person on kayak under blue and white sky

Motivation Coach buys a Kayak

“Let me introduce myself for those who have not met me before.
My name is Andrew, and I am a new ideas coach.”

Standing before the crowd, Andrew paused. He scanned the room.
His voice was steady but reflective, shaped by years of self-discovery.

“I coach people into believing they are about to get inspired by a new idea. This motivates me the most. I love the power of new ideas.”

The audience listened closely. Andrew had their attention.

“This is the story of how I got myself motivated. It took me more than three years. But here I am…inspired and motivated. Because I found the secret.”

He paused again.

“Well, it was a secret to me. The key to believing was what I looked for all my life.
It’s like losing your car keys and finding them again. I lost my way, and then I rediscovered the path.”

That path, Andrew explained, had started unexpectedly. When he turned fifty, he found himself in a crisis. It wasn’t dramatic; no single event triggered it. He bought a kayak, designed a sail, and spent his Sundays on the peaceful waters of Moreton Bay.
For a while, it worked. The early mornings were soothing.
The ocean stretched out before him, silent and still. But then, one day, that feeling left.

“I WAS LOSING INTEREST IN EVERYTHING,” Andrew said, raising his voice slightly to emphasize the depth of that moment. “WHAT AN ANTI-CLIMAX.”

The crowd nodded in understanding. He didn’t need to elaborate; they’d all been there at some point—when the things that once brought joy lost their spark.

“I realized I needed something more. A project. A purpose.”

He let those words hang in the air, then quietly added, “It only took me five years to figure out what that was.”

Chapter 2: The Turning Point

Andrew explained that it was February 2011 when everything began to shift. At fifty-five, he knew he had to change, to break free from the slight depression that had gripped him for too long. That was when the experiment began.

“I started waking up happy,” he said simply. “I realized that people around me were changing their circumstances by committing to something they believed in. They enrolled in university courses, studied hard, and emerged transformed—teachers, dentists, accountants. All because they believed.”

The audience leaned in. Andrew’s voice was calming but firm, as if each word was carefully chosen for impact.

“That’s when I decided I needed to find my ‘believing switch,’” he said, pausing. “And turn it on.”

He spoke about the plan he created. He watched a friend immerse himself in books during a university course and noticed how the act of reading transformed him. That’s when Andrew had his own epiphany: books and words had power.

“I thought, if universities can use books to change people into professionals, then I can use books to change myself.”

Chapter 3: The University of Believing

Andrew’s “university” was unconventional. There were no lecture halls or professors, just shelves filled with books on motivation, self-esteem, believing, wisdom, and relationships. He spent three years studying them religiously, reading the same ones over and over.

“I became a student again,” he said, smiling. “Except my classroom was my living room, and my lectures were the words on those pages.”

He shared how his plan was simple but powerful. He wasn’t just reading for the sake of it; he was absorbing each word, letting the ideas sink in. He treated every book like a stepping stone, every motivational speaker he listened to like a guide.

“For three years, I immersed myself in positivity. And something shifted inside me.”

The audience was quiet, the weight of his words settling in. They could see it—this wasn’t just a story; it was a blueprint for change.

“I found my believing switch, and once it was on, everything made sense.”

Chapter 4: A New Identity

By the time Andrew had finished his self-imposed three-year course, he was a new man.

“Alright, I admit,” he chuckled, “I’m a self-appointed ideas coach. But that doesn’t matter. What matters is that I’m happy, I’m motivated, and I’m helping people.”

He recounted the first time someone had reached out to thank him for his insights. An email from someone named Bobi Jo had landed in his inbox. It wasn’t long, but the impact was huge.

“She said my book, ‘I Love Your New Idea’ was invigorating. She said it removed all her doubts. It made her believe in herself again. And that, my friends, was when I realized something: I was no longer just a student. I was a teacher.”

The audience erupted in applause. Andrew stood tall, but he quickly motioned for silence.

“The reason I’m telling you this isn’t to boast. It’s to remind you that this power—this switch—it’s in all of us.”

Chapter 5: Believing and Becoming

As the applause died down, Andrew took a deep breath. He’d been waiting for this moment—the climax of his story.

“After three years, I learned that believing isn’t just an idea. It’s an action. It’s a choice. It’s a switch that we must turn on and keep on.”

He spoke about the importance of persistence. Just as a student doesn’t give up after the first difficult class, we can’t abandon our journey to believing after the first obstacle.

“Belief,” he said softly, “is the foundation of every new idea.”

And just like that, the path Andrew had walked became a map for others to follow.

“I hope you’ll join me,” he concluded. “In believing, in becoming, and in discovering that new idea waiting inside of you.”

The room was still. Everyone was captivated by Andrew’s wisdom, knowing they’d just witnessed a man who had not only found his way—but had unlocked the key for others to do the same.

Katherine, a Theology Graduate.

Katherine Hughes, a recent theology graduate from Summit Theological College, reflects on her online study journey and how it has prepared her for ministry.
Growing up with a pastor father, Katherine developed an early interest in theology.
Her passion for cross-cultural missions and the need for a degree to enter certain countries led her to pursue a Bachelor of Theology.
Studying online suited her lifestyle as she worked at a Christian retreat and later moved between the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Summit College’s flexible, high-quality online program allowed her to manage her studies while juggling various roles in ministry and youth work.
Katherine experienced personal challenges, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, where she struggled with burnout.
However, the lockdowns provided her with much-needed rest, and support from Summit’s tutors and student services helped her manage her workload and mental health.

Katherine gives an example of how her studies help her relate to other students.

When Amy came to me, feeling like a spiritual failure, I could see she was weighed down by self-doubt.
We sat with our coffees, and I gave her a look that said, “I’ve been there.”
Then, with a smile, I launched into my favorite topic: church history, but with a twist.

“Did you know,” I started, “John Wesley—yeah, the guy who founded Methodism and started a revival that literally changed the world—felt like a complete flop at one point? He went to America for a mission trip, and it went so badly that he basically limped back to England thinking, ‘Well, that was a disaster!’
But God wasn’t done with him, not by a long shot. He just needed a spiritual wake-up call and a cup of tea… or something stronger—this was England, after all.”

Amy chuckled, her frown softening. I knew I was getting through.

“See,” I continued, “Wesley thought his ministry was a failure, but that moment of doubt was just the set-up for something bigger.
It’s like when you’re making a cake and halfway through it looks like a total mess. But trust me, if you stick with it, by the end you’ve got something amazing… with frosting.”

Amy raised an eyebrow. “So, you’re saying my life’s just a messy cake right now?”

“Exactly!” I grinned. “A messy cake with some divine frosting on the way.”

Then I told her about Adoniram Judson, the missionary to Burma. “This guy got thrown in prison, lost his family, and spent years thinking, ‘Maybe I should have just been a baker instead.’ He saw no results for ages. But by the time he died, he’d translated the Bible into Burmese, and thousands came to know Christ.
Can you imagine if he’d given up?
‘Oh well, no converts, guess I’ll go back to… wait, there’s nothing to go back to!’”
I leaned in with a dramatic whisper, “And then God’s like, ‘Surprise!
Here’s the fruit of your labor!’”

Amy laughed, shaking her head. “So, you’re telling me to hang in there because maybe God’s working in the background?”

“Exactly! You’re on to something now.”

She sighed and sipped her coffee. “But what if people don’t think I’m cut out for this? I mean, I’m not exactly… you know, Catherine Booth.”

“Oh, Catherine Booth!” I lit up. “Let me tell you, that woman was a firecracker.
She co-founded The Salvation Army with her husband, William, at a time when people thought women in ministry was as weird as… well, men in bonnets.
But did that stop her?
Nope! She preached anyway. And, boy, did she preach.
People tried to shut her down, but she had one of those ‘God told me to do this, and I’m going to do it’ attitudes. She probably thought, ‘Well, God’s in charge.
And last I checked, He didn’t hand out ‘qualified’ badges to the perfect people—just the faithful ones.’”

Amy snorted, then looked thoughtful. “So, I just have to be faithful, not flawless?”

“Bingo! Faithful, not flawless. If Wesley can bungle a mission trip, and Judson can sit in a jail cell wondering if anyone cares, and Catherine Booth can bust through glass ceilings with her Bible in hand, I think you’re in good company. Messy cake and all.”

Amy grinned. “Okay, I’ll stick with the cake… but I’m expecting some serious frosting soon.”

We both laughed, and as we left, I could see she felt lighter—less like a failure, more like someone who might just be part of a grand, messy, God-baked masterpiece.

Chronic illnesses autoimmune diseases, cancer, and more

Nathan stood backstage, feeling the energy of the crowd. He knew why they had come. Some had traveled great distances, desperate for a miracle, seeking hope in a world of diagnoses and medical charts. Many were suffering from chronic illnesses—heart conditions, autoimmune diseases, cancer, and more. Nathan knew their pain, not just physically, but emotionally. They were told by doctors that their conditions were permanent, that they needed lifelong medication or invasive surgery. But Nathan had seen God work differently.

He stepped onto the stage, microphone in hand. The room grew quiet as he began to speak.

“Hello, my name is Nathan,” he started simply. “I’ve come tonight to share not just words, but life. Life that comes from God. Many of you are carrying diagnoses tonight. You’ve been told there’s no cure, that you’ll need treatments for the rest of your life. But let me tell you a story.”

He began to share the testimony of a woman named T., who had been diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure. “She was told she needed dialysis immediately. Her kidneys were failing fast. The doctors insisted, but she refused. She had already endured years of hospital visits, needles, and machines keeping her alive.”

Nathan paused, letting the story sink in.

“She was ready to give up. But someone reached out to her. They sent her a prayer cloth, something simple, something full of faith. She took that cloth, held it, and prayed. She didn’t need dialysis. She didn’t need surgery. Her kidneys started functioning again. It’s been two months, and she’s still off dialysis. The doctors were shocked, but we weren’t. We serve a God who heals.”

The crowd was silent, hanging on every word. Many had medical reports in their bags, hidden away, reports they feared to open. Nathan could sense their fear, but also their desire for healing.

“Tonight,” he said, “God is going to do what doctors cannot. He’s going to heal where medicine has reached its limits.”

Chapter 2: The Power of Prayer

Nathan began to speak about another case—this time a man with severe hypertension, or high blood pressure. “He was a young man,” Nathan explained, “but his blood pressure was dangerously high. The doctors were monitoring him for a stroke. He was on medication, but it wasn’t enough. He came to one of our prayer meetings, barely able to walk, because his body was so weak from the strain.”

Nathan could still see the young man’s face in his mind. Pale, swollen from the side effects of medication. “We prayed,” Nathan said. “We asked God for wisdom, for healing. We didn’t know what would happen, but we trusted God.”

The next day, the young man had returned to the hospital for routine blood pressure checks. The nurses were surprised—his numbers had dropped dramatically, back into the normal range. The doctors ran more tests, unable to explain the change. They lowered his medication, and eventually, he didn’t need it at all.

Nathan looked into the crowd again. “Some of you are on medication for high blood pressure, for diabetes, for heart disease. You’re managing your symptoms, but you haven’t seen healing. But tonight, we’re going to pray for healing, not just management.”

He walked across the stage, feeling the weight of what was about to happen. “There are people here with chronic conditions—arthritis, fibromyalgia, autoimmune diseases. I want you to know that God sees you. He knows what’s happening in your body, and He cares.”

Nathan invited the prayer team to join him. They began moving through the crowd, laying hands on those who needed healing. A woman approached Nathan, her face lined with pain.

“I’ve had rheumatoid arthritis for ten years,” she said. “The inflammation is constant. I’m on medication, but it only helps so much. The doctors say I’ll have it for the rest of my life.”

Nathan smiled gently. “Let’s pray.”

They prayed, asking God to reduce the inflammation, to heal the joints, to restore her body. As they prayed, the woman began to move her hands, her fingers loosening for the first time in years. She smiled through her tears. “The pain is gone,” she whispered. “The stiffness is gone.”

Chapter 3: Miracles in the Night

As the prayer continued, the atmosphere shifted. People were experiencing real, tangible changes in their bodies. Some stood, stretching limbs that had been stiff with arthritis. Others began to breathe more easily, their chests freed from chronic lung conditions.

Nathan told another story, this one about a man who had been suffering from a viral throat infection for weeks. “He could barely speak,” Nathan said. “His throat was inflamed, and his cough was constant. He had been to the doctor multiple times, and they couldn’t do much beyond prescribing antibiotics and steroids.”

But this man came for prayer, and something shifted. “As we prayed,” Nathan said, “the cough stopped. His throat began to heal immediately. The infection left his body, and he could breathe deeply again.”

The crowd was becoming more responsive now. They weren’t just listening; they were believing. People who had come in with chronic pain were standing, testing their bodies, finding that they could move without discomfort.

A young woman approached Nathan, her eyes wide with disbelief. “I came in with back pain,” she said. “My leg was shorter than the other. I’ve had this since I was a child, and it’s caused me so much pain.”

Nathan nodded, having heard many similar stories. “What happened tonight?” he asked.

She smiled, her hands shaking. “I felt my leg grow. I felt it lengthen, and now my hips are even. The pain is gone.”

Chapter 4: Restoring Lives

The stories continued to pour in. Nathan listened, his heart full. This wasn’t just about physical healing; it was about people being restored to life. He told the story of a woman who had been consumed by fear and anxiety.

“She came in knots,” Nathan said. “She was so filled with anxiety that she could barely breathe. Her heart raced, her thoughts were clouded. She couldn’t see a way out.”

Nathan had prayed with her, leading her to renounce the spirit of fear that had taken hold of her life. “As she prayed,” he said, “something broke. She felt the fear lift, the anxiety leave. Her breathing slowed, and she walked out of that room a different person.”

Nathan looked at the crowd, knowing that many were dealing with more than just physical ailments. “God heals the heart,” he said. “He heals relationships. I’ve seen people come in with bitterness and leave with peace.”

He shared another testimony, this time of a woman who had come to the Healing Rooms for prayer while living in a women’s refuge with her two children. “She was homeless, struggling, and didn’t see any way out. But after prayer, things changed. She found a home, a safe place for her and her children.”

Chapter 5: The Journey Continues

As the conference drew to a close, Nathan gathered the people together for a final word. “Healing isn’t always instant,” he said. “For some, it’s a journey. There are people here who have been healed instantly tonight. But there are others who will walk out of here and see healing happen over time.”

He told the story of a man with osteoarthritis, whose healing had taken weeks. “He came in with severe pain in his knees and ankles. The doctors had told him there was nothing they could do but manage his pain with medication. But we prayed. And over the course of weeks, the pain left. Today, he walks pain-free.”

Nathan encouraged the people to keep their faith alive, to continue praying and believing. “God isn’t done with you,” he said. “The healing that has started tonight will continue. For some, it will be immediate. For others, it will be gradual. But in all of it, God is faithful.”

As the people left, they carried not just hope for their bodies, but hope for their souls. They had seen God move, and they believed that the best was yet to come.