Many years ago, my wife, Cheryl, and I participated in a small group study entitled Experiencing God written by Henry and Richard Blackaby. It was a turning point in our Christian lives. We realized for the first time in our lives that God was at work around us, and we were to be obedient and join Him. We did two things immediately. First, we hosted an Experiencing God small group study in our house and second, we started looking for opportunities to join God in His work. Several years later we joined another church where the lead pastor, Nolen Rollins, was influenced significantly by Henry Blackaby. Not long after joining the church we heard about a course offered by the pastor, GPS Life Journey, which, as we understood it, was an opportunity for Cheryl and me to learn about ourselves – our strengths, abilities, gifts, and passions – in a way we’ve never experienced before. We would use that information and our experiences in life to form a life mission that would guide us in determining how we would fit into the work God is doing around us.
Personal Missions Cheryl started doing bookkeeping in her grandparents’ business from the time she could hold a pencil in her hand. Today, she is a partner/owner in our accounting firm. As an accountant and QuickBooks ProAdvisor, she works with not-for-profit and for-profit organizations. What she’s discovered is that many organizations are not good stewards of their financial structure and they’re non-compliant with state and federal laws. We like to say their toes are at the edge of a cliff, but they refuse to acknowledge there is an edge. Cheryl’s mission is to be a resource in matters of finance and compliance so that organizations can avoid serious problems and make informed personal and business decisions. My mission is to tutor students in Christian-based programs so they can achieve their full potential and engage in God’s purposes for their lives. I graduated from college with a degree in psychology and education and found myself teaching applied physics. I’ve been an automotive machinist, teacher, technical trainer, manager of a documentation department, systems engineer, sales manager, and the Chief Technology Officer in our accounting firm. I love using all I’ve learned in my professional and Christian life in tutoring and mentoring students. For Cheryl and me, our GPS Life Journey clarified how we fit into God’s plan. We now know exactly how and where to join God in His work. Difficulties on Our Journey Facing challenges in the accounting firm, Cheryl and I left the firm in 2018 to focus on the work God was directing us toward. Amid the crisis we were facing, Cheryl’s mother discovered she had aggressive cancer invading her body. We cared for Cheryl’s mom and dad through a very difficult time in their lives. Within six months Cheryl’s mom passed away and soon after Cheryl’s dad also died. This put into perspective how short life is and had her asking the question once again – what am I here for? Cheryl took the opportunity to take GPS Life Journey again as a refresher to learn more about how God was working in her life. Today she continues to forge ahead in the work God has called her to. To make life more interesting, I was experiencing a significant loss of muscle strength due to the damage done to my motor neurons by the polio virus I experienced as an 18-month-old. Also, our income was affected enough during the downturn in real estate sales, that we were struggling to keep our home. It wasn’t the right time to sell. It seemed that from every side we were under attack. It was at that time that Cheryl was returning from visiting a client. As she pulled into our garage, she was thinking about trying to stay in our home when she heard God say, “You don’t know the blessings I have for you.” She knew that God was telling her that selling the house was in His plan. Today I continue in the work God has invited me to plus I’ve heard from God that he has additional work for me to do. I heard Him clearly say, “I gave you a story to write, write it.” For many years I have felt compelled to write a story about my life to leave to our grandchildren. For a decade, I wrote the story with no plans other than printing the story for them. After hearing God’s command, I knew He wanted me to tell not just my experiences from childhood but the entire story. I have just completed the third book in a five-book series detailing my experiences. Cheryl and I feel exceptionally blessed by God to have discovered the life-changing truths in Experiencing God and GPS Life Journey. Our lives are full of significance, even with experiencing the difficulties we have encountered. Cheryl Willett is an accountant/consultant with Willett Business Management, Inc. Rich Willett is an author, Whatever It takes, LLC. (Story written by Rich Willett)
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In this month's Note From Nolen - it's not about being busy!
"I attended the funeral recently of my long term friend and mentor, Dr. Henry Blackaby, author of Experiencing God. I've often heard Dr. Blackaby say, Most Christians are so busy doing the work of the church that they miss the will of God. Wow, that is a profound statement. It's not a negative statement towards working in the church. Working in the church is indeed the will of God for some people. But the problem is many people are just doing what they've been asked to do without seeking an understanding. What is it God wants me to do? What is God's specific purpose for the next stage of my life? God has general purposes for all followers of Jesus Christ, but he has specific purposes or a mission or good works, which he created for us in Christ Jesus. even before we were born that we should be doing. May I encourage you seek what is God's purpose and plan for your life rather than just being busy. Being busy is not what God wants you to do. He wants you to accomplish his specific purpose and plan for every stage of your life. About GPS Life Journey is designed to help you determine that. If we can help you feel free to contact us. God bless." You can learn more about events happening on our EVENTS page. You can CONTACT us here. In this video, you get to meet Sam Trait, a recent GPS Life Journey Graduate in Lenoir City, TN. Here is what she had to say about the process.
"I recently took GPS life journey class. It was amazing. It does a lot for you. My strengths have been just brought to light and I can, you know, it's to honor the Lord with those and serve my church. It feels good to be able to do that and I learned a lot about my purpose in serving and honoring God also in the class. And how crucial it is to the body of Christ in service for him and helping our community and our members of the church. I would highly recommend this class to you, not only just for the sake of learning your strengths, but learning who you are and how you can honor God." If you would like to participate in a GPS Life Journey class then check to see what events are happening or contact us to learn more about different movements around the world. Including online via Zoom! This GPS Life Journey story is written in memory of one of my dearest friends ever. Dozens, if not hundreds, of times in GPS Life Journey Workshops I have verbally told the living-on-mission story of Jim Milby. His story is a vivid testimony of the value of participating in a GPS Life Journey Workshop. Jim Milby was promoted to heaven for his ultimate Kingdom service adventure on November 30, 2020 after a long battle with cancer. Jim and Linda Milby have not only been our dear friends for many years, but they are also family. Their youngest son, Todd, married our oldest daughter, April, in 1997. So, we have been doing family together for over 25 years and we share three tremendous grandchildren. Large Service, Small Fulfillment Jim Milby was the ultimate churchman. He served in numerous leadership capacities over his decades of church service. He was a fully devoted follower of Jesus Christ and said “yes” when asked to serve in his Church. He gave leadership to the church’s capital stewardship campaign. He served as Chairman of the Deacons. He often found himself in positions of out-front, spokesperson leadership. Frequently, Jim contemplated why he was most often uncomfortable in these leadership roles and why he experienced more frustration than fulfillment. After all, Jim was accustomed to holding extremely responsible positions and giving excellent leadership to teams over his illustrious career as launch director for the space program. He had overseen the launch for numerous communication satellites in his career. His retirement celebration gave evidence of his commitment to service and excellence. Then Came GPS Life Journey After Jim’s retirement and consequent relocation to Southwest Florida he became a member of our church and served as an Elder. Shortly after joining our ranks, he and Linda, his wife, participated in a GPS Life Journey Workshop. It was my privilege to facilitate that particular workshop. When I announced that the first section of the GPS Life Journey consisted of seven personal assessments to better understand how God had uniquely created and shaped each of us, I saw less than enthusiasm in Jim’s eyes. I wasn’t sure what that meant but proceeded as if “all is well” because I had seen that gaze before in the eyes of other highly successful professionals. Later “why the look” became crystal clear through Jim’s testimony. And the Light Came On After we had spent the first three sessions of our workshop compiling these seven assessments on each participant, the light bulb lit up brightly in Jim’s mind and heart. “When you indicated that we were going to do personal assessments, I thought, ‘been there, done that, so many times in my career that I not only have the T-shirt, I have worn it out.’ I was confident that I knew who I was and my giftedness.” Then I witnessed the teary-eyed confession and conclusion that Jim had reached. “I really did not know myself as I thought I did. When I took these kinds of human resource assessments in the work place, I had no thoughts of what this means and how does it apply to my service in the Kingdom of God.” Jim continued, “Now, I understand why most of my service in the church and other organizations has not been fulfilling. These positions were not what God had created me for. Because of my position in the work place, church leaders asked me to serve in roles for which I was not suited. God did not design me to be an out- front spokesperson and cheerleader. He designed me to quietly serve others behind the scenes.” You see, Jim discovered through the GPS Life Journey assessments that he was a “steadiness” and “conscientious” personality type, possessed the spiritual gifts of “service” and “exhortation,” and scored the highest in the strengths assessment for “deliberative” and “analytical” strengths. He understood for the first time the kind of leadership and service roles in which he should be engaged. The last years of Jim Milby’s service in the Kingdom of God brought fulfillment, significance, and success to him and his church. He severed in roles that let him function in his giftedness and he excelled in all he did. One day not long before his death, Jim quietly shared, “These last years of ministry and serving with you have been among the most enjoyable experiences of my life. Thanks for helping me to be who God created me to be.” Jim Milby was retired launch director for Lockheed-Martin and the NASA Space Program in Cape Canaveral, FL. (Story written by Nolen Rollins) In this Note from Nolen video, you'll hear from Nolen Rollins asking Are You Living on Mission with God?
"Are you living your life with a sense of purpose? Are you living on mission with God? If you participated in the GPS Life Journey, you compiled a personal mission statement for the next stage of your life. I've discovered over the years that many people with great intentions develop that mission and they're excited about it. But for some reason or reasons, they hit a roadblock. They get sidetracked and the mission gets put on the shelf. Let me encourage you, this spring, as we think about things growing and expanding, you growing in the fulfillment. Of your mission, your personal mission. If you need assistance to get back on track, let us know. We're here to help you with free coaching. Know what your purpose is. Be engaged faithfully in fulfilling that purpose. And by doing so, you will bring great glory to God. You will leave a legacy of impact and make a difference in the lives of others. God bless." Need Life Purpose Coaching? Life Mission Coaching by GPS Life Journey Founder, Nolen Rollins or Emily Miller, GPS Life Journey Director. Scheduled at your Convenience, Live or Zoom Two One Hour Sessions Cost: $0 FREE Contact Nolen Rollins at nolengpslj@gmail.com or 239-860-0096 Contact Emily Miller at emily@gpslifejourney.org or 239-771-0555 In this brief, Note from Nolen, we have an important Easter message.
"Without a doubt, one of the most important, if not the most important week of the year is Holy Week for followers of Jesus Christ. I want to wish you a happy Easter and I wish you a great year this year. As you follow the risen Christ in fulfilling his specific purpose for your life. God bless you." If you don't know what God's specific purpose is for your life then please consider participating in the GPS Life Journey process. We offer in person and online events throughout the year, check out what's happening here. You can also contact us to find out more information. This month's story is from GPS Life Journey Graduate, Don Gunther. "I had enjoyed a high level of business success that many would envy. I spent 40 years with the Bechtel Group, one of the world’s leading engineering and construction firms. We worked in 120 countries building some of the most complicated and largest structures ever attempted by an engineering and construction firm. For example, we built the tunnel under the English Channel between England and France. Our company was also responsible for extinguishing the massive oil well fires in the Gulf War. When I retired, I was Vice Chairman and was responsible for all of our business units around the world. I thoroughly enjoyed my career with Bechtel and loved living abroad and all across America. I tried retirement, but after the big house and the big boat, I was not satisfied with my life. I was glad that I had more time for my large family, but I sensed that maybe God had more for me to do. Yet, I was at a loss at how to go about discovering that purpose for the next stage of my life.
A New Friend Changed My Life That is when a friend introduced me to Nolen Rollins and GPS Life Journey. GPS Life Journey helped me focus on the skills I had and how I might use them to help others and have a greater impact in the world. It helped me evaluate my strengths and weaknesses and through it, I began to identify where God would like to use me. Coupled with my commitments to family, I felt called to become involved in a foundation that serves an impoverished migrant community in Southwest Florida, surrounded by immense wealth. I served as Chairman of The Immokalee Foundation and brought my abilities to bear for the benefit of the board, the organization, and those we serve. We are making a big difference in the lives of many young people, who with our help have a much greater chance at success in life. I also started a new chapter of Men’s Golf Fellowship at the country club where I was a member. This weekly group is designed to help men successfully deal with personal issues and to become devoted followers of Christ. It also was my privilege to serve as a leader in Legacy Church in Estero, Florida, where my new friend and mentor, Nolen Rollins, was Senior Pastor. Nolen has been the greatest spiritual influence in my long life. It was a blessed day when I met him. My life went from being prominent to being significant as I learned God’s purposes for my life and began to engage in fulfilling those purposes. There is no feeling as great as knowing that you are doing what God created you to do. And...to see how that makes a difference in the world. A much greater difference than building large structures. GPS Life Journey was very significant in my finding and fulfilling my life purpose." Don Gunther is the retired Vice Chairman, the Bechtel Group. (Story written by Don Gunther) This month, we have a great video for you to watch. Or if you prefer, then you can read the transcript here: "Hello. Another Note from Nolen. Just sitting here on the ramp, ready to get on the interstate. And I'm just thinking about the days when we went places and we had to use maps or the directions of a friend or family member to get there. Remember how difficult that was? You eventually got there. Sometimes you missed your turn several times, following the directions of a friend who would give you directions like:
Well, go down the road and you'll pass this big red bar. Don't turn there, go on down and you'll see this red wheelbarrow. It was just really difficult to get anywhere you want to go. What a great thing it is to have a GPS that takes us everywhere we want to go today. GPS Life Journey will do the same thing for your journey in the kingdom of God. It will give you specific direction as to where God wants to take you, how He wants you to get there, His purpose for your life, and a road map, a 15 step road map to help you arrive at His destination for your life. If you've not participated in GPS Life Journey, or if you have friends or family members who have not encouraged them to get the real deal GPS, it'll help you get to where you need to go in life." Find out what events are happening here, we offer GPS Life Journey in person and online via Zoom. You can also contact us and ask us questions about bringing GPS Life Journey to wherever you are in the world. Congratulations to these new GPS Life Journey graduates from SWFL. Here's what they had to say about the two day weekend workshop they attended in January 2024.
"Hello, my name is Ananias and this weekend I participated in the GPS Life Journey process. My mission is to serve my community and wherever I go so that they will know the love of Jesus Christ. I really enjoy doing GPS. It allowed me to understand my strengths and my passions and learn more about myself so that I can, through God, utilize them and go and support my community and complete my mission. Hi, my name is Germaine and I participated in the GPS Life Journey this weekend, with the great facilitator, Emily Miller. I just praise God for the opportunity. I've learned, to put my strengths and abilities all in one place. I know that my mission is to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ, to as many people as I can. And help inspire people into an authentic walk with Jesus Christ. I highly recommend that you do the same. God bless." Over a Friday night and Saturday daytime, we take you through 8 sessions designed for:
Linda and I formally proclaimed our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and joined this church. The Holy Spirit filled me with a thirst for His Word. Reading and studying the scriptures and meeting with other Christian men in small groups changed my spiritual life in a powerful way.
The Story Continues with GPS Life Journey and Prison Ministry I knew that I had to share my new found faith with others. In 2018, I was introduced to prison ministry by a close friend, Roger Ciskie. Roger was already involved in prison ministry and was also familiar with GPS Life Journey through his friend, Nolen Rollins. I was immediately interested in knowing more about this prison ministry and how GPS Life Journey might help me determine if this would be God’s plan and purpose for my life. I attended a GPS Life Journey class and found that God had prepared me to “share His love by proclaiming the Gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, while performing acts of service for those in need.” I also became certified as a GPS Life Journey Facilitator. I began to go with Roger Ciskie as he brought God’s Word to men in prison. I became convinced that prison ministry was a perfect fit for me and my mission to share God’s Love while proclaiming the Gospel. Since 2019, I have been certified in state prisons in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Florida, as well as Coleman Federal Prison in Florida. A Different Environment My experiences have shown me that God is already at work in all these institutions and the men are hungry for His Word and especially for hope. However, there is a big difference in the makeup of the GPS classes that are typically given in a civilian setting and in those given in a prison environment. The principal difference is that the students in prison are taken from a wide variety of faith groups or no faith at all and many sign up for a class without having the traditional Christian experiences and understanding of scripture. In prison you rarely have an opportunity to hand pick the men who will attend GPS as the opportunity to attend must be shared with all the men without discrimination. As you might imagine, this brings unique challenges to the GPS facilitator. I usually spend the first session by proclaiming God’s Love, explaining the GPS Life Journey method of discovery and proclaiming the Gospel. It’s not uncommon to lose a few men rather quickly but I also find that the men who are already “born again” and walking in the Spirit are a big help to those who are struggling with understanding and may be new to the faith. I have found that men who are in prison for life are just as interested in GPS, if not more so, than men who see themselves being released in a few months or a few years. It seems counter intuitive but men in prison for life desperately need HOPE and they find it in the promises of God to use them despite their past failures. They can live the “abundant life” that Jesus promised His followers. GPS Life Journey helps the men discover their own unique God-given abilities, skills, and spiritual gifts and how God has uniquely created them. Their imprisonment is not a detriment and serves them well in reaching other men in similar circumstances. Since the venues available for service are greatly limited in the prison environment, I stress that the men have to find an area to serve that will be permitted by the prison administration or find an area of service in a ministry that is already active within their own institution. The men understand that GPS Life Journey provides them a framework to assist them in discovering God’s plans that are unique to them. I challenge them to serve one another while sharing God’s Love with other men within their own sphere of influence. The ability to follow up with the men and their own unique mission statements is very limited. When GPS Life Journey is completed my personal contact with them is generally over, as most prisons do not allow personal contact between volunteers and inmates. However, in order to overcome this limitation, I have tried to establish “accountability partnerships” between men who have graduated from a GPS Life Journey class. I encourage the men to have weekly accountability meetings to go over their individual missions and the progress they are making in fulfilling their own action steps. This is about the only way for them to overcome obstacles and difficulties in continuing their journey to fulfill God’s plan for their lives. GPS Life Journey has shown me a clear path to proclaim the Gospel while serving men who are imprisoned. It has brought me great joy and I am growing in Christ daily as I proclaim His Word to some of “the least of these.” GPS Life Journey has also been extremely successful in helping prisoners discover that God has a plan for their lives and gives them a sense of great hope that God will use them to accomplish His purposes for their lives, even in prison. Robert Sandweg is a retired Navy Captain and a certified GPS Life Journey Facilitator. (Story written by Robert Sandweg) |
AuthorNolen Rollins, Founder & President of GPS Life Journey Archives
May 2024
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