On the island of Oahu, our worlds collided through the study of God’s Word. We were united by a common passion for knowing His Word through deep study, seeing God move through faithful prayers, and making the Truth of His Word known to women.
While God would only have us in the same zip code for a short time, He formed a bond through many unthinkable trials and magnificent triumphs as we learned the very essence of what it means to die daily to the flesh and worldly desires, clinging to the hem of His garment with a faith that would be tested and tried more than we could have ever known.
Through the years of resounding dependence upon the sovereign God, Who is neither shaken or moved by our circumstances, relentless prayers before the throne of grace, boundless mercy undeserved and the wretchedness of two souls bought by the blood of Jesus, God has started a work that only He could finish in a tapestry of friendship that longs to bring glory and honor to Him!
Who could have known God would bring us less than 3 hours away from one another in the last move before retirement for Claire. While in Richmond Hill, we had the opportunity to fellowship together again in person. This brought about many conversations about where we both were in our lives spiritually and where we felt the Lord was moving us forward in leadership within the church and outside the church. We both continued to yearn for deeper discipleship in the church and leadership pointing women to deeper study of the Word of God.
We both continued leading Bible studies while Claire and her husband opened their home and began discipling youth, becoming more involved in the ministry of discipleship. As Claire led study after study in her home and Amy discipled young mothers in Jacksonville, it became apparent that there was a need for a women’s discipleship ministry platform to reach those friends and neighbors who were scattered throughout the United States, allowing them to keep in touch over the years as well as reach an entirely new audience, hungry and thirsty for spiritual growth and a deeper knowledge of God’s Word.
Through only events God Himself could ordain, Adam, after hearing and seeing Amy and Claire study and discuss the Word, began dialoguing with Amy on starting a social media platform to spread the Truth of the Word of God and disciple women through the Word, teaching them how to search the scriptures, discern Truth, have a clear understanding of the context, and walk away with confidence in knowing the Word of God for themselves. This would spear conversations between Chad, Claire, Amy, and Adam to start a women's ministry to bring about spiritual growth and discipleship for women in the church alongside their husbands overseeing the operations. While leading, they are encouraging Claire and Amy every step of the way as To Die Is Gain comes to life and bring their vision to your inbox, on your Facebook newsfeed, and on your Insta scroll.
In 1997, Claire was invited to an inductive Bible study. Her first thoughts consisted of “I don’t have enough time for that, you Bible thumper!” It was the first time she had ever walked into a church where folks actually brought their Bibles. She was a religious person who did all that was necessary to earn God’s love by justifying her actions with checking off all the boxes, but had no personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In fact, the only time she would speak Jesus’ name was when she cussed…
The old Claire could best be described as riddled with worry, anxiety, driven with selfish ambition, miserable and directionless!! Three weeks into Bible study scales fell off her eyes as she studied the book of Acts when the question posed to her was - if you were to die today would you know with assurance you were going to heaven? Hours later on that September day, she found herself sitting in a pink Cadillac, repenting for her sins and praying for Jesus Christ to be her Lord and Savior. She walked out with a burden removed from her back and a peace she had never experienced before. The trajectory of her life was forever changed. What transformed her as a born again believer was studying the Word of God, week in, week out the first nine months of her conversion while being discipled by mentors.
Friends would/might best describe her as a conversationalist who lights up a room, and a connector who has the gift of exhortation. One of her favorite pastimes is hearing people from all cultures and walks of life talk about their relationship and journey with Christ. Some of Claire’s favorite creature comforts are a morning cup of British tea, a rainbow colored green salad loaded with various toppings, a lightly salted tortilla chip with just the right thickness and crunch and a tall iced green tea every afternoon.
Claire has been married for 24 years to her even-keeled husband Chad, with whom they have three girls, a senior and junior in high school and a fifth grader. Claire is about ready to take off her navy spouse hat for a brand new season in life. In her spare time Claire enjoys long walks, searching for family approved recipes by her toughest critics - the F-Troop and listening to music of many genres while cutting the rug throughout her home with her girls.
Amy once saw her life as a human garbage disposal, not worthy of anything better than that which was in front of her, longing for more to appease the appetite and satisfy the hunger in her heart. Her well was empty, her soul was lost with a gaping hole no amount of booze, boyfriends, popularity, money, or material possessions could ever fill. If asked, she would tell you her life was the perfect lyrics to a country song and those of her favorite hymns sprinkled in. Amy was a teen who had no boundaries, no rules, no discipline, no direction, and after years of living for self, her heart became hardened and cold filled with pride, selfishness, vanity and earthly gain. Years of effort to be a good person, could not stop the snowball effects sin would have in her life.
Amy has known many struggles, countless hurts, many failures, shame, the feeling of unworthiness to be forgiven, and deep brokenness. With many childhood dreams shattered, coming from a broken home, quitting before she could get started, failed relationships, failed marriages, and hopes diminished, she spent years searching for the only love that could ever fill the gaping hole in her heart.
Failing and falling into the most wretched sinful patterns, seeking righteousness through works and self, Amy came to the end of herself. The years that were filled with brokenness, guilt, unworthiness, ungodliness and SIN were finally made a memory, when, in her late twenties, on the floor of the townhome she shared with her childhood friend, she fell on her knees riddled with shame and regret. Being churched, educated and steeped in Biblical knowledge throughout her formative years, yet living in the flesh of worldly desires and lusts, she realized that repeating a prayer in children’s church and making an altar call to say a prayer did nothing to change the wretchedness of her heart. It was then she cried out to God in a prayer of confession and repentance and the whole trajectory of her life was made new. A broken vessel choosing to die to self and sold out to the Spirit of the Living God that now indwelled her, she began a journey of dying to every worldly gain, the temporal satisfaction of material things, and the building up of a kingdom on earth in exchange for a life crucified with Christ.
While the most difficult and heavy trials were awaiting her in the years to come, she says now the testing of her faith would not cause her foot to slip or slumber because she walked through them being carried and held, fully equipped by the Holy Spirit. The fiery darts came, and the darkest days of despair met her face to face, bringing with them the desire to take to her own life. With God within her, she fought and now lives to share what the redemptive, atoning sacrifice and blood of Jesus Christ can do in a heart that was once the most wretched and worst of all.
While she loathes the work the deceiver and father of lies did in her life, Amy’s story is one that will take everyone on a sweeping journey of being made whole and complete at the foot of the cross. Never looking back. Never holding on to what has been lost. Clinging fast to the promise that her life was never defined by the world or anything in it, but she has been transformed into a new creature. Amy knows the Intelligent Designer, the Creator who has woven every piece of torn thread together into a testimony that she hopes will inspire, encourage and point all those who come along on this journey to her Savior, the Lord of her life, Jesus Christ.
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