“I like to live my life as an ‘advertisement’ for Jesus: His love is scam-free with salvation included”
– Emelia Goheen, Chauvin, Alberta
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Topics:
Joseph Smith Jr | Joseph Smith III | Apostle | Beyond the Walls | Beyond the Walls Choir | church motto | Unity in Diversity |
I have deep roots in Community of Christ, as I’m sure many members do. I can imagine myself in the shoes of my great-great-great-great-great uncle, John Shippy, as he was sent into the field as a missionary by Joseph Smith Jr. and became a member of the Council of Twelve in the Restoration in Joseph Smith III’s time. Now, John Shippy was rebellious, but he also helped introduce what became familial membership in Community of Christ on one branch of the maternal side of my family. This faith has continued through our family ever since, and I am blessed to have the same faith tradition from the other side of my family. Even now, my grandma and mom are currently pastors of our congregation in Ribstone. But that’s their story.
My story began in the Kitchener, Ontario, congregation when I was a week old. We started attending the Calgary, Alberta, congregation when I was about 15 months old. And then after many years of holding church services for my stuffed animals, and absorbing every Bible story I could, I was baptized on May 6, 2012, just a few days after my 8th birthday. Since then, I’ve met many amazing people, and felt closer to God than perhaps ever before.
As for now, I feel so blessed to be able to musically worship and praise the Lord through the Beyond the Walls Choir, as well as provide regular ministry in various ways in my home congregation (which is able to hold in-person services). I pray that someday I will be able to provide more outreach into communities, to serve in some position in ministry if I am called to do so, or even just simply be a good example of what our church stands for — what Jesus stands for — and shine joy, hope, love, and peace into the darker parts of this world.
Speaking of darker areas, I would like to see the church pursue a deeper involvement in halting human trafficking and become an abolitionist force. I think it is also important for the church to be unifying and loving in all areas of life, supporting members of different political stances, with different economic challenges, and different levels of education — and to cease portraying majorly only one set of viewpoints so that all may feel welcomed and not judged.
On a happier note, I see many members (myself included) spreading the word that Jesus loves all. For example, on one of my social media accounts, I always include the words “Jesus loves you” in the caption. It’s how I like to live my life: as an “advertisement” for Jesus: His love is scam-free with salvation included. I hope that we — not just Community of Christ as a whole, but as individuals with unique daily live s— can be “advertisements” for Jesus and spread love to as much of the world as possible.
My story began in the Kitchener, Ontario, congregation when I was a week old. We started attending the Calgary, Alberta, congregation when I was about 15 months old. And then after many years of holding church services for my stuffed animals, and absorbing every Bible story I could, I was baptized on May 6, 2012, just a few days after my 8th birthday. Since then, I’ve met many amazing people, and felt closer to God than perhaps ever before.
As for now, I feel so blessed to be able to musically worship and praise the Lord through the Beyond the Walls Choir, as well as provide regular ministry in various ways in my home congregation (which is able to hold in-person services). I pray that someday I will be able to provide more outreach into communities, to serve in some position in ministry if I am called to do so, or even just simply be a good example of what our church stands for — what Jesus stands for — and shine joy, hope, love, and peace into the darker parts of this world.
Speaking of darker areas, I would like to see the church pursue a deeper involvement in halting human trafficking and become an abolitionist force. I think it is also important for the church to be unifying and loving in all areas of life, supporting members of different political stances, with different economic challenges, and different levels of education — and to cease portraying majorly only one set of viewpoints so that all may feel welcomed and not judged.
On a happier note, I see many members (myself included) spreading the word that Jesus loves all. For example, on one of my social media accounts, I always include the words “Jesus loves you” in the caption. It’s how I like to live my life: as an “advertisement” for Jesus: His love is scam-free with salvation included. I hope that we — not just Community of Christ as a whole, but as individuals with unique daily live s— can be “advertisements” for Jesus and spread love to as much of the world as possible.
