Hello. My name is Kim Anothayanontha. My husband, Aaron, and I both attended KCTD #8. We are so blessed to have three amazing daughters: Sydney, Brenyn and Olyvia. I am humbled and honored to be serving as the women’s Rector for KCTD #17.

The theme for the weekend is “RISE UP!”

God has shown me that we tend to hang onto pain and darkness and let it keep us broken, bound and powerless. We remain stuck, with chains SO heavy we try to numb the pain — with food, drugs, alcohol, busyness, control or relationships. These only silence our screaming need for help. What numbs us imprisons us!!! We can be breathing, talking and serving, yet still be asleep or spiritually dead. It’s time to wake up from our slumber and step into the light of God! We need to run to Him, versus hide from Him.

Pain can be a gift that motivates us to fight with brave tenacity and fierce determination, to find healing – even when our hearts feel quite raw. If we numb the pain, it creates a deep void which slowly kills any potential for our hearts to fully feel, fully love or fully rejoice. Pain indicates a transformation is necessary and highlights a weakness where strength needs to enter. We must pursue strength rather than relief. How do we get this strength? We invite God’s closeness!

Jesus is the Light of the world, all who are far from Him live in darkness. The Holy Spirit wants to shine His light into the darkest cracks of our hearts where sin and death reside — where we are shackled and bound. When we surrender and invite Him into our pain He can sanctify our hearts and break the chains of bondage!

There’s only one reason God puts an ounce of His light on us, so His light can reflect through us. To effectively reflect Him we have to leave the shackles of bondage on the ground, exactly where He broke them off us — FOREVER! When we live our lives reflecting Him, others can experience His love. We must draw close — completely abandoned, completely surrendered — stand in His love, absorb His light, along with His grace, and RISE UP!!!

RISE UP! Boldly become who He always intended you to be! Let His light permeate through you, heal you and radiate out of your renewed heart so others are drawn to Him, desiring to seek His closeness. Ladies, it’s time to RISE UP!

Serve alongside me; let’s radiate God’s true love, here on earth! Let’s find healing and freedom as we encourage team members and candidates to surrender to God so He can break our chains as we RISE UP with boldness, for His glory.

“But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.””

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:13-14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭60:1-3‬ ‭ESV‬

Kim Anothayanontha

Rector, KCTD #17