Finding a Closer Walk with Jesus

The early morning hours offered rest and peace most nights for Travis Helm, but not this night. He was up agonizing over his current spiritual state. Crying out to God for a flood to soothe his inner drought, Travis knew there must be more to life than pursuing the "American Dream."

Before finally going to bed, he noticed a SEND! magazine on his desk opened to a page inviting people to Gospel for Asia's 2006 Renewing Your Passion Conference in Dallas, Texas. As he read the invitation, Travis felt God urging him to attend. He had been waiting for the Lord to speak to him in a personal way and give him clear direction. When he and his wife, Lisa, boarded a plane from their home state of Pennsylvania and headed south, little did they know what God had in store.

"At the conference, I heard loud and clear what the Lord was burning on my heart: Know Him, love Him and obey Him. They all three go hand-in-hand," Travis shares. "To truly know Him precipitates loving Him, and loving Him results in obedience to His Word."

After months of searching for the Lord's refreshment and direction in his life, Travis encountered God in a personal way at the conference. His spiritual dryness gave way to refreshment as he discovered new and inspiring insights from the Lord.

"God showed me that seeking His kingdom and His righteousness far outweighs any temporal possessions or goals we have in this world," Travis explains.

Through each session, Travis's heart drew closer to the Father. The times set aside for serious soul-searching allowed him to seek the Lord without the distractions of the daily grind.

"I felt the presence of God in the praise and worship, through every speaker, and most obviously during the prayer time," Travis says.

The Lord also moved dramatically in Lisa's heart. She already had a heart for world missions, but God wanted to draw her even closer to Himself. He opened her eyes to His incredible ability and power.

"After hearing the stories the missionaries shared, my faith noticeably increased. I also found myself more concerned with obeying the Lord," Lisa says. "These were not temporary changes. In fact, the impact seemed to only increase in the weeks following the conference as I made changes in my daily life that reflected the change in my heart."

Many other dedicated Christians who attended the conference also encouraged Lisa through conversations during meals and small group prayer times. Meeting new friends from around the world encouraged her to stay strong in the Lord.

"I really appreciated the fellowship with like-minded believers. That included hearing the messages from the wonderful speakers, as well as meeting and talking with GFA staff and other GFA supporters," Lisa recalls. "I cried when it was over. I was so sad for everyone to go their separate ways."

On the last day of the conference, everyone gathered for one last worship service to partake in communion together. During this time, Travis had an opportunity to reflect on how God truly renewed his passion for Christ through the weekend.

"I had already begun to process what the Lord was teaching me and that He was leading me to a higher calling of being an obedient, devout follower, not just a knowledgeable hearer," Travis shares. "And that day, I could leave that old lifestyle at the cross, free to live a life of reality with a focus on Christ and His eternal kingdom."

Click here for more information about 2008 Renew Your Passion Missions Conference