FOUNDATIONAL QUESTIONS TRINICY: What spiritual habits and disciplines do you follow on a daily basis? IBEN: I pray every day. I like to say prayers as the first thing I do in the morning when I open my eyes. At night, I close the day with Bible reading or other spiritual readings and prayers. I sprinkle my bed and bedroom with holy water as well. TRINICY: Out of all God’s attributes, which one amazes you most? IBEN: His patience and faithfulness TRINICY: Who led you to Christ? Who are you leading or hope to lead to Christ? IBEN: My parents were Christians and taught me the importance of faith, going to Church, and to have a prayer life. In my grown-up life, the Christian mystics have had a huge impact on bringing me closer to Christ. But in the end, I believe it is always Christ Himself that leads us to Him. He may use people around us and send persons to help us to see Him, but it is only Christ and The Holy Spirit that lead us to God. I am hoping to lead those to Christ that He Himself asks to me help discover Him. I can only do that insofar as the Holy Spirit is at work in me. TRINICY: What primary talents and gift(s) has God given you? How are you using them for the kingdom? IBEN: I believe God has giving me a talent to speak the truth to awaken people. To open their eyes to Christianity in an age where many have fallen into apostasy. Through writings, interviews, TV and radio, I am trying to do my best to use my gift of speaking and communicating. TRINICY: Which person from the Bible do you resonate with the most? Why? IBEN: The prophet Jeremiah. He was on a mission telling people how they have gone astray and how political disaster was coming on them because they had turned their back on God. I think we are in the same situation in our time throughout the West. From what I write and the feedback I get, I see - in all humility - some similarities between Jeremiah's mission and mine. Not an easy one .... TRINICY: What social issue do you care most about? Why? IBEN: Immigration - as immigrants bring another religion, namely Islam, into a very spiritually weakened Europe and US. Whenever Christianity is weak, Islam grows stronger, since it meets no spiritual bulwark to stop it. Our own apostasy is what makes Islam prevail in the West. Not only failed politics. TRINICY-RELATED QUESTIONS TRINICY: What does being a Christian mean to you? Why Are you a Christian? IBEN: To be a Christian is to have a close, personal, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, The Father, and The Holy Spirit. Yes, I speak with them every day. TRINICY: What were your first thoughts when you heard about TRINICY? IBEN: I was contacted by Vice President of Educational Affairs Ruxandra Ionce. She invited me to become involved with TRINICY, which I have been very grateful for. TRINICY: What book(s) do you recommend conservative Christians read to help strengthen their faith in a secular and/or liberal setting? IBEN: The Bible. Read it over and over again. And to go to the website of True Life in God: www.tlig.org. It belongs to the Greek orthodox mystic Vassula Ryden, who has been receiving prophetic messages from Christ, The Father and Holy Spirit since 1985 by inner locution. She truly has received a gift from God to make us come closer to Him in our troubled time. TRINICY: What advice or resource would you offer to fellow conservative Christians today? IBEN: Fear not. Have faith. OTHER QUESTIONS TRINICY: What passion or dream keeps you up at night or wakes you up in the morning? IBEN: To speak to people. To awaken them. TRINICY: If Jesus were physically here now, what would you want to ask Him or talk about? IBEN: I would ask Him to tell us how much He loves us and ensure us that eternal life is real. TRINICY: What legacy do you want to leave as a Christian? IBEN: The revival of the Church in the West. TRINICY: Which world events have influenced, changed, or shaped your life? IBEN: The fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union - and the following miraculous resurgence of Christianity in Russia and Eastern Europe that used to be communistic and atheistic. TRINICY: What is the most difficult thing for you about being a Christian? IBEN: To pick up my crosses and trust that I am not carrying them on my own. HAVE MORE QUESTIONS FOR IBEN? What did you think of Iben's brief Spotlight Interview? Is there a follow-up question you'd like to ask based on her answers above? Is there a question you wish we had asked or she had answered? Leave them in the comments below or contact Iben directly to continue the conversation! WE WOULD LOVE TO FEATURE MORE CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS ON TRINICY.If you know of other conservative Christians on or off campus we could feature, please email us at info@trinicy.org or send them the link to our Spotlight Interview Form.
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By Logan Washburn | TRINICY.org FOUNDATIONAL QUESTIONS TRINICY-RELATED QUESTIONS TRINICY: Out of all God’s attributes, which one amazes you most? Why? LOGAN: God's sovereignty and His power, along with His mercy are some of the most amazing attributes about the Lord in my opinion. TRINICY: Who led you to Christ? Who are you leading or hope to lead to Christ? LOGAN: I was led to Christ by my youth group leader. I hope to point all who I come in contact with towards Him. TRINICY: What primary gift(s) has God given you? How are you using them for the kingdom? LOGAN: God has given me the gifts of networking, writing, debating, and organizing. I am using these in my political involvement to try and influence the culture of my community for Christ. TRINICY: Which person from the Bible do you resonate with the most? Why? LOGAN: I most resonate with David. Though pursued by His enemies, and though he often felt alone, God was faithful to David and saw Him through. TRINICY: What social issue do you care most about? Why? LOGAN: I most care about the issue of abortion. Thousands of innocent lives are being taken every day, sacrificed on the altar of convenience. It's our duty as Christians and as Americans to defend the innocent. TRINICY-RELATED QUESTIONS TRINICY: What does being a Christian mean to you? Why Are you a Christian? LOGAN: I'm a Christian because of the grace of God. Being a Christian means that I follow Christ, and strive to live according to His word. TRINICY: What does being a Conservative mean to you? Why Are you a Conservative? LOGAN: Conservatism means standing for what's right; namely, a limited government, a just government, and a morally upright government. I'm a Conservative because the facts and moral law most line up with conservative viewpoints. TRINICY: What has your experience been like as a Conservative Christian on and/or off campus? LOGAN: My freshman year of high school, I was at a public school. It was very difficult to be a conservative Christian in such a secular, leftist environment. Now, I attend a Christian school and want to help those who are still in the public school system. TRINICY: What were your first thoughts when you heard about TRINICY? LOGAN: I was excited when I first heard about TRINICY. A group to connect conservative Christians on college and high school campuses is much needed. TRINICY: What advice or resource would you offer to fellow conservative Christians today? LOGAN: I would recommend that conservative Christians continue to stand for truth in love, which can be difficult at times, but it is the right thing to do. Standing for truth needs to have the motivation of love behind it. Truth without love is legalism, and a love without truth has no purpose. Standing for truth means acting as a pillar that upholds principles that are true, and not allowing yourself to be influenced by the popular culture, as culture changes but the truth doesn't. One needs to do this in love, which is an active effort to help others through the preservation of that which is good, true, and beautiful. On my campus, this means explaining my views while listening and taking into consideration the views of others, as people who disagree with you are just that: people. This has the effect of creating a reputation for myself of being someone who always has an opinion, but is still a reasonable and kind person. People may treat you differently for it, but standing for truth in love is a vital aspect of our culture and civilized society as a whole. OTHER QUESTIONS TRINICY: What is an interesting/unusual fact most people don’t know about you? LOGAN: Most people don't know that I'm from Denver originally. TRINICY: What passion or dream keeps you up at night or wakes you up in the morning? LOGAN: My aspiration is to help people come to Christ, and to influence public policy in a positive way. TRINICY: If Jesus were physically here now, what would you want to ask Him or talk about? LOGAN: If Jesus were here today, I would want to ask Him about the ultimate truth when it comes to creation. TRINICY: What are the three greatest life lessons you’ve learned thus far? LOGAN: 1. Hard work pays off; 2. Strength rejoices in the challenge; 3. Christ's forgiveness is unmatched and unconditional. TRINICY: What legacy do you want to leave as a Christian? LOGAN: As a Christian, I want to leave behind an example so that people will see my life, and not think of me, but of what God has done. WE WOULD LOVE TO FEATURE MORE CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS ON TRINICY.If you know of other conservative Christians on or off campus we could feature, please email us at info@trinicy.org.
By Melanie Shirey | TRINICY.org FOUNDATIONAL QUESTIONS TRINICY: What spiritual habits and disciplines do you follow on a daily basis? MELANIE: Each day I engage in fellowship with God through the reading of His Word and prayer. I try to keep the attitude of prayer throughout the day, listening for God’s leading through His Holy Spirit. TRINICY: Out of all God’s attributes, which one amazes you most? Why? MELANIE: The most amazing attribute of God to me is His sovereignty. The Lord really drove home this attribute in my heart and this is what has helped me beyond measure during times of great trial and heartbreak, as well as through daily life in general. TRINICY: What primary talents and gift(s) has God given you? How are you using them for the kingdom? MELANIE: I believe the Lord has given me a love and talent for writing and teaching, as well as a spirit of empathy and compassion. I try to glorify Him through the gifts He has entrusted to me by teaching my children and sharing with others things the Lord has taught me and opened my heart to. I try to be there for others and listen to them and help in whatever way I can and intercede for them in prayer. TRINICY: Which person from the Bible do you resonate with the most? Why? MELANIE: King David has always resonated with me in a very special way - not so much in his outward valor and being a man of physical war, but through his Psalms. His great and candid spiritual warfare resonates with me very deeply. His struggles with doubt and despair, confusion and fear, and also his possession of a desperate spirit for God’s wisdom, protection, guidance, and comfort speak to me and my own soul. These raw and honest outpourings touch my heart on a very deep level and have helped me through times of great spiritual warfare and trial in my own life. TRINICY-RELATED QUESTIONS TRINICY: What does being a Christian mean to you? Why Are you a Christian? MELANIE: Being a Christian is the most humbling and blessed honor and most critical part of my, and any person’s, life. The knowledge that Jesus sacrificed Himself for me to cancel my sin debt is an indescribable honor. God calling His people through the power of His Holy Spirit and His sheep hearing His voice is a wonderful and miraculous part of His sovereignty and redemptive plan. That I was among those God chose to call, that He moved me to a spirit of repentance and adopted me as His own child is the most important thing about me, and being a Christian and child of God steers and drives all other parts of my life. TRINICY: What does being a Conservative mean to you? Why Are you a Conservative? MELANIE: Being a Conservative to me means staying as close to God’s Word and commands as possible. The opposite, “Liberal," comes from the word “liberation." People of this mindset feel they need to be “liberated” or freed from conservative, and Biblical, principles. I cannot subscribe to that ideal as I do not see God’s commands as something to be liberated from, but rather I see that the true freedoms people seek lie only in obedience to our Lord and His Word. Conserving and preserving God’s ideals is the pathway to a life, a family, a community, a society, and a world that has taken God’s authority and wisdom as preeminent over all other false ideas. TRINICY: What has your experience been like as a Conservative Christian on and/or off campus? MELANIE: Being a Conservative Christian can bring many sneers and misunderstandings from people. However, to value God’s Word and His commands takes priority over any opinion or adversity that may come as a result of remaining faithful to the ideal of being Conservative in God’s honor. TRINICY: What were your first thoughts when you heard about TRINICY? MELANIE: My first thoughts of TRINICY were of rejoicing that God was using this organization to foster and support Conservative Christians in various situations. My prayers are with them as they minister in the name of the Lord and His principles. TRINICY: What book(s) do you recommend conservative Christians read to help strengthen their faith in a secular and/or liberal setting? MELANIE: I would recommend Conservative Christians read Morning and Evening Devotions by Charles Spurgeon to help strengthen their conservative resolve on a daily basis. Also, New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp is a very spirit filled devotional that truly keeps one’s focus on God and conservative ideas in line with His Word. However, as Charles Spurgeon said, “Visit many good books, but live in the Bible." OTHER QUESTIONS TRINICY: What is an interesting/unusual fact most people don’t know about you? MELANIE: Most people are surprised to hear that I am a mother of nine children and a grandmother of two. God put in my heart many years ago to walk in faith regarding the size of my family. He gave me just the number He wanted me to have, and when it was His timing, He let me know my childbearing was finished through a medical situation and subsequent hysterectomy of necessity. Most people do not understand my walk of faith in this area of life. God has been faithful even through great trials to provide for all of my children. Each one of them is a miracle and blessing for which I cannot thank God enough. TRINICY: What are the three greatest life lessons you’ve learned thus far? MELANIE: I believe three of the greatest life lessons God has taught me are that He is absolutely sovereign, that there is power in prayer, and that God still performs miracles! TRINICY: What legacy do you want to leave as a Christian? MELANIE: As a Christian, the legacy I wish to leave behind is having taught my children of the Lord, to have shown empathy and compassion to those God beings into my life, and for people simply to remember that I loved the Lord my God, and prayerfully that some be inspired or encouraged by me in some way. TRINICY: What is your life verse? Why? MELANIE: Isaiah 41:10 is my life verse. One night years ago as I lay in the pit of despair drowning in tears after events that had harmed me very deeply and rendered me helpless and hopeless, the Lord whispered this verse into my heart: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed : for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” God lifted me up from that miry pit of despair then with this promise, and has not failed to do it over and over in my life. God always keeps his promises. Praise Him! WE WOULD LOVE TO FEATURE MORE CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS ON TRINICY.If you know of other conservative Christians on or off campus we could feature, please email us at info@trinicy.org.
By David M. Kowalke Jr. | @hongkongkowalke | TRINICY.org BASIC QUESTIONS cont.
FOUNDATION QUESTIONS TRINICY: Out of all God’s attributes, which one amazes you most? Why? DAVID: While there is no one thing about God that is greater than another, the Sovereignty of God draws from me a huge sense of wonder! Since the incommunicable attributes of God are for Him alone, I cannot, nor will ever, know what absolute Sovereignty is. While God does not cause everything to happen, i.e. sin, nothing happens that He does not allow. Therefore, at the end of time, the evil, neutral, and the good will neither thwart, nor determine the Purposes of God, but He alone Wills. “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21 TRINICY: Who led you to Christ? Who are you leading or hope to lead to Christ? DAVID: I was a Senior at The American School in London, England, 1971/72. It was there I began attending a youth ministry that was begun by John and Kathy Riggs, graduates from Florida Bible College. While I had for a long time been spiritually sensitive, it was in that ministry, mainly to American high school students, that I understood, clearly for the first time, that salvation was solely by grace through faith in Christ alone. While only Christ saves, it has been my life-purpose to witness to the grace and mercy that are mine in Christ. There have been times I have been a planter, sometimes one who waters and sometimes the reaper. My goal throughout a day is to be sensitive to the spiritual condition of those I encounter. Who do I hope to lead to Christ?...any who don’t know Him!! Psalm 71:17-19 sums up my desire, as a grey-headed man, to pass on the gospel, which I responded to as a young man, to others, young and old, and to those who will respond to Jesus through them. 17 O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. 18 So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. 19 Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you? TRINICY: What primary gift(s) has God given you? How are you using them for the kingdom? DAVID: There is a difference between Personality, Ability, Passion and Spiritual Gifts. It is important to know the differences and similarities between them. I am a relational person, and that is evident in my personality, abilities, and passion, both pro and con! My spiritual gifts, which I believe are given by the Spirit to believers at salvation, are pastor/teacher and mercy. I have sought to use all the ways the Lord has made me and gifted me in the ministries and other jobs I have been involved with, as youth pastor, church-planter, pastor, and Christian high school teacher. As I am retired now, as I drive periodically with UBER, I daily have opportunities to meet and talk with people in conversations that often lead to amazing spiritual encounters! TRINICY: Which person from the Bible do you resonate with the most? Why? DAVID: It must be David. Of course we share the same name, but from my childhood on, through my ‘seeker’ years and into my life as a follower of Jesus, even until today, there are many things that I look to and have learned from. It would take a long autobiographical book to unfold how the Lord has used David in my life, but I will arbitrarily pick three examples. First, I remember seeing David as a rather unimpressive person at first. I was very shy as a boy and when I would hear of David working as a lowly shepherd boy standing up to monstrous Goliath, I would wish for that kind of bravery. God steps into the one-sided conversation and challenge from Goliath to have the Israelites present their champion to do battle with him to determine the winner between the Israelites and the Philistines He says that David can ‘rest easy’, stand up to Goliath and to let Himself deliver Goliath into David’s hands. And He tells him why...SO THAT THE WORLD WILL KNOW THAT THERE IS A GOD IN ISRAEL! When this account (and no, it is not a Bible story, but a historical event) is put alongside the passage by Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:18-31, I am encouraged to see that God relishes in using foolish people, weak people, base and unimpressive people, as well as ‘dedicated nobodies’ as His tools and weapons! That means He can use me! Second, I, like most people, am aware of David’s sin with Bathsheba. When we ask, “What was David’s great sin?” the answer comes back, “Adultery!” We often forget the awful sin of David murdering Bathsheba’s husband! How could he think of, plan, and execute such a diabolical sin...the way we, too, do ours! It is the sorrow and confession in Psalm 51 that brings true and complete forgiveness, cleansing and healing to what David calls his “crushed bones”! When I see my sin the way God sees it, our relationship is completely restored! Third, David’s identity was bound up in his relationship with the Lord, not in his feelings or his failings. David was not Adulterer, nor Murderer. Acts 13:22 “...He made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY OWN HEART. He will do everything I want him to do.’” Who I am is bound up in Whose I am! TRINICY: What social issue do you care most about? Why? DAVID: Abortion. Every social issue should be affected by a biblical world-view, but this one will not leave me alone as that which I see to be the most egregious. I was at the March for Life in Washington DC years ago and in Richmond, VA in 2019 and I speak out when I can. We can speak the truth in love, but without love, the argument for Life will not be heard. Many of my posts on Instagram address this issue. To explain why this is so important would take more than this venue, but suffice it to say that it demonstrates how a person with a Godless world-view will “strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel”! TRINICY-RELATED QUESTIONS TRINICY: What does being a Christian mean to you? Why are you a Christian? DAVID: My being a Christian is a personal necessity. Martin Luther, when confronted on his Sola Fide and Sola Scriptura positions, said, “Here I stand, I can do no other!” I don’t define God by my experiences, and who I am. It is God who defines my experiences, and who I am. The existence of a personal God is evident, so that man is “without excuse”. It is not so much that I have chosen to accept Christ; it is that I cannot deny who He is, that He is the Creator, that He loved me enough to accept me, just as I am, and loves me enough not to leave me just as I am! A life of obedience ought to be my expression of gratitude and worship to Christ. TRINICY: What does being a Conservative mean to you? Why are you a Conservative? DAVID: We are told, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” While I believe that all Scripture was God-breathed, I also believe that the U.S. Constitution was perhaps the most well crafted document written by men. Our country was founded on God and Freedom. I believe that “government governs best that governs least”. Therefore, I believe that we should ‘conserve’, or preserve the original meaning of that document. It is not so much a Party that I am a part of. The far left (Communism) and the far right (Fascism) are both totalitarian and godless philosophies. True conservatism is best spelled out in The Constitution and The Bill of Rights. I could be a true conservative and still end up rejecting the two main parties. I will give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, but I will give to God what is God’s. TRINICY: What has your experience been like as a Conservative Christian on and/or off campus? DAVID: This question does not apply much to my experience as a conservative Christian on campus, since I graduated from a Bible college and a seminary. However, in the secular world in which we live, two things stand out to me. First, the humanist culture that is absolutely contrary to a Christian world-view displays the blind arrogance that would silence decent and respectful conversation in almost every arena. This is exemplified in many ways, such as limiting freedom of speech, controlling the dissemination of information and the attempt to act as ‘thought police’ among our youth, in particular. Second is the tightly held-to philosophy that there are no absolutes and that one cannot be sure of anything. The person who espouses this philosophy ought to be asked, “Are you sure?!!” TRINICY: What were your first thoughts when you heard about TRINICY? DAVID: The very first was, “How do you pronounce that?!” But seriously, I thought that the minds of the future leaders of the world (and of their families) are being molded and shaped, both unintentionally and intentionally. Upon the distorted altar of ‘fairness’, ‘safety’, ‘toleration’ and a personal sense of ‘entitlement’ is the pursuit of Truth, and He who is TRUTH. God does not promise knowledge or understanding to the mocker or the scoffer. But to those who would seek Him with their whole heart, He says, “they will find Me!” These young adults need and deserve our undying love and support! Cindy (my precious wife of almost 43 years) and I have four amazing children and spouses, and 9+ grandchildren who are way above average! The goal of my life is to be faithful to Psalm 71:17-19, and to invest in our children, and in our children’s children, forever! When I hear of and meet with previous students from North Raleigh Christian Academy who desire to stand up for Christ, I am in awe of the faithfulness of the Lord. 3 John 1:4 “I have no greater joy than this: to hear that my children are walking in truth.” TRINICY: What advice or resource would you offer to fellow conservative Christians today? DAVID: Know what the Truth is. Speak the truth in love. Love is not how one feels, nor if we like someone. My personal definition of Love that hung on my classroom wall is: “Love is wanting God’s best for someone, expecting nothing in return, believing it will probably cost you something.” Love is revolutionary. Love is “awful”! Jesus, in John 15 and John 17 said that the world will know if we are His disciples by the love we have, and that they will actually have the right to believe or reject that Jesus came in the flesh by the display of our unity! Salvation, the Christian Life and Mission are bound up in one word: “LOVE”. Nothing more. Nothing less. OTHER QUESTIONS TRINICY: What is an interesting/unusual fact most people don’t know about you? DAVID: There are a number...I was born in Hong Kong, also lived in Japan, Sweden, the U.S. and the U.K. Please Google “What is the most boring day in history?” The answer will come: April 11th, 1954. THAT IS MY BIRTHDAY! HOW RUDE! TRINICY: What passion or dream keeps you up at night or wakes you up in the morning? DAVID: Truly: How can I make a difference today and will I be able to see the purposefulness of today when I go to bed tonight? Without a life of significance, I die inside. TRINICY: If Jesus were physically here now, what would you want to ask Him or talk about? DAVID: “What do You want me to know?” TRINICY: What are the three greatest life lessons you’ve learned thus far? DAVID: Of course, impossible to answer specifically or completely, but:
TRINICY: What legacy do you want to leave as a Christian? DAVID: Wow. Legacies, like funerals, are for those who remain and to determine. However, I wouldn’t mind if it were said of me, “See how he Loved.” WE WOULD LOVE TO FEATURE MORE CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS ON TRINICY.If you know of other conservative Christians on or off campus we could feature, please email us at info@trinicy.org.
By Mattea Merta | TRINICY.org BASIC QUESTIONS
FOUNDATIONAL QUESTIONS TRINICY: Out of all God’s attributes, which one amazes you most? Why? MATTEA: God’s grace is the one attribute that continually amazes me. His grace is a grounding point and a catapult. Grace pulls me in when I’ve seemingly failed or fallen short, yet it is what I rely upon the most to propel me when I’m in high stake situations where I don’t know what to do. TRINICY: Who led you to Christ? Who are you leading or hope to lead to Christ? MATTEA: My mom led me to Christ. I don’t know who I’m leading to Christ all the time, especially in politics. But, I do know that when you live a fully submitted life, people notice all around you. When I was little, I would pray for God to use every portion of my life. So whether it’s on Parliament Hill in Ottawa or a coffee shop in Washington D.C., I have seen God use my presence and my willingness. One way I know He’s working through me is when He stirs a person’s heart to ask questions. I wish I could lead everyone I come into contact with to Christ, but I have to remember, not even Jesus did that. So, with who I am and all that God has created me to be and do, I hope to lead the saved into a deeper knowledge of Christ and those who are not yet saved into a personal relationship with him. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 TRINICY: Which person from the Bible do you resonate with the most? Why? MATTEA: The person I most resonate with in the Bible is Esther. Esther was an orphan, a Jew, a young woman who was thrust into an uncomfortable situation to save her people. She went from the slums to the palace. She became a leader and not just any leader, but one whose heart was willing and whose reliance upon the grace of God was foundational. Esther’s story is my story. I too came from humble beginnings. Through an array of uncomfortable situations in my school years, from standing up for modesty as a young girl and being mocked for it to being kicked out of my private Christian school my graduating year for standing up for absolute truth, I grew comfortable with being an “outsider”. And yet, I see now how God was developing me, just as he did with Esther, for the road ahead. I went straight out of high school into my job on Parliament Hill, I ran for city council at the age of 20, I advise on campaigns and now, I’m moving in a direction that seems bigger than what I could have ever imagined. Many look at Esther’s story, as well as my own, and they say, “Wow, that must have been a leap of faith”, to which I reply, “You’re seeing the end result of many small steps of faith that look like a leap.” Esther saved her people and all those around her, Jewish or not, flourished because of her obedience, her willingness and her ability to take ahold of grace and run with it. TRINICY: What social issue do you care most about? Why? MATTEA: The social issue I care the most about is abortion as it is the greatest continual genocide that has been disguised as a right and supported by governments. I’ve seen the long term affects of abortion and they are never positive. Deep wounds are produced, not liberation. God deeply loves us and wants us to live in freedom, that’s how He created us - abortion fights a woman’s freedom. Abortion is a multifaucted issue as it draws in so many people, the mom, the dad, friends, family and, of course, the baby. Kids hold a special place near the heart of God, as well as to my own. Jesus came for the “least of these”, those whom society deemed unimportant, He came to those who lost all hope and He raised them up, loved them and called them His own. Our freedoms and human rights were granted to us by God, we cannot enjoy those freedoms if we cannot first take part in our right to life. Every life can make an impact in its own way because every life possesses purpose. Protecting life means protecting a person’s ability to fully live out their God given purpose. TRINICY-RELATED QUESTIONS TRINICY: What does being a Christian mean to you? Why Are you a Christian? MATTEA: Being a Christian to me means living a life pursuing Christ’s heart, to imitate him in every area of my life and to point others to Him through a life that’s been restored. I am a Christian because I cannot ignore the love that was extended to me. To reject the hand of grace that was extended out to my own insufficiencies and offers me a new way, a life of true fulfillment, would serve me with a empty life opposed to the full life that I’ve found in the grasping of His grace. TRINICY: What does being a Conservative mean to you? Why Are you a Conservative? MATTEA: To me, being a Conservative is to stand for a limited and effective government, to protect the freedoms God granted to us through legislation and to help those within society that have been left behind. It also means to be a good steward of what we have been given so that we can in turn bless more people than if we were restricted by governments red tape. I am a Conservative because I have seen people lifted and supported through Conservative policies and the opportunities that arise out of their successes. In a world where everything seems to be polarized, the Conservative viewpoint tends to lean more towards common sense and self responsibility. I also enjoy the freedom to voice my belief that bipartisanship is still achievable. I am also a Conservative because it is one of the only political ideologies that supports my freedom to worship, believe, give and serve others in the way the Bible displays for us. TRINICY: What has your experience been like as a Conservative Christian on and/or off campus? MATTEA: I cannot speak to a personal experience of being a Conservative Christian on campus but because of the experiences I have had on Parliament Hill as a Christian, I have been able to help many young people on campuses with walking out the difficult situations that challenge their faith. My “campus” was Parliament Hill, that’s where I received my secondary education. So I can say this, taking a stand in politics from the place of conviction, and not from a place of feelings and emotions, has produced the greatest joys and has challenged me to grow in areas of life that I never knew needed to be worked through. Everyday in politics, I’m faced with opportunities to let things slide or to take a stand, I choose to stand and the amazing thing that happens when I do, more people are exposed to the truth and find freedom. TRINICY: What were your first thoughts when you heard about TRINICY? MATTEA: My first thoughts when I heard about TRINICY were, Wow! I was so encouraged to see a group of people coming together to stand, to speak, to be the hands and feet of Jesus on campuses. It was exciting because of the need that I’ve seen in young people to be exposed to the truth, so having TRINICY at the very place where ideas are to be challenged and for intellect to develop is an answer to prayer for me. TRINICY: What advice or resource would you offer to fellow conservative Christians today? MATTEA: The advice I would offer to fellow Conservative Christians would be to live your life by conviction, not just a set of societal standards. Societal standards change, conviction does not. Root yourself in truth then live it out. People today are searching for validation, so when you live your life for an audience of one, people are drawn to that. Give of yourself, take a stand and speak life into the spheres of influence that you are a part of today. Value the position in life that you are in, whether you’re in school, about to start your career or you feel like you’re stuck in the mundane, there is a purpose to this season in life. Don’t diminish the development that is meant to happen in this season. If you maximize your time in the present, the things you learn now will propel you into the next season of life with greater wisdom and you’ll reach so many more people. Leave a trail of well loved individuals. OTHER QUESTIONS TRINICY: What is an interesting/unusual fact most people don’t know about you? MATTEA: An interesting fact most people don’t know about me is that I play the violin. TRINICY: What passion or dream keeps you up at night or wakes you up in the morning? MATTEA: The one dream that keeps me up at night would be the dream of being a wife and a mama, taking care of a home and my community from within the four walls of my home. I also wake up with the anticipation of “I wonder what God is going to do today”. TRINICY: If Jesus were physically here now, what would you want to ask Him or talk about? MATTEA: If Jesus were physically here now, I would like to learn how He sees, hears and thinks about the people in front of Him and in learning how he does, I too could learn to see, hear and think about them in the same way. TRINICY: What are the three greatest life lessons you’ve learned thus far? MATTEA: The three greatest life lessons I have learned thus far are that people are the most important, your job does not define you and love is worth waiting for. And if I may include a fourth, no matter how young or old you are, always honor your parents. TRINICY: What legacy do you want to leave as a Christian? MATTEA: As a Christian, I want to leave a legacy of love, compassion and a trail of people who were exposed to Jesus in me. I want to be remembered as someone who heard the roots of people’s hearts and protected them, as Jesus does. Someone who lived an uncompromised life and encouraged people to do the same because of the freedom that comes through it. We Would Love to Feature More Conservative Christians on TRINICY.If you know of other conservative Christians on or off campus we could feature, please email us at info@trinicy.org.
By Dr. Gabriel Ndhlovu | TRINICY.org BASIC QUESTIONS
FOUNDATIONAL QUESTIONS TRINICY: Out of all God’s attributes, which one amazes you most? Why? DR. GABRIEL: Love. This is the one attribute that best describes who God is, and also God’s expectations of us. This attribute is very pragmatic and helps us how to live our lives in a community. TRINICY: Who led you to Christ? Who are you leading or hope to lead to Christ? DR. GABRIEL: A friend of mine in Junior high. Although I grew up in a Christian family, the political situation in South Africa prevented me from seeing God as the God of love because His people were living the way they were supposed to live. My friend encourages me to focus on Christ and not on people as we are able to take something that is beautiful and spoil it. The main focus is for me as an individual not to be a stumbling block for others. Right now, I hope to lead my father-in-law to Christ. This is a long-term project. TRINICY: Which person from the Bible do you resonate with the most? Why? DR. GABRIEL: People focus so much on popular heroes like David, but for me I hope to be more like Joseph, the earthly father of Christ. He was a man who stepped forward and took on the burden that God placed on him. He took care of Mary and Jesus and loved them both, even to the expense of his personal reputation and the hardship of his family. He was obedient when it was most difficult. TRINICY-RELATED QUESTIONS TRINICY: What does being a Christian mean to you? Why Are you a Christian? DR. GABRIEL: Beings a Christian means that I believe in the historical Jesus and his divine nature, and to recognize the sinful nature within me and humanity that can be healed by Jesus Christ. More so, it means that I ought to follow the example that Jesus set regarding living a life of holiness, love, and forgiveness. TRINICY: What does being a Conservative mean to you? Why Are you a Conservative? DR. GABRIEL: Being a conservative means that I uphold the biblical views of the existence of God and the authority of the Bible. More so, it means that the Bible is the authority of my worldview regarding the value of life, morality, and my personal spirituality. OTHER QUESTIONS TRINICY: What passion or dream keeps you up at night or wakes you up in the morning? DR. GABRIEL: The question is how will things be like in the future and how can I best prepare my children for what the future holds. I have been concerned about the rapid moral degeneration in society and it is a great concern TRINICY: If Jesus were physically here now, what would you want to ask Him or talk about? DR. GABRIEL: What I would like to talk to him about is the extent of love that he had for humanity that he was willing to die on the cross for us. The process of setting events in history to reach a perfect point in history for Jesus to die on the cross. TRINICY: What legacy do you want to leave as a Christian? DR. GABRIEL: The legacy that I would like to leave is being an example of a life of faith and non-compromising the truth of Christ. I hope to publish works that will help Christians around the world, in every generation, in their journey of faith and defense of God’s truth. WE WOULD LOVE TO FEATURE MORE CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIANS ON TRINICY.If you know of other conservative Christians on or off campus we could feature, please email us at info@trinicy.org.
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