Meet Claire – 2015 Edgie

storyOver the next few weeks, we are asking 2015 Edgies to share their experiences and what they brought home with them from their Edge experience. If you’ve experienced Edge, you will be able to relate to many of the shared experiences and if you are new to Edge or are thinking about attending in the future, browse the stories below and listen to the first hand accounts of God teaching His people.

 

Claire Hagan

1.What is one life practice from your time in Altea you would like to take home with you (such as community living, self-propelled intentionality, principles we’ve studied in Mark, everyday relational missions, etc.)? Describe how you plan to implement this practice in your life after Edge.

I’d like to take home intentionality. Being here has magnified the importance of relationships and I really want to go back home and be intentional with the friends I have and with the new people I will meet. I will do this by purposefully planning or making room in my schedule to hang out, even if it would be easier to not hang out. I want people to know how valued and loved they are no matter what.

2. How have you seen God moving in you during your time here? Describe specific areas of transformation you’ve undergone, heart issues He has addressed, healing or deliverance you have experienced, etc.

I’ve specifically seen God moving in me through the relationships with my team, other Edgies, some Alteans, and through acts of service and with my art. God has used me to be able to relate to others who were going through similar struggles, to be a light, a smiling face, and use my kindness to love others well. One area of healing that was addressed was my personal relationship with Christ and not feeling His nearness. I was confused and upset because I wasn’t feeling God, I wasn’t able to see Him or hear Him, but through making a list of moments of truth that I had seen and through discussions with Holly, Arianna, Justin, and Luca I was able to hear God and see that He has been here the whole time.

 

3. Describe how you have seen art used for outreach, connecting with others, and in your personal encounters with God during Edge. Explain how you might be able to incorporate art into your ministry at home and/or your personal relationship with God.

When I would go outside and work on art or go to a cafe and work on my rocks, so many people would stop and observe or read what I was putting on them. Although the majority didn’t stop and talk to me about it, I know that it could be planting seeds. My art personally helped me in my journey with God because I love thinking about God as my rock and it’s been really powerful for me that every time I get to work on my art I am reminded that He is my rock and that He is faithful.

 

4.Describe how you have seen art used for outreach, connecting with others, and in your personal encounters with God during Edge. Explain how you might be able to incorporate art into your ministry at home and/or your personal relationship with God.

One person that I feel like I impacted through Edge was Luca. Being able to give him the balloon animal was a really cool experience for me and it was cool to see how much it affected both him and myself. His whole face lit up and he loved it. It also was really special because it impacted his mom too, who also was really thankful. Another person I feel like I was able to impact through Edge was William, the owner of Bits and Bites. Simply through talking to him each time I would go there, through blessing his business, and through being a kind and smiling face to him made me feel like he was able to feel blessed.

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