called to the Nations

Originally, I was sent out to the Dream Center in Los Angeles to minister to the homeless. During my time there I assisted the womens home director of Hope for the Homeless a ministry located within the Dream Center and discipleship became a main part of my work and mission. In time, I was approached by the Discipleship Director and asked to take on a more formal role and participate in the Discipleship ministry of the Dream Center. From the Dream Center in Los Angeles, I spent nine weeks at the Roseburg Dream Center working with the Director and the Assistant Director on special projects and the womens discipleship program. It became evident to me that God was building a platform and pathway and giving me training and opportunity in discipleship and evangelism. While in Roseburg, I was invited to Denmark to work with the local church to equip them in the areas of discipleship and evangelism. Most of my time in Denmark was spent in the community starting small groups where non-believers could come and learn about the Love of Christ through the grace of relationships. Though my time in Denmark came to an end, these groups are still ongoing to this day and connected to the church body.

While in Denmark I saw the light of God radically impact the lives of many. People who were dying of cancer healed and set free, those in bondage to PTSD dramatically set free, a woman in bondage and dying from fear, with her body shutting down, set free. His light, shining in the darkness and changing lives was the fruit of my time in Denmark. My personal testimony of Christ being the light to my life was published twice; once in the national Christian magazine and the newspaper. Only God could take the story of my own brokenness in this area and us it as an avenue for discipleship and evangelism for the purpose of freedom and restoration.

The nations are in my heart with recent invitation to Northern Ireland. I have a great love in my heart for Europe. I believe as we serve our community with the love of Christ, God will draw all hearts to himself. God has spoken words of promise to my heart. I believe my generation will come to know the power of his saving grace. I want to be clear, that I consider the nations to be where God has called us to bring the light. No matter what country I am in, the commission is the same: be the light, let the light of Christ shine in the darkness. This is true in the states and abroad. Seeing lives changed and impacted by Jesus is the goal, with the hope to introduce the saving grace of God to those who dont yet know Him and to encourage those who want to grow and know Him more.

Amy Lee Kemp

P .O. Box 42 Mineola TX , 75773 email: amyleekemp@gmail.com