Have you ever had a pull on your heart that made no sense in the natural, but made perfect sense in your spirit?  That was my experience when applying to the CLA.  Inside of me was a tug of war pulling me in different directions.  My mind was wondering how I would find the time to accomplish the CLA, while my heart was saying ‘Don’t pass this up.’  Days before the applications were due, I was talking to my brother-in-law and he said, ‘Kristy if you are supposed to do this, God’s already got it worked out.’  It was that simple. A spoken word over my life reestablished my faith and I applied.

My first year of CLA was nothing but life-giving.  Every Wednesday night for nine months we encountered God in a classroom in Canonsburg.  Eleven different people, on different paths, came together to chase Christ.  We learned how to pray for each other, we learned God’s nature, and we built bonds that are rooted in the Word.  The tangible presence of the Holy Spirit was in the classroom as we were pushed to dive deeper into our faith.  Last summer God embedded Matthew 6:33 in my heart which says, ‘Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.’   I stood on that scripture all year and I can testify, when God is your source and you earnestly seek him, he will provide every need. 

The Bible says, ‘Walk with the wise and become wise’ (Proverbs 13:20).  One of the most valuable elements of CLA is that we are given an opportunity to learn from the elders of our church.  Our Pastors and instructors carry wisdom and knowledge, and they want to shepherd their flock at Champion. Before the CLA I read the Bible, but I was not allowing it to have a revelation in my life.  Under their guidance, I found direction and purpose, and I learned how to discern God’s voice. Overall, I began to operate at a higher capacity which required new levels of discipline.  The time in the classroom was irreplaceable because the godly influence directly shaped our lives. 

The Champion Leadership Academy has breathed life back into me and I’ll never be the same.  This program has set my heart on fire for the Lord and taught me how to view life through spiritual eyes.  Matthew 22:14 says, ‘For many are called, but few are chosen.’  God sent me an invitation last year to do something new, and giving him my yes was the best decision of my life.  So, my dear friends, I encourage you to pause and listen to God’s voice. Make room for him to do something new in you this season!  You are called, you are chosen, and If you feel the pull, I suggest you give God the rope!