My Testimony
In 1997, I started dating my wife. Jesus started speaking directly to my heart.
Being ADHD and dyslexic, I never was able to attend college, and was rejected often as an academic.
Being a Pastor requires being able to be a teacher as well, so I never thought it possible to be anymore than a Deacon in the Church. After Elaine came to a saving faith in Christ in December of 1997, she envisioned me in a Clergy Collar one evening. This was a spectacular day spiritually; as it is the day the Lord revealed to me he had given me the gift of the sword as well. Only the Man, who had trained me in street ministry a decade before, had been given this vision in my "possible future". This man I studied under for six years while serving on the Lightship Chesapeake, also trained the Clergy in Baltimore City in exorcisms. All the experiences and training I had learned in being able to hear and follow Jesus Christ, was now starting to come together for me in my own "spiritual manhood".
In 1998 we were married, and I felt a leading towards the ministry; yet I was told I was not seen as a Pastor, but perhaps a Chaplain - yet I was too old to go to seminary start a military Chaplaincy.
In 1999 I had a vision of a heart filled with rich green grass... The next morning on a Truth for Life broadcast, Rev. Alistair Beg explained that the word "Pastor" was derived from the word "Pasture" and it was only God who gives a man a PASTOR"S HEART! In 2004 after my unit's mobilization, I was elected a Deacon in my local Church, but to my surprise I was able to excel beyond even the best theologically educated in the class. I wanted to do more and received my independent ordination just two days before nearly dying in water survival training; exactly on my 20 years in the military. I had told my wife for years that the Army did not own me, only Jesus Christ did! As my heart failed me, Jesus pressed shoulder to shoulder next to me on that day, and I could look down on my own ambulance. Today I am a volunteer Chaplain struggling for a platform, to give my testimony of hope in Christ alone to others.
Yet even posting my life on the internet, has taught me that I am indeed a teacher in the faith; but my style is just unorthodox to others.
I hope this post will help somebody to see that our lives are not our own.
Roland, earned two honorary doctorate degree as a result of continued Christian service starting in 1983-1989 as a "street minister" in the City of Baltimore, starting at the age of 24 years old. A real sailor, soldier, and now a disabled veteran, with a background as a marine engineer as well as a platoon sergeant in the Army. Roland decided after nearly dying in Army Water Survival Training, to dedicate the rest of his life to telling others about his true life stories and how Jesus Christ has continually rescued his weary soul. He recieved his chaplains certification from the United Association of Christian Chaplains and Counselors International, on December 01, 2006 from Emmanuel Baptist University, College of Graduate Clinical Addiction department.
Salvation in Christ,
It is out of love that God grants us his merciful salvation. This ultimate gift of love, was to send the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to be a sacrfice for us. We all need to realize that without Christ's blood atonement on a cross for us, we would all be doomed to an everlasting separation from God.
If it was not for God's grace and love for mankind in the sending his Son to be a sacrifice for all who would choose to believe on him, we would remain separated from our heavenly Father and doomed to a life of condemnation and an afterlife of seporation from God with other fallen beings.
It is not the most knowledgeable man that find's God, nor even the most holy or religious.
In fact, it has nothing to do with our ability or behavior what so ever. The Salvation of God is a gift, so that none can boast!
If you are here to look for a theological debate you are in the wrong place. However, if you are looking for a light in the darkness to help navigate your spirtual course to a real and compassionate God, you have come to the rite place!
In all humility, I tell you that if it were not for a patient and loving God, I am sure I would not be around today. I will not pretend with you that I am a formally educated man, because in fact I am not.
Nor do I have good manners at times, (usually when I need them the most). I learned about the Christian life by experiencing it on the streets.
I was stunned by how much I learned, never being taught about the workings of the Holy Spirit by the conservative Church. Despite my shortfalls, I promise you that I will be honest and transparent.
I beleive that life is too precious to be pretentious or proud about our own abilities.
Most importantly however, it is God who calls a man to be a Pastor, and has little if nothing to do with men. The Bible does teach us that we must be accountable to God and others for our actions, so it is important to be able to show some type of credentials in the service of others.
Although raised a Presbyterian, and holding an office of leadership within the Church. I became frustrated with the fact that normally only formally educated Pastors seemed to get any credible recognition publicly for their words to a congregation.
So being given a "Pastors heart" in a vision, and having some deeper testimonials to tell than some, I felt led to do something about it, and started Lightship Ministries.
Given a mission to be a "Vessel of Light for Christ", using my own life experiences.
This ministry has enabled me to be able to share with more people the sometimes unbelievable events, that have shaped my life of faith. I have made a priority to Veterans and there families with my time but, will be a servant to all.
If you contact me, I will get back to you as my time and recourses permit.
May God continue to Bless America,
REV. ROLAND DELL, CHAPLAIN