The beginnings of Life Design

A new friend recently asked me how I came to be the pastor of a church - Life Design Foursquare Church.  An answer to that question does not come about quickly in my mind.  My life has not taken on the forms and patterns of many I know that have served as pastors or who are preparing to be.  And I have not readily put myself into the category of the called.  For the most part it has just sort of happened along the way; a series of seemingly random strokes that were beyond my control.

I would be mistaken to say that it has been haphazard.  Not long after I received salvation at the age of 27 I stumbled across a Truth in the Bible that radically altered how I perceived my life and the God I had chosen to follow.  This is what I read:

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.  When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."  Psalm 139:13-16

To that point, life had done a pretty good job of convincing me that it was all a mistake.  People and circumstances conveniently confirmed the belief I had that my existence was (at worst) at the mercy of bad choices and (at best) tolerated because of it.  On that day the Lord cut the thread of that deception to let me know that He was the One that chose to give me life.  I was free to live it for Him.

It has taken years to rip out the taint of those lies and unravel the knots of thought that would continually pressure me into old patterns of living and relating.  With each strand that has been removed, my Father has lovingly woven in new colors to accentuate the life design He had in mind from the beginning.  Now, 18 years later, a picture is emerging for my life.  New layers and depths are being applied that I would never have imagined or dreamed could be possible.

Most surprisingly this has entailed the role of pastoring.  All that is expected in return for this amazing life is that I live it for His glory AND pick up the needle of God's Word to help others discover the Truth for their original Life Design.  As the undershepherd of this flock, my "job description" is to provide space and opportunity for His people to be guided into will and design of the Father for their lives.  All with the "soul" purpose of being presented to Him at the end so they can hear from His mouth, "Well Done".

So, in answer to the question that was asked by my friend I can joyfully say, "I'm not too sure how I got to this place but I would be an absolute fool to say no to the offer of a life like this...and the unbelievable privilege of helping others do the same."

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This past Sunday we had our first service back in the city of New Westminster.  The leadership team pulled together in an amazing way and it was a great day.  More than the fact that we had a great attendance and friends and family showed up for support.  The whole day just felt right - absolutely God's time for the life design of this church to start.  I love it!!!

Designed for Life in Him,
Rhonda Berkhiem
Lead Pastor, Life Design Foursquare Church