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About Manfishers
Nick's Testimony
Get your fishing license!
From a very early age, my parents taught me the value of
church and Christianity. We attended regularly when I was a
young child, and even when my parents stopped attending
as much, I continued to participate as much as I could. I can
recall asking my mother (I think I was 4-5 years old) "if I
would go to heaven when I died" and asking God to let me.
If you’re interested in learning more about how
Manfishers can help your church or ministry develop a
true discipling relationship with one of our partners in
the field, or perhaps you’re interested in volunteering
for an upcoming trip, please do not hesitate to
contact us. We would be happy to talk with you more
about your relationship with Christ and His calling on
your life to follow Him and be a fisher of men!
Soon after I turned 12, I saw a radical change in my dad that had a tremendous impact
on me. He had slipped out of church and virtually everything to do with it, but now with
this change, he was a new man. He even started preaching and taught a Sunday
School class! Whether it was because of his change or because of my adolescence, I
began to resent church. I knew it was right and good, but I was losing interest
nonetheless. Eventually, I stopped going altogether, save those occasional "events"
where I was asked to sing or I simply went for a production, etc.
After a difficult experience in the military following the first war in Iraq, I came home and was soon married. It was then that my upbringing reminded me that "a family should attend church together," so we did. Soon after our marriage, we became very involved (regular attendance, mission trips overseas, prison/shelter ministries, choir, etc.). Through all of these activities -- in one way or another -- I was ministering to others, teaching them the same kinds of things I had been taught over the years.
Even still, after this went on for a while, I began to struggle with my own spirituality. I was coming to realize that much of the things that I had been taught -- things I had taught others, too -- had made it to my head, but not to my heart. It was like I had a fatal illness and was holding the pill that would cure me in my hand rather than swallowing it. I knew who God was, what He wanted to do for me, all I needed to do was say, "Yes, God." It was then that I accepted God's gift and plan for my life -- I stopped struggling with trying to be what I thought I should be, and instead I let Him begin to mold me into the man He wanted (wants) me to become. Now, all of the things I used to do “for God” I now have the privilege of doing “with God.” There is a real purpose in the work I do – not for God’s favor, but because of God’s favor.
After a difficult experience in the military following the first war in Iraq, I came home and was soon married. It was then that my upbringing reminded me that "a family should attend church together," so we did. Soon after our marriage, we became very involved (regular attendance, mission trips overseas, prison/shelter ministries, choir, etc.). Through all of these activities -- in one way or another -- I was ministering to others, teaching them the same kinds of things I had been taught over the years.
Even still, after this went on for a while, I began to struggle with my own spirituality. I was coming to realize that much of the things that I had been taught -- things I had taught others, too -- had made it to my head, but not to my heart. It was like I had a fatal illness and was holding the pill that would cure me in my hand rather than swallowing it. I knew who God was, what He wanted to do for me, all I needed to do was say, "Yes, God." It was then that I accepted God's gift and plan for my life -- I stopped struggling with trying to be what I thought I should be, and instead I let Him begin to mold me into the man He wanted (wants) me to become. Now, all of the things I used to do “for God” I now have the privilege of doing “with God.” There is a real purpose in the work I do – not for God’s favor, but because of God’s favor.
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