Death to Control, Resurrection into Freedom

100:00:00.160 --> 00:00:01.420Hi, my name is Laurel Nicholson.200:00:01.800 --> 00:00:03.760I am the creator and the director of300:00:03.760 --> 00:00:06.540the Death and Resurrection Doula Training Program and400:00:06.540 --> 00:00:10.400Community, and I'm here to dive into my500:00:10.400 --> 00:00:11.620story a little bit more.600:00:12.180 --> 00:00:14.720What is it in my life that led700:00:14.720 --> 00:00:18.120me to create an end-of-life doula800:00:18.120 --> 00:00:20.000training program that is faith based?900:00:20.160 --> 00:00:22.500It's fully focused on Christ and Him crucified.1000:00:23.180 --> 00:00:25.700It is in an interesting time, the death1100:00:25.700 --> 00:00:29.380positive movement, a very secular and philosophical movement1200:00:29.380 --> 00:00:32.200reclaiming conversation around death.1300:00:32.300 --> 00:00:36.100It is time for Christians to have the1400:00:36.100 --> 00:00:39.600opportunity to answer God's call, to accompany the1500:00:39.600 --> 00:00:42.980dying, stand with them in resurrection hope, and1600:00:42.980 --> 00:00:44.980we must have a Christian training program to1700:00:44.980 --> 00:00:45.900be able to do that.1800:00:46.720 --> 00:00:48.800There's a story behind it.1900:00:48.980 --> 00:00:51.500It includes a story of death and resurrection.2000:00:52.080 --> 00:00:54.360That's why I named my program the Death2100:00:54.360 --> 00:00:56.360and Resurrection Doula Training Program.2200:00:57.020 --> 00:00:59.160And that story is about me.2300:00:59.340 --> 00:01:00.460There's other characters in it.2400:01:00.540 --> 00:01:01.540I'm going to share a little bit about2500:01:01.540 --> 00:01:01.940that.2600:01:02.260 --> 00:01:04.379But I am a believer.2700:01:04.820 --> 00:01:07.660I was raised in a Christian family and2800:01:07.660 --> 00:01:11.380spent a good part of my childhood in2900:01:11.380 --> 00:01:15.660Sunday school and Wednesday night church, Bible study3000:01:15.660 --> 00:01:17.300with peers from school.3100:01:17.800 --> 00:01:21.100But I still struggled in my faith, and3200:01:21.100 --> 00:01:23.540I struggled with sin.3300:01:23.760 --> 00:01:27.540I was about 15, and I plummeted from3400:01:27.540 --> 00:01:30.080a healthy weight as a 15-year-old3500:01:30.080 --> 00:01:32.280girl to a very unhealthy weight.3600:01:32.560 --> 00:01:35.380I was a track runner and had fast3700:01:35.380 --> 00:01:41.160times and ribbons from winning individual races and3800:01:41.160 --> 00:01:43.760relays, and all of that put a lot3900:01:43.760 --> 00:01:46.520of pressure on me to perform better.4000:01:47.160 --> 00:01:52.260And I fell into a pattern of low4100:01:52.260 --> 00:01:56.660-calorie eating, a lot of exercise, and body4200:01:56.660 --> 00:01:57.740image issues.4300:01:58.460 --> 00:01:59.760I'm going to talk a little bit about4400:01:59.760 --> 00:02:02.820that, you know, what my request from God4500:02:02.820 --> 00:02:05.880was for healing, how He did eventually heal4600:02:05.880 --> 00:02:10.340me, and why this story matters in creating4700:02:10.340 --> 00:02:12.780a Christian end-of-life doula training program.4800:02:12.940 --> 00:02:16.220From the very beginning of the struggle with4900:02:16.220 --> 00:02:20.960food intake, over-exercising, I knew I needed5000:02:20.960 --> 00:02:21.260healing.5100:02:21.520 --> 00:02:23.080It wasn't just, oh, this is a really5200:02:23.080 --> 00:02:23.720good idea.5300:02:24.600 --> 00:02:26.660Let's see how far I can take it.5400:02:27.000 --> 00:02:30.720No, there was anguish around it, and there5500:02:30.720 --> 00:02:36.060was anguish even before I really got deeply5600:02:36.060 --> 00:02:39.380involved in that behavior.5700:02:40.020 --> 00:02:43.920I just had anxiety and stress around things5800:02:43.920 --> 00:02:47.620to do with my body, probably even beginning5900:02:47.620 --> 00:02:49.040before the age of 15.6000:02:49.660 --> 00:02:51.580I had a journal, and I used to6100:02:51.580 --> 00:02:55.680write Scripture in it, and one of the6200:02:55.680 --> 00:02:59.720psalms I remember writing regularly was, you know,6300:02:59.780 --> 00:03:01.280you knew me before I was born.6400:03:01.520 --> 00:03:02.760You formed my inward parts.6500:03:03.140 --> 00:03:05.660And, you know, God knows that we are6600:03:05.660 --> 00:03:06.300His creation.6700:03:06.780 --> 00:03:08.680He has a plan for us, and He6800:03:08.680 --> 00:03:11.840has created us in the image of Himself.6900:03:12.480 --> 00:03:15.780But that's often, even for Christians, really hard7000:03:15.780 --> 00:03:18.840to understand, and it's hard to like ourselves.7100:03:19.520 --> 00:03:23.340It's hard to honor the body that God's7200:03:23.340 --> 00:03:25.680given us, and I took it to the7300:03:25.680 --> 00:03:26.780greatest extreme.7400:03:27.460 --> 00:03:29.940By the time I was in my mid7500:03:29.940 --> 00:03:34.100-30s, I had physically worn myself out, spiritually7600:03:34.100 --> 00:03:36.720worn myself out, emotionally worn myself out, and7700:03:36.720 --> 00:03:40.080it sent me into a pastor's office asking7800:03:40.080 --> 00:03:41.040for help.7900:03:42.540 --> 00:03:45.680Between the beginning of my journaling and prayer8000:03:45.680 --> 00:03:50.440and that moment, I had tried things other8100:03:50.440 --> 00:03:51.000than faith.8200:03:51.160 --> 00:03:53.640I had tried looking in the mirror and8300:03:53.640 --> 00:03:55.760speaking daily affirmations over my life.8400:03:56.660 --> 00:04:01.520I had tried strict diets and exercise regimens.8500:04:01.780 --> 00:04:03.600I even went as far to become a8600:04:03.600 --> 00:04:04.960raw vegan.8700:04:05.600 --> 00:04:07.200I spent many years at that.8800:04:07.820 --> 00:04:13.660Throughout my two pregnancies, I struggled with getting8900:04:13.660 --> 00:04:15.579enough, and it wore out my body.9000:04:16.079 --> 00:04:18.620Thankfully, my children were healthy, but it did9100:04:18.620 --> 00:04:20.220take a big toll on my body.9200:04:20.339 --> 00:04:22.220It took a toll on my marriage.9300:04:22.300 --> 00:04:24.240It took a toll on my relationships with9400:04:24.240 --> 00:04:27.060my family outside of my husband and children,9500:04:27.320 --> 00:04:28.460with my friends.9600:04:28.700 --> 00:04:30.800Exercise was at the top of my list9700:04:30.800 --> 00:04:32.980every day, and if you fit into that,9800:04:33.120 --> 00:04:35.840you easily fit into a relationship with me.9900:04:35.920 --> 00:04:38.000But if it got in my way, then10000:04:38.000 --> 00:04:39.500there was always tension.10100:04:41.060 --> 00:04:46.600But a little bit before I really wore10200:04:46.600 --> 00:04:49.880myself out, I had the opportunity to spend10300:04:49.880 --> 00:04:51.860time with my grandmother at the end of10400:04:51.860 --> 00:04:56.180her life, and she also struggled with body10500:04:56.180 --> 00:04:59.300image and with what she ate.10600:04:59.420 --> 00:05:02.040It never seemed to be the same extreme10700:05:02.040 --> 00:05:04.780that I had taken it to, but I10800:05:04.780 --> 00:05:08.640saw her still suffering from that in the10900:05:08.640 --> 00:05:11.800last couple weeks of her life, and it11000:05:11.800 --> 00:05:15.560taught me something that never was I going11100:05:15.560 --> 00:05:18.060to be able, through picking the right diet11200:05:18.060 --> 00:05:21.960regimen, picking the right friend group that supported11300:05:21.960 --> 00:05:24.800me, having children, none of these things that11400:05:24.800 --> 00:05:26.880are the things I was trying to do11500:05:26.880 --> 00:05:29.160to help myself get better, none of them11600:05:29.160 --> 00:05:30.840really made a difference.11700:05:31.140 --> 00:05:33.680I told myself that getting married was all11800:05:33.680 --> 00:05:35.420that I needed to do, and if I11900:05:35.420 --> 00:05:36.680can just get to this, then I won't12000:05:36.680 --> 00:05:37.480struggle with it anymore.12100:05:37.540 --> 00:05:38.800If I get to this, I won't struggle12200:05:38.800 --> 00:05:39.200anymore.12300:05:39.480 --> 00:05:43.580But it's just not true, and we have12400:05:43.580 --> 00:05:47.900to have something from the outside that heals12500:05:47.900 --> 00:05:50.920us and changes who we are, and that12600:05:50.920 --> 00:05:53.420thing from the outside is the gospel, and12700:05:53.420 --> 00:05:55.820it is given to us in Jesus Christ.12800:05:56.300 --> 00:05:59.200Although I heard the gospel as a child12900:05:59.200 --> 00:06:02.920and grew up around Christians, there was still13000:06:02.920 --> 00:06:04.840a time that God had appointed for me13100:06:04.840 --> 00:06:08.520to hear His message with fresh ears and13200:06:08.520 --> 00:06:11.820to heal me, and He did that in13300:06:11.820 --> 00:06:13.400my early 40s.13400:06:14.580 --> 00:06:18.120So, I really began to understand that there13500:06:18.120 --> 00:06:20.980is nothing within me that can change me,13600:06:21.500 --> 00:06:23.720and there was nothing within my grandmother that13700:06:23.720 --> 00:06:24.420could change her.13800:06:24.880 --> 00:06:26.940There's nothing within you that can change you.13900:06:27.040 --> 00:06:28.780It must come from the outside, and it14000:06:28.780 --> 00:06:31.980must be granted by the grace of God.14100:06:32.260 --> 00:06:34.800I spent a lot of years searching out14200:06:34.800 --> 00:06:41.220charismatic healing practices, scripture to read, prayers to14300:06:41.220 --> 00:06:44.180pray, and God used those.14400:06:44.320 --> 00:06:46.780He didn't use them in a way that,14500:06:47.180 --> 00:06:48.900you know, I woke up one morning and14600:06:48.900 --> 00:06:51.520all of my issues were gone.14700:06:51.820 --> 00:06:54.000The road to healing was long, and it14800:06:54.000 --> 00:06:57.300was painful, and there were many times where14900:06:57.300 --> 00:07:00.420I thought I'd really—I really wish I'd never15000:07:00.420 --> 00:07:03.560prayed for healing because actually life in bondage15100:07:03.560 --> 00:07:06.100seems a lot better than the healing process,15200:07:06.120 --> 00:07:10.980which was to walk through the pain that15300:07:10.980 --> 00:07:14.760caused me to find myself in the place15400:07:14.760 --> 00:07:15.480that I was.15500:07:15.660 --> 00:07:18.480But I assure you, in the end, the15600:07:18.480 --> 00:07:21.980freedom that we receive from healing is amazing.15700:07:22.120 --> 00:07:25.560What God really does is He uses that15800:07:25.560 --> 00:07:26.620to turn us out as servants.15900:07:26.900 --> 00:07:29.860So, what changed about me is that no16000:07:29.860 --> 00:07:32.340longer were food and exercise the most important16100:07:32.340 --> 00:07:32.840things.16200:07:33.220 --> 00:07:37.080They became just part of being a human16300:07:37.080 --> 00:07:37.420being.16400:07:37.600 --> 00:07:39.040We must take care of ourself, and we16500:07:39.040 --> 00:07:41.720eat healthy, and we get some exercise.16600:07:42.360 --> 00:07:45.000And instead, our time is spent in service16700:07:45.000 --> 00:07:47.820to our neighbor, and that is freedom.16800:07:48.300 --> 00:07:50.340It's not freedom that I can just stand16900:07:50.340 --> 00:07:51.640up and say, I think I'll do that17000:07:51.640 --> 00:07:51.940today.17100:07:51.980 --> 00:07:53.900That's freedom that comes through Christ.17200:07:54.460 --> 00:07:57.280And so, I share my story because I17300:07:57.280 --> 00:07:59.980just think it's really important to see that17400:07:59.980 --> 00:08:02.880no matter if you're a Christian or if17500:08:02.880 --> 00:08:06.020you're not a Christian, we cannot free ourselves17600:08:06.020 --> 00:08:07.740from the power of sin.17700:08:07.920 --> 00:08:09.480That must come through Jesus.17800:08:10.160 --> 00:08:11.900And if sin is a little bit of17900:08:11.900 --> 00:08:15.460an uncomfortable word, we cannot free ourselves from18000:08:15.460 --> 00:08:18.320the bondage that we're in as human beings.18100:08:18.320 --> 00:08:22.720It's a result of not being in a18200:08:22.720 --> 00:08:26.260relationship with God as He intended at creation.18300:08:26.540 --> 00:08:28.900And that comes from the very beginning with18400:08:28.900 --> 00:08:32.320Adam and Eve, and that trickles down into18500:08:32.320 --> 00:08:37.220our lives, and we experience that same distance18600:08:37.220 --> 00:08:39.860from God, the same need for salvation, the18700:08:39.860 --> 00:08:41.940need for renewal and transformation.18800:08:42.600 --> 00:08:45.900And as Christians, we're granted that in Jesus18900:08:45.900 --> 00:08:48.580Christ, and the Christian life is full of19000:08:48.580 --> 00:08:54.060trial and tribulation and may have long seasons19100:08:54.060 --> 00:08:54.540of addiction.19200:08:54.960 --> 00:08:59.740It may have seasons of divorce, of loss,19300:08:59.940 --> 00:09:03.000of things that we cannot break free from.19400:09:03.480 --> 00:09:07.100And we can be assured that in Christ,19500:09:07.400 --> 00:09:10.180God is at work, and we shouldn't be19600:09:10.180 --> 00:09:13.500afraid of these dark seasons because the Lord19700:09:13.500 --> 00:09:14.880has plans for them.19800:09:14.900 --> 00:09:16.560He has plans for them in your life.19900:09:16.880 --> 00:09:20.360And what I find when I meet people20000:09:20.360 --> 00:09:22.220who are interested in becoming an end-of20100:09:22.220 --> 00:09:24.960-life doula, or they've already began training in20200:09:24.960 --> 00:09:27.460my program, they have a story.20300:09:27.580 --> 00:09:30.660This is one of real tribulation, of real20400:09:30.660 --> 00:09:34.860bondage, and of shame, of the things that20500:09:34.860 --> 00:09:36.420we really don't want to talk about, but20600:09:36.420 --> 00:09:38.320that the Lord has reached into their life20700:09:38.320 --> 00:09:41.860and healed them and brought them forward into20800:09:41.860 --> 00:09:42.540a new life.20900:09:42.540 --> 00:09:45.940And so, I can say, honestly, that experience21000:09:45.940 --> 00:09:48.000for me was one of death and resurrection.21100:09:48.360 --> 00:09:51.120Death to the old self, the control, not21200:09:51.120 --> 00:09:54.380trusting God with my future, to the resurrection21300:09:54.380 --> 00:09:58.680of faith in that area that I couldn't21400:09:58.680 --> 00:09:59.920give my life to God.21500:10:00.180 --> 00:10:03.920And the Scripture says that when we follow21600:10:03.920 --> 00:10:06.020after Christ, we will lose our life, and21700:10:06.020 --> 00:10:07.680there is realness to that.21800:10:07.840 --> 00:10:12.000I'm still here physically very much, but my21900:10:12.000 --> 00:10:12.780life is different.22000:10:13.140 --> 00:10:16.200And I look back at those years, it22100:10:16.200 --> 00:10:18.900was 20 years for me, and the Lord22200:10:18.900 --> 00:10:21.240didn't just forget about them and chuck them22300:10:21.240 --> 00:10:22.600off to the side and say those don't22400:10:22.600 --> 00:10:22.860matter.22500:10:23.040 --> 00:10:26.160No, they fully form who I am and22600:10:26.160 --> 00:10:26.640my calling.22700:10:26.980 --> 00:10:30.600So, I encourage you to think about your22800:10:30.600 --> 00:10:32.360story from that perspective.22900:10:32.680 --> 00:10:37.460God has allowed seasons of the desert, of23000:10:37.460 --> 00:10:40.980wandering, of doubt, and He will not waste23100:10:40.980 --> 00:10:41.160it.23200:10:41.240 --> 00:10:42.600He will not say, oh, that was just23300:10:42.600 --> 00:10:44.220a time where her faith wasn't strong.23400:10:44.360 --> 00:10:47.100He actually will move right into that part23500:10:47.100 --> 00:10:49.380of your life and create faith in you.23600:10:50.080 --> 00:10:53.740You will experience freedom, and you will be23700:10:53.740 --> 00:10:54.720able to serve others.23800:10:54.880 --> 00:10:58.260God strongly used the death of my grandmother23900:10:58.260 --> 00:11:00.980to open my eyes to a new future.24000:11:01.420 --> 00:11:03.200Certainly not what I expected.24100:11:03.500 --> 00:11:06.800I wanted a much quicker healing.24200:11:07.660 --> 00:11:10.760I wanted to continue in the life that24300:11:10.760 --> 00:11:14.900I had without injury, without the feeling of24400:11:14.900 --> 00:11:15.500bondage.24500:11:15.820 --> 00:11:18.700But that life has been removed, and a24600:11:18.700 --> 00:11:20.900new life has been set in its place.24700:11:21.100 --> 00:11:23.620And so, that is why I'm here.24800:11:23.740 --> 00:11:27.440It's what has urged me to create a24900:11:27.440 --> 00:11:30.760training program for end-of-life doulas based25000:11:30.760 --> 00:11:32.340in Christian faith.25100:11:32.400 --> 00:11:33.760And it's not just a little bit about25200:11:33.760 --> 00:11:34.280Christian faith.25300:11:34.320 --> 00:11:35.720It's all about Christian faith.25400:11:36.660 --> 00:11:39.680And what shines so brightly in the program25500:11:39.680 --> 00:11:42.100is that there is something we're waiting for,25600:11:42.200 --> 00:11:43.400and it's really good news.25700:11:43.600 --> 00:11:45.820So, we know that Jesus is going to25800:11:45.820 --> 00:11:46.160return.25900:11:46.580 --> 00:11:48.340He's going to raise the dead from their26000:11:48.340 --> 00:11:51.100graves, and He is going to bring a26100:11:51.100 --> 00:11:52.400new heaven and a new earth.26200:11:52.600 --> 00:11:54.260But first, there is.26300:11:54.700 --> 00:11:57.780There's judgment, and that judgment sets things right.26400:11:58.220 --> 00:12:02.020And we as Christians are in Christ, and26500:12:02.020 --> 00:12:05.120so we are guaranteed eternal life in the26600:12:05.120 --> 00:12:06.420new heaven and the new earth.26700:12:06.600 --> 00:12:09.820We can see spaces where God truly is26800:12:09.820 --> 00:12:12.700at work, and He's truly transforming us into26900:12:12.700 --> 00:12:14.940the human being that we are meant to27000:12:14.940 --> 00:12:15.100be.27100:12:15.220 --> 00:12:18.520We are going to live in transformed bodies27200:12:18.520 --> 00:12:20.200in a new heaven and a new earth,27300:12:20.300 --> 00:12:21.960and we are not going to get tired.27400:12:22.260 --> 00:12:23.400We are not going to die.27500:12:23.500 --> 00:12:24.500We're not going to age.27600:12:24.740 --> 00:12:26.940We're going to fully live as stewards of27700:12:26.940 --> 00:12:29.340God's creation as He originally intended.27800:12:29.520 --> 00:12:32.580So, whatever sin has done in your life,27900:12:33.060 --> 00:12:35.340it is not for nothing.28000:12:35.620 --> 00:12:39.360God will use that to make something new28100:12:39.360 --> 00:12:40.940in your life, and you're already going to28200:12:40.940 --> 00:12:43.800be able to experience that here on this28300:12:43.800 --> 00:12:46.820earth as we wait for Jesus to come28400:12:46.820 --> 00:12:52.140back for the judgment, for the new heaven28500:12:52.140 --> 00:12:52.880and the new earth.28600:12:53.000 --> 00:12:54.920And what we really want to focus on28700:12:54.920 --> 00:12:58.140is that the dead in Christ have priority28800:12:58.140 --> 00:12:59.800when Jesus comes back.28900:12:59.920 --> 00:13:02.660The Scripture says in 1 Thessalonians 4, 1629000:13:02.660 --> 00:13:04.640that the dead in Christ will be raised29100:13:04.640 --> 00:13:05.060first.29200:13:05.360 --> 00:13:08.140That transforms how we look at end-of29300:13:08.140 --> 00:13:08.640-life care.29400:13:09.040 --> 00:13:12.520As we care for people, we see that29500:13:12.520 --> 00:13:15.860there is a resurrection ahead for them, and29600:13:15.860 --> 00:13:20.500that transforms how we care for the dying29700:13:20.500 --> 00:13:24.500people, how we relate to their caregivers, how29800:13:24.500 --> 00:13:26.220we relate to the wider community.29900:13:26.460 --> 00:13:27.620It makes a difference.30000:13:27.880 --> 00:13:31.180And how those who are not yet believers30100:13:31.860 --> 00:13:34.360come to know the good news that's ahead.30200:13:34.840 --> 00:13:37.400So, it's really important to have a training30300:13:37.400 --> 00:13:39.680program that is focused on end-of-life30400:13:39.680 --> 00:13:43.100doula care, a non-medical role at end30500:13:43.100 --> 00:13:43.480-of-life.30600:13:43.580 --> 00:13:45.900It's really important to have it Christ-centric.30700:13:46.120 --> 00:13:49.100It must be, based on the cross and30800:13:49.100 --> 00:13:50.240the hope of resurrection.30900:13:50.880 --> 00:13:52.480So, here I am.31000:13:52.660 --> 00:13:57.720I have built a really comprehensive training program.31100:13:58.060 --> 00:13:59.720I have a professional course, and I have31200:13:59.720 --> 00:14:02.020a volunteer course, depending on how you want31300:14:02.020 --> 00:14:02.820to get involved.31400:14:03.420 --> 00:14:06.940But setting out to create a training program31500:14:06.940 --> 00:14:08.440didn't go the way that I thought it31600:14:08.440 --> 00:14:08.660would.31700:14:08.820 --> 00:14:10.740I've enjoyed the way that it's gone.31800:14:10.840 --> 00:14:12.580Of course, I've met with some frustration.31900:14:13.100 --> 00:14:17.080It's actually really hard to be a solopreneur32000:14:17.080 --> 00:14:21.120and come up with all the ideas and32100:14:21.120 --> 00:14:22.520lead by yourself.32200:14:22.940 --> 00:14:25.640Thankfully, the Lord has provided me with really32300:14:25.640 --> 00:14:28.520great friends along the way and supportive people32400:14:28.520 --> 00:14:33.220enrolled inside my training program who thank me32500:14:33.220 --> 00:14:34.460and say, this works.32600:14:34.580 --> 00:14:35.780Maybe this is a little bit hard to32700:14:35.780 --> 00:14:36.220understand.32800:14:36.360 --> 00:14:39.120So, it really has become a collaborative effort32900:14:39.120 --> 00:14:40.480at the end of the day.33000:14:41.060 --> 00:14:43.620If you go on social media, it says,33100:14:43.840 --> 00:14:47.700oh, put your training program up online and33200:14:47.700 --> 00:14:48.920make money while you sleep.33300:14:49.120 --> 00:14:51.360I just want to tell you that that's33400:14:51.360 --> 00:14:52.220not what it's like.33500:14:53.560 --> 00:14:59.180When you involve people in your grand idea,33600:15:00.060 --> 00:15:03.160it takes effort, and it takes work, and33700:15:03.160 --> 00:15:06.600it takes collaboration, and beauty comes from that.33800:15:06.720 --> 00:15:08.200So, I don't want anyone to think that33900:15:08.200 --> 00:15:10.540embarking on something like this is something that34000:15:10.540 --> 00:15:12.480you could take on as an island.34100:15:12.800 --> 00:15:14.840There's no true beauty in that.34200:15:14.920 --> 00:15:17.180It's great when God gives us a vision,34300:15:17.500 --> 00:15:19.520and then He provides the resources to help34400:15:19.520 --> 00:15:20.520us carry it out.34500:15:21.000 --> 00:15:23.440Believe it or not, one of the biggest34600:15:23.440 --> 00:15:26.740challenges, as well as blessings, has been technology.34700:15:27.280 --> 00:15:31.920Technology means that I can include people from34800:15:31.920 --> 00:15:35.820South Africa and Australia, Canada, just naming a34900:15:35.820 --> 00:15:38.560few countries that I have gotten to know35000:15:38.560 --> 00:15:38.880people.35100:15:39.060 --> 00:15:41.300They've either joined the training program or joined35200:15:41.300 --> 00:15:42.820the International Fellowship Cafe.35300:15:43.340 --> 00:15:44.920It opens up the world to be able35400:15:44.920 --> 00:15:47.140to use a platform such as Zoom to35500:15:47.140 --> 00:15:47.960host meetings.35600:15:49.020 --> 00:15:51.500Online training, I use Convene Communities.35700:15:51.680 --> 00:15:52.780It's an all-in-one platform.35800:15:53.340 --> 00:15:55.280We can go from training to actually owning35900:15:55.280 --> 00:15:57.720and running a business on the same platform,36000:15:57.720 --> 00:15:58.520which I love.36100:15:58.660 --> 00:16:01.540There are opportunities for other fellowship groups to36200:16:01.540 --> 00:16:05.500join and collaborate outside of training and be36300:16:05.500 --> 00:16:09.060supported by certified death and resurrection doulas.36400:16:09.340 --> 00:16:09.880But you know what?36500:16:09.960 --> 00:16:10.860Technology's hard.36600:16:11.280 --> 00:16:13.900Your phone doesn't always work, or your laptop36700:16:13.900 --> 00:16:16.880is doing something, or you can't always find36800:16:16.880 --> 00:16:19.060the Zoom link and it's time to jump36900:16:19.060 --> 00:16:19.380on.37000:16:19.840 --> 00:16:23.180So, technology has been a hurdle, but also37100:16:23.180 --> 00:16:25.020a blessing, as I said, because it allows37200:16:25.020 --> 00:16:27.420us to be together and to record calls37300:16:27.420 --> 00:16:29.840and share them on YouTube and all of37400:16:29.840 --> 00:16:30.180that.37500:16:30.520 --> 00:16:33.420I don't want anyone to feel that their37600:16:33.420 --> 00:16:36.980story is something that might keep them out37700:16:36.980 --> 00:16:40.780of joining this community, whether it's not dramatic37800:16:40.780 --> 00:16:43.300enough or maybe it has too many areas37900:16:43.300 --> 00:16:44.080that feel shameful.38000:16:44.520 --> 00:16:47.520No, your story is your story, and it's38100:16:47.520 --> 00:16:51.200what makes God's call on your life so38200:16:51.200 --> 00:16:52.620meaningful and valuable.38300:16:53.500 --> 00:16:57.860And technology, something not to dismiss, because even38400:16:57.860 --> 00:17:00.500though it comes with complications some days, it38500:17:00.500 --> 00:17:02.560also gives us a lot of benefit.38600:17:02.860 --> 00:17:05.140And I've actually found that part of the38700:17:05.140 --> 00:17:07.420ministry is actually helping people with their technology.38800:17:07.560 --> 00:17:10.020That was something I never thought about when38900:17:10.020 --> 00:17:11.560I set out to build this training program.39000:17:11.740 --> 00:17:14.819Different theological views is another area that can39100:17:14.819 --> 00:17:16.319sometimes get a little bit tense.39200:17:16.460 --> 00:17:19.119We should all be able to come together39300:17:19.119 --> 00:17:22.480in the hope of resurrection and in the39400:17:22.480 --> 00:17:23.380truth of the cross.39500:17:23.540 --> 00:17:25.240And even if we differ a little bit39600:17:25.240 --> 00:17:28.240on baptism as an infant or as an39700:17:28.240 --> 00:17:30.560adult, or if our views differ on the39800:17:30.560 --> 00:17:33.660exact nature of Christ's return, we can still39900:17:33.660 --> 00:17:37.980look towards the cross together, look towards the40000:17:37.980 --> 00:17:41.500resurrection together, and make an impact, a movement40100:17:41.500 --> 00:17:44.500of resurrection hope in the body of Christ.40200:17:44.800 --> 00:17:50.040This concept may ring familiar to you, may40300:17:50.040 --> 00:17:53.000ring familiar, but you don't know a lot40400:17:53.000 --> 00:17:53.440about it.40500:17:53.560 --> 00:17:57.760The early Christians, they focused on the return40600:17:57.760 --> 00:17:58.300of Christ.40700:17:58.560 --> 00:18:00.780I just want to share that there is40800:18:00.780 --> 00:18:03.840nothing that can keep you from answering the40900:18:03.840 --> 00:18:06.320call to God, to share your story, to41000:18:06.320 --> 00:18:09.340be a servant, to pick up a device,41100:18:09.440 --> 00:18:13.900a computer, or a laptop, or a phone,41200:18:14.120 --> 00:18:15.900and get involved in fellowship.41300:18:16.260 --> 00:18:20.600Consider going further than that and serving in41400:18:20.600 --> 00:18:24.000your church for aging community members or someone41500:18:24.000 --> 00:18:25.880who's nearing the end of their life.41600:18:26.000 --> 00:18:29.020There is a place for everybody, and God41700:18:29.020 --> 00:18:30.060is at work.41800:18:30.800 --> 00:18:34.440He's bringing us together, and He is making41900:18:34.440 --> 00:18:37.320it important in the 21st century that we42000:18:37.320 --> 00:18:39.660look at end-of-life care from a42100:18:39.660 --> 00:18:40.940gospel-centered perspective.42200:18:40.940 --> 00:18:43.300He's making it important in your life, He's42300:18:43.300 --> 00:18:45.820making it important in mine, in a wider42400:18:45.820 --> 00:18:49.080community, the death and resurrection doula community, and42500:18:49.080 --> 00:18:51.960I know that He has plans for the42600:18:51.960 --> 00:18:55.680body of Christ to look to Him, look42700:18:55.680 --> 00:18:57.900to the truth of His word, and to42800:18:57.900 --> 00:19:02.960anticipate His return, a timely return where the42900:19:02.960 --> 00:19:05.380dead will be raised, and the Lord will43000:19:05.380 --> 00:19:07.220make all things right, and there will be43100:19:07.220 --> 00:19:08.820a new heaven and a new earth, and43200:19:08.820 --> 00:19:13.040we will steward that new creation as image43300:19:13.040 --> 00:19:16.580bearers of Christ, and dwelt with His Spirit,43400:19:17.020 --> 00:19:20.220and there will be no more dying and43500:19:20.220 --> 00:19:24.420crying and pain, there will be mutual love43600:19:24.420 --> 00:19:27.420for one another, there will not be injustices,43700:19:27.520 --> 00:19:30.320the things that we experience today.43800:19:31.000 --> 00:19:34.100God will not waste any of these experiences,43900:19:34.360 --> 00:19:37.560but He is making them into something much44000:19:37.560 --> 00:19:42.480more grand for us in His new creation.