LAURA PHILYAW
I am a daughter, a sister, a mother and a grandmother. I am an artist, cosmetologist, a writer. These are all gifts given by the Grace of God, and I cherish each of these gifts. I am a believer in Jesus and His saving Grace! I believe that Heavenly Father weaves together all things for the Good for those who love Him. I believe that we all walk in an inherent freedom to choose, in every moment of our lives. To choose life, love, redemption, servanthood, forgiveness and all the attributes and characteristics of the Father. No matter my circumstances, I must choose Him. Heavenly Father has walked me through many life experiences. Some of His choosing, and some of my own. He has been completely faithful in all of them to bring it to His Glory. I strive to be a very transparent person and authentic about who I am and my journey.
During the walk of being a caretaker for my mother who passed in 2018, I realized He was building in me a desire and heart to serve people and bring them joy, accountability, comfort and compassion. To bring them the Father and His love and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God has used this reality to start removing my fear of man. Throughout all my life, with all my good and bad choices and with all that He has walked me through – I see it as a strategic plan constructed by Jesus himself to weave together a tapestry that is beyond whatever I could have imagined. In 2022 I was privileged to hear about Mountain Gateway and the training program for missionaries to carry the Gospel into the world. Soon after that, God let me know that I was to go. Holy Spirit keeps whispering to me…“You must offer up yourself with complete abandonment of your own self-preservation” The idea of living my life so transparently, with my story, can be scary. Yet, throughout this whole process of stepping one step at a time fully into obedience, I have realized I want Him to use me, my gifts, my talents and story to further the kingdom, beyond my own self-preservation. He has asked me to be His hands and feet by joining the Mountain Gateway team. I GET to serve. No matter the task, no matter the hardship, no matter where it is. Which is such a blessing.
During the walk of being a caretaker for my mother who passed in 2018, I realized He was building in me a desire and heart to serve people and bring them joy, accountability, comfort and compassion. To bring them the Father and His love and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God has used this reality to start removing my fear of man. Throughout all my life, with all my good and bad choices and with all that He has walked me through – I see it as a strategic plan constructed by Jesus himself to weave together a tapestry that is beyond whatever I could have imagined. In 2022 I was privileged to hear about Mountain Gateway and the training program for missionaries to carry the Gospel into the world. Soon after that, God let me know that I was to go. Holy Spirit keeps whispering to me…“You must offer up yourself with complete abandonment of your own self-preservation” The idea of living my life so transparently, with my story, can be scary. Yet, throughout this whole process of stepping one step at a time fully into obedience, I have realized I want Him to use me, my gifts, my talents and story to further the kingdom, beyond my own self-preservation. He has asked me to be His hands and feet by joining the Mountain Gateway team. I GET to serve. No matter the task, no matter the hardship, no matter where it is. Which is such a blessing.
