Hello, and thank you for your interest in My Christian Toolbox.

Purpose of My Christian Toolbox

In my own internet explorations, I have found a lot of sites that contain false information, too little information, information that is very biased, information that is poorly organized, etc. I have found an abundance of Christian resources out there, but it is really difficult to sift through all the multitude of sites and companies to find what might be best for a particular individual, situation or congregation. In this website, I am trying to share the best tools for Christian growth and service that I have found.

The Bible tells us that serving and loving God is for everyone, not just for professional church workers. Jesus' Great Commission is for every Christian. The goal of this website is to provide people of all ages with tools to help them be more effective in learning more about Jesus, applying their faith to their lives, serving God according to what He is calling them to do and teaching others about Jesus' love and how He offers forgiveness and eternal life.

It is my hope and prayer that My Christian Toolbox will help you in the process of making disciples and teaching the Christian faith as commanded by Jesus in "The Great Commission":

Jesus said, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

My Training and Experience:

I have been a Christian for as long as I can remember. I grew up going to Lutheran churches in Canada (various synods) and have visited churches of various other denominations, but have found that I am most comfortable with the teachings of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod in the United States and the Lutheran Church Canada in Canada. I believe that the Bible is the true Word of God and while other writings may help us to understand the Bible, no other writings are on the same level as the Bible.

My most important qualification for developing this website is that I am loved, chosen and called by God to believe in Jesus and serve Him as best I can through the help of the Holy Spirit (as are you!).

My education includes a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Psychology (specializing in human development and learning), training and certification as a Director of Christian Education through the Concordia University system of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and a Master of Parish Education degree.

Prior to my D.C.E. training, my experience in ministry included being a summer camp counsellor, Sunday School teacher, Confirmation teacher, youth leader, Vacation Bible School Director and Youth Director.  

After my D.C.E. training at Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska, I served at a congregation in East Wenatchee, Washington as a Director of Christian Education until the spring of 2000 when I got married and moved to my husband's farm in Eastern Washington.  Since getting married, I have given presentations and led workshops on a variety of ministry topics with a variety of groups. I also worked as both a supervisor and as a director of a Christian daycare center. I completed my Master of Parish Education degree shortly after my first son was born. I am currently a stay-at-home farmer's wife and mom with two sons. I believe God has called me to serve Him through this website, writing projects, volunteer opportunities at my home congregation, and occasional presentations at other locations in an effort to help people of all ages to better know and serve Jesus.

What I Believe

I believe that the Bible is the true and perfect Word of God. The Old Testament was given to us in Hebrew and Aramaic and the New Testament was given to us in Greek. We need to be careful to accurately translate from the original languages so that we maintain the true meaning of God's Word.

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16 NIV

I believe that the Lutheran Confessions (found in the Book of Concord and including Luther's Small Catechism) contain an accurate interpretation of Scripture but are not equal to Scripture.

I believe the Apostle's Creed, Nicene Creed and Athanasian Creed acurately represent the core of what I (and all Christians) believe.

I believe that ever since Adam and Eve first disobeyed God, all human beings are sinful and we cannot save ourselves.

"There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless;
there in no one who does good, not even one...This righteousness from God comes
through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified
freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."
Romans 3:10-12 & 22-23 NIV

I believe that we are saved "by grace through faith". Grace means that forgiveness of our sins, a relationship with God and eternity in heaven are a free, undeserved gift we are given through Jesus' dying and coming back to life for us. There's nothing we can do to be good enough to earn any of this for ourselves. God loves every human being and offers this free gift to everyone. Christians do not do good works to earn salvation. Instead, we try to do good in response to God's love for us much like we give gifts to our parents because we love them and not in an effort to make them love us.

"For it is by grace we have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves,
it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.
he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish,
but everyone to come to repentance."
2 Peter 3:9

Having faith in Jesus is more than just believing that He exists, even the devil knows that Jesus exists. Believing in Jesus and having faith in Him mean that we not only believe that He is true God as well as true man and that He died and rose again to save us from our sins, but we also accept His gift and trust in Him as best we can with the help of the Holy Spirit.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
John 3:16

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of
everyone who believes; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a
righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,
just as it is written: 'The righteous will live by faith.'"
Romans 1:16-17