The Called Conference hosted at Bethel University was an amazing, inspiring, and authentic experience. Read along as Grace Rubin shares the highlights and wisdom that touched her life over the weekend in March 2025. Faith and fear are often together in the same situation, but knowing that our faith grows stronger the more we step out in fear can bring us boldness in our walk with God

If you are looking for an opportunity to join us at Called Conference next year, please reach out for tickets and connecting with us as a community!

Read about three specific women in the Bible who have amazing stories of faith! Whatever your situation may be, we are each called according to the gifts we have been given. The next step is reaching out of our comfort zone in faith and obeying that calling.

In John 3:3 Jesus is preaching about being born again: “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Then, because that phrase sounded strange to him, Nicodemus asks Jesus “how can that be?” How can someone enter their mother’s womb a second time? Obviously, Nicodemus is thinking physically (ouch!) and Jesus is of course speaking spiritually. But WHY would Jesus use this analogy when talking about the kingdom of God? 

Comparison sneaks into our lives and we get trapped into feeling behind everyone else. Comparison shifts our focus from what God is doing in our lives and lock our gaze onto what He is doing in someone else’s life. What does the Bible say about joy, comparison, envy, jealousy, contentment? Learn to lean into the joy and blessings that are in motion right now.

We are called to be people of the Word, living out God’s teachings as Jesus did. Engaging with Scripture is essential for our spiritual growth and daily living.

What lessons can we learn from the story of Noah and the ark? Noah built the ark with specific instructions directly from the Lord. Directions that would make sure the ark was stable, buoyant, durable, and livable. Noah and his family were on this ark for almost a whole year! It was a safe shelter for them as they endured the largest natural disaster in history. What was it like coming off the ark for the first time? Do you feel like you are surviving on your own ark through a storm or flood?

Consistency sounds so easy, but burnout can sneak up and squash the hard work and dreams written in that cute new 2025 planner. So HOW do you make this next year not necessarily different but better? 

When we think of God's glory, we are reminded that it is not something that we can fully comprehend, yet it is something that surrounds us daily. From the beauty of a tree changing its fall colors, to the espance of the northern light, creation testifies to the magnificence of God’s handiwork. In every leaf falling and every star in the sky, God’s glory is on display.

Maybe it is one that you memorized or were taught when you were younger like I was. Until I actually lived through something that shook me, I understood the strength of those words. 

The damage was assessed, the “walls” was inspected, a plan was formed, and the others were rallied. With God strengthening our hands like those rebuilding literal walls, we reached out to everyone we could in a week’s time.

I’ve heard it said that “you shouldn’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle” and “comparison is the thief of joy”. But what if my “middle” does not look like I thought it would at this point in my life? I feel behind when it comes to career successes.

You may be asking yourself, “How do the battles we face on this earth draw us closer to God?” Jeremiah 1:19 states, “They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you, says the Lord” (NIV). So, if you are facing a battle in your life, let me suggest three ways to draw closer to God. 

The reason you like it is because you have experienced it, and enjoyed it. You went beyond the ingredients telling you that it is sweet, opened the packaging, and tried it for yourself. You have tasted it and all of its sugary goodness, and Know it is good.

I sat in a space where joy and sorrow were coexisting simultaneously. I was grieving what was, questioned what now, but was excited for what was to come.

As I began to reflect on my questions for the night, I was greeted with a not so fun question. “What is a situation in your life that you need to let go and give God control to work for your good?”

To be good enough to earn God’s steadfastness, I must surrender my efforts at being good enough. I must confess perfection is unattainable, accessing God's favor by being human, enduring an incurable, enfeebling disorder. 

There are a lot of things in life this past year that I have looked back on and been so overwhelmed by the goodness of God that I get to do life with all of you! Not only have we seen Jesus show up but we have seen Jesus appear in the hearts of so many of you. The bold challenges each episode, the deep conversations you all have had, has been so uplifting and my prayer and hope is that continues.

There is nothing we can do to “earn” His love because He already proved how much He loves us. What we can do is make our lives align with the will of God in faithfulness. By observing this holy time by fasting, praying, and almsgiving, the meaning of Jesus’ resurrection can deepen our faith.

“Seek and you will find”. When we lose Jesus, it is not a forever thing, he promises us that we WILL find him when we seek after him with all of our heart.  

The reason for Lent is to honor and respect the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. It is not only a time meant to somberly reflect on our repentance, but also hope for the eternal life Jesus offers through his sacrifice on the cross. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday which is 40 days before Easter.