Use your god-given Talents and Professional skills to 去产生影响 为着福音的缘故

“Music is part of my DNA, having come from a musically inclined clan. As early as 18 months old, I was singing songs with the right words and tune, and as I grew up, music became the language of my heart.

When I was 15 years old, The Lord called me to use my gift of singing to be part of our church’s praise and worship ministry. I may have loved music and singing, but I did not like doing it in front of a crowd. I was very shy and nervous, and did not think I was good enough to be singing in front of hundreds of people. I struggled and argued with God at first, unsure if this was what He really wanted me to do. He confirmed… many times, so I trusted Him and obeyed. I learned that if I am willing and obedient to His call, God will use me to accomplish things beyond my capacity and what I can ever think or imagine. With my obedience, the Lord opened many opportunities to serve Him through music.

在过去的10年里，我作为Gloryfall 乐队的一员 Gloryfall Band致力于通过敬拜培训、带领、以及福音外宣将真正的崇拜带回基督的身体。我们通过器乐/声乐训练帮助教会装备敬拜团队，并教授他们《圣经》中的敬拜原则。我们已经创作并发行了10张专辑，通过这些歌曲，我们能够用上帝的信息和爱触碰到世界各地的人们。如果你们想免费收听或下载我们的歌曲，我们的网站是 gloryfall.net.

信心学院一直是一个贴近我心灵的地方。我第一次来学校是在2000年，当时我的男朋友（现在是我的丈夫）带我参观了他所毕业的学校。我不敢相信居然有一所如此美丽的学校，场地广阔，维护良好，教室里展示了如此多的创造力和才华。在校园里走来走去的孩子们以及我遇到的老师都非常友好，他们彬彬有礼，在这个传讲基督的地方每一个人都表现出无与伦比喜乐的神情。我当时想如果能被呼召在信心学院这样的学校服事将会是一件很棒的事！我不知道的是，18年后，上帝会为我打开这所学校的大门，让我成为了其中的一员。

This school year, I started teaching Elementary Music at Faith Academy. I get so much joy and excitement to see children’s faces light up when I tell them we are playing with musical instruments in class or we are going to learn a new song. It is also an honor to teach the students not only the technical aspect of music, but to be able to share with them the heart of worship. It is a blessing to share with the children how God can use music powerfully in their lives just like He did in the Bible through the lives of David, King Jehoshaphat and many others who won battles through music offered in praise and worship to God!”

“We moved to the Philippines to begin teaching at Faith and we have been blown away by the Faith community’s hospitality, generosity, and love. God has graciously been allowing us to feel at “home” at Faith as we experience the unity and diversity within the Body of Christ through this amazing group of people. It has been worth following God in faith because we have the privilege of participating in the Great Commission by teaching and building into the children of missionaries. If others feel that the Holy Spirit is prompting them to invest in Faith Academy, they would be able to participate in this beautiful partnership of furthering the gospel in Southeast Asia, East Asia, and beyond.”

Grady teaches Grade 10 Social Studies and Grade 12 Bible. He spent his childhood years in Japan, Philippines, and Canada. Whereas his wife, Brittany, teaches French 1 and Bible 11. Brittany spent her childhood years in Canada.

“My most memorable experience while working in Middle School was my first time attending Outdoor Ed at Taal, Volcano for a hike. I had the chance to be on the island, not only that but they let me be involved in the ministry aside from working in the office. I loved being around the kids in the school ministry, singing praise songs, and sharing the word of God through storytelling.”

“I love being able to help people physically and spiritually. Here at Faith Academy, I have my dream job: being able to do what I love and use my skills in a Christian environment with High Schoolers. I desire to portray to the students that whatever we do we can use our skills, talents, and gifts for Christ.

Because of the nature of what I do, working with the students when they are injured and in pain, I am able to form relationships with them by encouraging them when they really need it. This helps to form trust with the students, allowing a deeper relationship develop. We go from fun conversations filled with jokes, to conversations about relationships with the Lord. My goal is to be a Christ-like influence for the students here at Faith Academy.

During an overseas soccer tournament a few years ago, one of our players fractured both bones in his ankle. He flew back from Thailand to the Philippines and then flew home to Korea. His injuries required surgery and he needed to stay in Korea for a few weeks before returning to school. We ended up spending a lot of time together that semester, as he needed physical therapy with me four days a week. It was a very challenging time for him, both physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

I remember that he thought his injury would mean an inability to play soccer his senior year or in later in university. He learned a lot about working hard, trusting God, and what really matters in life. In the end, he was able to play his senior year and he currently plays at Cornerstone University in the USA. The most rewarding moment was during the last game of his senior year. After scoring the first goal of the game he sprinted to me on the sideline, jumped in my arms and gave me a huge hug, saying, ‘that was for you Mr. Keating’. That was a moment that makes all of the hard work with it – I will never forget it.”