FireStarter2003: The Bio

[FireStarter2003]

Greetings everybody,

I just discovered this forum last night, so I'm very much psyched to find a place where fellow Christian otaku can chill and converse. Anyways, here's a bit of info about myself.

For starters, my name is Jose M. Benitez, I am 23 yrs., and I'm a guy. I was born in Puerto Rico on Oct. 7th, 1980, but I've been raised in the States since 1987. I've lived in Lancaster, PA, as well as Chicago, IL. I currently live in New Castle, Delaware, which is very much home for me, as most of my friends are here.

Schoolwise, I have graduated from high school, and I did a year and a half at the University of Delaware as a philosophy major. I also took a few classes at a Bible school at Word of Life Christian Center in Newark, DE. Currently I am attending Portland Bible College in Portland, OR. I just finished my first year a few weeks ago, so I'm happy to be done with the first phase of the program. I'm shooting for my Bachelor's in Theology, and hopefully with the credits I've transferred, I can finish earlier than other peeps. Perhaps later, I might go for my Master's.

Upon graduating, I would very much like to go into full-time ministry. That may either start as coming on staff at a church somewhere, or immediately starting a new church plant here in Delaware. Pastoring is definitely in my future, as well as prophetic ministry, which has been the primary gifting I've been walking in. I also have received prophetic words about apostolic ministry. I don't claim to be a prophet or apostle; the Lord is the One who chooses, but I am most certainly open and desiring to be used of God in whatever way He desires. Some things on my heart for ministry though, include itinerant ministry, traveling to the nations, raising up churches and leaders, as well as being a catalyst for spreading revival and renewal.

Aside from that stuff, my hobbies and interests are definitely pretty much rooted in Japanese anime and culture. My favorite anime are Rurouni Kenshin, Full Metal Panic, Naruto, and I've just gotten hooked onto Read or Die (I'm a bit of a bookworm, just not as much as Yomiko Readman!). I am an avid reader of Newtype USA magazine (the BEST anime mag ever!), and I enjoy reading manga as well. I also enjoy practicing and reading about Japanese martial arts, specifically kenjutsu and ninjutsu. I also enjoy sushi very much, and will eat it at every available opportunity (I just won't touch the wasabi!). I do plan on visiting Japan for two weeks to a month sometime, either during the summer, or next winter.

Other than anime or Japanese-related hobbies, I enjoy reading, listening to music, as well as hanging out with friends, going to the movies, stuff like that. I also enjoy attending various Christian revival or prophetic conferences and gatherings, being in an atmosphere of worship and soaking in God's presence.

Anyways, that's pretty much me in a nutshell. Y'all feel free to contact me or ask anything, I look forward to your replies. Blessings!

[cbwing0]

Welcome!

I also like Rurouni Kenshin. I recently bought the complete series, and have almost finished watching it.

I'm glad that God has called you to the ministry, and I hope that you get a chance to share the gospel with lots of people!

[Angelchick]

hey welcome have fun and post a lot

[true_noir_chloe]

Hi and welcome! ^_^

[shooraijin]

はじめまして！ (Hajimemashite!)

[Mithrandir]

Welcome to the nuthouse!

[Straylight]

Hello!

[Quiet Hood]

*salutes*

[EireWolf]

Welcome!

I'm curious... what is "apostolic ministry?"

[SageRock]

Greetings! I would like to say...Greetings! WooHoo! I think it's interesting ( a good type ;]) that you do the whole Bible College adventure and stuff (which I know from direct sources takes a lot of time), while keeping up with all the Japenese cultural as much as you do. My commendations!

[FireStarter2003]

Hiya EireWolf,

I'm glad to hear ya ask that question. For some background, in Eph. 4, Paul describes the fivefold ministries: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. The purpose for fivefold ministry is to equip the saints for the work of ministry. The apostles and prophets specifically, are foundational ministries of the Church. The word "apostle" means "sent one". Apostles are pioneering ministries that break ground for new churches, equipping and raising up leaders, and setting proper church government and structure in place. Apostles are also mature ministries, qualifying as elders. The prime example of apostolic ministry is Paul. In the course of his ministry, Paul started new churches, discipled believers, trained and raised up leaders, and ensured that when he moved on to the next place, that the churches had stable doctrinal, governmental and leadership structures.

My heart for ministry is that, when I plant a church, that it will not be a marginalized, limited "community" church. Rather, it would have an apostolic vision in that it would be a church that plants other churches in neighboring towns and cities, and those churches in turn would plant churches. I also see the churches supporting and sending people to the mission field as well. I also see myself traveling and ministering to other church leaders and ministries, helping to equip and enable them to grow in their gifts and callings. I know that there's more that will happen beyond this, but it would take a while to write it all!

I hope I've been able to provide a decent answer. If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to PM or e-mail me. Blessings!

[EireWolf]

Cool!

[Spiritsword]

Hi, welcome to CAA!

Yes, that is very cool about your ministry--it was very interesting to hear about it. I'm also very interested in the prophetic part--do you receive prophetic visions?

And yes, NTUSA is awesome!

Spiritsword

[FireStarter2003]

Hiya Spiritsword,

Glad to hear from ya, how's it going? Anyways, as far as how I operate in the prophetic, it flows in various ways. Most often, I'll get an inward impression or recurring thought within, in which I'll either get a word, a phrase, or the beginning of a prophetic word for a person or a church meeting. As I step out and share what the Lord gives me to share, the rest usually begins to flow with more clarity and insight. Sometimes, when I'm ministering to individuals, I'll get visions and mental pictures, which are symbolic in nature, yet pertain somehow to the individual to whom I am ministering. I can't say that I've had open visions yet (the type where you see a vision with your physical eyes) or angelic visitations, but when I see things, it's with my spiritual eyes. I don't usually get clear, discernible words of knowledge (like knowing who's gonna get healed of a specific condition; Lord willing, it will happen), but sometimes as I pray, my prayers line up exactly with a need that the person receiving ministry did not mention. I am not one who gets into predictive prophecy much, but I've had a few instances where things I've prophesied for individuals have come to pass, even in a given timeframe.

As I said in my bio, I don't claim the titles of apostle or prophet; the Lord will be the one to establish that. However, I've been called a prophet by some, and my answer to that is "If the Lord wills it, I accept it." I'm just a child of God seeking to follow my Father's will for me, and I'm happy with that.

Again, I'm very glad to hear from ya Spiritsword, let's keep in touch, aight? Blessings!

[Lochaber Axe]

Welcome to the Battlefield!

I use this phrase as both seriousness and comedic. For one it describes the spiritual battle we all must face when it comes to Anime or other such secular media. Secondly, I use it as also an exaggeration on the battles that sometimes occur on this Forum. They happen very rarely and if you don't kindle any fires you shouldn't see any. It also matches my whole motif.