Radiant Vessels!

((This was originally posted on my church's Cambodia missions blog, just before my team arrived home at the end of July. As a reflection upon my adventure as well as my first project Rachel and I wrote together, it is special to me... but I want to share it with the darkness surrounding our Christmas-time celebration in mind especially.))

[Taylor:] When I first began this missions journey, I felt sorry for Cambodian Christians in a way that was unfair. It's not that I lacked respect for them; I certainly viewed the Fleenors with admiration in light of all they gave up to follow God's call. Still, without saying (or thinking) it in blunt words, my perception of Cambodia's believers before the trip was one based mostly on pity for their circumstances. I noticed at the outset of our trip a great overwhelming opposition for the country's Christ followers, but as I've interacted with this faithful remnant personally, I've learned to appreciate one thing most of all: in the midst of adversity and obscurity is where God's love shines brightest.

[Rachel:] My feelings before coming to Cambodia were similar, with the expectation that we were going to encourage our brothers and sisters and God was going to use us to shine His light- a startling contrast to the bleak surroundings. What I did not expect to see was God's flame of redemption burning relentlessly in so many of the individuals we would interact with- reflecting back strength, Love, and joy.

[Taylor:] Rachel and I want to share with you who these individuals are, and how they illuminated the way God's kingdom unexpectedly flourishes. Two men come to my mind in particular: Paul Fleenor and Soem.

Anticipating Adventure

Positive and exciting news:

In about thirty-six hours, I set off on my first overseas journey and missions trip, with many of my favorite people to Cambodia.

I will be going there with nine other members of Clovis Christian’s college-age group, including my godly girlfriend-best friend and two honorable men I count as brothers, along with the seasoned explorer and spiritual mother who serves as our church’s mission director.

New Chapter's Resolution

Hi there, and welcome to my new blog!

You, kind reader, have caught me at what I sincerely hope is the beginning of a fresh life chapter-- one where I treat writing as a purposeful and professional pursuit, even if it is not yet my job. I will explain, without using too many paragraphs, what this means to me… but first I feel an introduction is due.

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My name is Taylor Lewis, with T.C. Lewis being my pen name.

I am twenty years old, though as someone who has been called a mature adolescent but is now uncharacteristically youthful for an adult, I have to wonder what an objective age is meant tell about a person.

I’m trusted with (and paid for) the weekly set up of chairs and tables at Clovis Christian Church-- a humbly built yet modestly adorned structure despite the stained glass stereotype, which houses a similarly normal-seeming yet living and loving community. I also volunteer as a youth teacher and tech team member here.

I am the youngest of two sons, currently living with my parents and two birds (an Indian Ringneck and Cockatiel). God has blessed me with my captivating and strengthening girlfriend, who I have better befriended, persistently pursued, and delightedly dated, beginning halfway into this year after a frustrating (but far from meaningless!) season of singleness.

I was raised with Christian beliefs, but questioned them during high school, eventually considering myself an atheist. Since I was holding tightly to this skeptical stance even as my parents brought me to Clovis Christian, it came as a pleasant surprise that meeting real imitators of Jesus and finding genuine acceptance among them catalyzed the development my own faith. I found answers to my questions along the way, too, but mainly it was seeing God’s love through people that drew me in and transformed me.

I enjoy reading, writing, and video games… but in all three, what I love is immersing myself in a good story. Until now, I shared my writing in two blogs: one featuring works of fiction based in the Warcraft universe, and another dealing with weightier matters of Truth through apologetics and Biblical teaching (which contains my full testimony, too, if you’re one of those rare folks that does enjoy having a life story thrown at their face).