I just love working with Catalyst!! This is my third conference taking photo's for Catalyst and I enjoy it more and more every time!
How did I get connected to Catalyst you ask? (even if you didn't...I'm gonna tell you anyways!) Last year I was on a 6 month internship with Alpha USA that resided in Seattle, WA. God had asked me to leave everything behind, pick up what was left (3 suitcases of clothes) and move to Washington to begin a journey that unbeknownst to me, was the start of something beautiful. A journey that cannot be explained in just a short blog...
While on the internship, myself and the other interns were required to attend different types of Christian conferences, Catalyst being one of them. Never hearing of Catalyst before, I was literally dragged to this conference. I know, I know, it sounds horrible but in the midst of being on this "Journey for God", the enemy was helping me dig my feet into the ground, creating a not so fun spiritual warfare inside my heart that leaked to my outward expressions and attitude. I reluctantly attended the conference.
I took my camera with me in the likely-hood that I would get bored and need something to occupy my time while at the conference (I hope my honesty isn't too, well...honest). Little did I know that not only was I going to get some great photos of some pretty darn amazing Christian leaders but that I would sit in awe and wonder of the great words that flowed from these leaders. I walked away feeling spiritually full filled, convicted and with a new passion to press forward as I continued my journey to learn how to shed the "me" image and put on the image of Christ.
I posted the photos from the conference on Facebook. A few weeks later I received a message from Catalyst that read that they enjoyed my photos and if I would be willing to send them a disc of the images to use for future promotions and the website. I instantly replied to that message with a "Heck yes!" When I returned home in November of 2010, I noticed that Catalyst made an annual trip to Orange County, California, right in my back yard! I wrote to them letting them know that I would love to help with photos in anyway for this three day conference. I attend and was blown away at the dedication and commitment that Catalyst had to this event. The atmosphere was breathtaking and the messages were priceless. Just last month, Catalyst held their One Day conference at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA. I was invited back to attend as an official photographer for the conference.
Excited, eager and with my camera in hand, I went to the conference. Since that time at the internship just a year ago, God has majorly transformed my heart. Growing up as a Christian from just a tiny tot, things became mundane. Then enter the internship. It totally rocked my world. It gave me new perspectives. And out of it, new desires formed in that very same heart that earlier that year, had to be forced to attend the conference.
God is almighty healer. My creator. My life. I am second and He is first. He's so good at shifting things in my life to remind me of just how powerful and great he is. How lucky am I to serve such an everlasting God?
I'm excited to see where God takes my photography. I want to use it to glorify Him. I want to be able to use this gift that he has created in me, for his Kingdom. I had the greatest time while at the conference. Here I am doing what I love, while serving whom I love. God. He never ceases to amaze me.
