My Spiritual Journey with Christ and His Church
My relationship with the Lord began at an early age. I was raised in a Christian home and always had a God “consciousness”. I remember giving my life to the Lord Jesus at around six (6) years of age, and fell in love with His ways. Baptized at age nine (9), I re-dedicated my life to the Lord at approximately fourteen/fifteen (14-15) years.
As a teen, I became immersed in serving at my local church, Swallowfield Chapel, in whatever way I could, and I particularly enjoyed working with children and other younger teens. During that time, I also began counselling at youth camps, which engendered in me a love for serving youth (particularly at-risk teens), which continues today.
At about age seventeen (17), I became involved with the Love March Movement (LMM), which was and is, a local youth Christian organization dedicated to sexual purity and the advancement and protection of the family and family-friendly laws.
My involvement with LMM commenced just before I began my undergraduate studies in Law, and seemed to me to be a clear indication of how the Lord would use my profession to advocate for truth and justice in the future.
I am now an Attorney-at-Law, and a Vice-President of LMM. Since my initial involvement with LMM, we have organized many protests, shared at many high schools and churches, participated in many media events/interviews, filmed a documentary, travelled regionally and internationally, and made several submissions to Parliament regarding the sanctity of life, marriage, human sexuality, the age of consent, human trafficking, sexual purity, youth involvement in the political process, and government transparency and accountability.
Three Books That Have Impacted Me
Three books that I have read, which have impacted my life significantly besides the Bible (which is the book that has most profoundly impacted my life- and continues to), are: Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, the Knowledge of the Holy by A. W. Tozer, and No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green by Melody Green.
I read Mere Christianity, the Knowledge of the Holy and No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green towards the end of my high school journey, shortly before beginning university. At the time I was hungry for God and seeking truth, questioning the foundations of my faith with a desire to understand (not refute), and earnestly longing for intimacy with Jesus and transformation in my generation.
Mere Christianity gave me language for logically explaining and defending my faith, and shaped my curiosity of God Himself. Reading Mere Christianity led me to The Knowledge of the Holy, which gripped my heart with the transcendence of God, and influenced my prayer and devotional life remarkably. A.W Tozer’s writings encouraged me to study the attributes of God in Scripture and left me in awe of His magnitude and immense kindness.
Finally, reading the biography of Keith Green, resulted in greater fascination with Jesus, and His ability to empower a broken person to live a life wholly devoted to Him in the midst of a decadent age; and for that life to have great impact.
My life’s goal is to be a part of God’s story in the earth and to fulfil His purposes; to join with Him in intercession (which is the calling of an Attorney), in the Courts of heaven, and before men.
I have a passion for the study of the Word, prayer, inter-cultural missions and discipleship. I believe that God is raising up for himself in this generation, thousands of forerunner messengers who will live lives of extravagant wholehearted devotion to Jesus, proclaim His glorious return, and prepare the hearts of men for His coming.
Maranatha!
Francesca Tavares (West Indies) is a daughter, sister, friend, avid reader, attorney-at-law, and porridge connoisseur. She enjoys Jesus and fulfilling His purposes for her life on Earth.
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