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Andrea Thomspon
Williston, ND
Freedom! As I have been going through the book of Galatians, I am in amazement of God's crazy relentless love for me! It says in Galatians 1:11-12 that the understanding of the gospel is by complete revelation from Christ. After meditating on this for quite awhile, I was brought down to my knees, humbled by my Savior. God chose me (John 15:16)! He revealed to me the law and gospel, and has given me an AWESOME real and alive relationship with Him - nothing of me ... I did nothing. Christ did it all for me! He knew me, searched after me, and revealed His grace to me by the power of the Holy Spirit!
Because of the gospel and His grace, I am called to a life of freedom! My life is now hidden in Christ and nothing of myself because I am no longer under the law and in fear of God's judgment and wrath, but rather under His grace and outstanding love! Galatians 2:19-21 focuses solely on what God has done for us! It takes the focus off of our selfish being and throws it on the King of Kings who (according to Galatians 3:13) took the curse for us, so we wouldn’t have to. He loves me so much that He couldn’t go without me! He died for me that I might have the freedom to live under His grace free from the bondage of always striving and doing. I am so unbelievably helpless and dead that I am not able to do anything on my own power (Romans 8:7-8) to please Him.
God has really been showing me to stand firm to my freedom in Christ Jesus so that I am no longer a slave but a servant (according to Galatians 5:1). Summing it all up into one word is Love. Because of Christ's love for me and my freedom in Him, He will use me to love others and to not take advantage of my freedom (Galatians 5:13). Thanks be to God who has saved me, set me free, and is now at work in my life! Any good in me is not of myself but of my Heavenly Father and I take no credit for what He has done, is doing, and will continue to do in my life. All the Praise and Glory to our Lord Jesus Christ!
 Tim Herset, Class of 2010
Kalispell, MT
At a turning point in my life, I knew God wanted to prepare me for a life serving Him. I arrived at AFLBS during the Fall of 2008 with plenty of expectations. Through the study of God's Word and the wisdom of my teachers, I grew closer to God than I had ever been before. In the two years of study next to Medicine Lake, God kept filling me with His Gospel truth and began pulling me into a life of ministry. Now after my time at AFLBS, I am working part time for Young Life in Hopkins, MN while pursuing a degree in Youth and Family studies at Northwestern College. Everyday life is continually reminding me that I need to find rest in God's presence, while recognizing my sin and what God has done to forgive me. Living a life of faith is never boring, always in God's control, and where he wants me to be.
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Alumni 
