The Crazy and "Perhaps Mixed-Up" Spiritual Adventures of Jo Ann Schneider Farris

Let's see if I can outline my spiritual journey in one blog post:

1977:

I meet Born-Again Christians at Colorado College. They take me to see a 2nd Chapter of Acts Concert. Then, a day or so later, I ask them why Christians are so nice. They think that means I'm open to hearing about Jesus and the next thing I know, I'm praying a "Sinner's Prayer." I have no idea what they said or explained to me when I said that prayer. That "sinner's prayer" never "took," but a few months later, I decide to give "this Christian stuff" a try. So during my last semester at Colorado College, I go to bible studies on campus and even get baptized.

1978:

On the recommendation of my college friends, it is suggested I find a Christian community in California and move there. I visit Keith Green's commune, but decide not to do that since I didn't want to quit my job. I move in with some people from Jews for Jesus, am introduced to Vineyard and Calvary Chapel through Jews for Jesus, and begin going to Calvary Chapel of Long Beach. I meet my husband, Dan (who became a believer through the Jesus Movement) at Calvary Chapel and also get a job at a Christian School.

1979:

I marry Dan Farris. Shortly after that, I'm "fired" from the Christian school. I was told "God opens doors and closes doors; consider this door closed."

To save money, we move into The Atherton House after we've been married only three weeks and live in what is a bit like a Christian commune for the first three years of our marriage.

1982:

Dan and I become official volunteers, Co-Laborers with Jews for Jesus.

1988:

From 1983 to 1988, teaching skating takes over my time and Dan and I rarely go to church, but volunteer consistently with Jews for Jesus.

In early 1988, I get into a huge disagreement with the rink manager I work under and quit my job. In response, I do a lot of letter writing that causes him damage. I "repent" and seek God when I realize the damage I have done.

Dan and I then go on staff with Jews for Jesus. I am now a missionary with Jews for Jesus, but I think that G-d is punishing me for the "wrongs" I have done by putting me in that job. Being a missionary is hard and I hate and dread the work, but feel that I must do it because I'm being punished by God. I do all I am asked to do because I truly believe I must serve in that capacity to work off the damage I did to that rink manager.

During JFJ 1988 Summer Campaign, I begin to question what I am doing on the streets of NYC passing out tracts. I am not sure I believe in what I am doing at all. I have no idea what the gospel is all about, but learn all the "lingo" and am able to "share the gospel" by memorizing what to say. I still know no bible at all. I don't even know what or why I believe.

1989:

I am in a terrible car accident while speaking in churches for Jews for Jesus in Minnesota. I want out of JFJ. I get out of 1989 Summer Campaign, take a leave of absence to get away from the "dreaded" missionary work, and get fired by Moishe Rosen after the leave of absence. When I was fired, I also thought "God fired me." I was sure God had left me.

I continue to do Christ in the Passover presentations for Jews for Jesus (I really enjoyed giving that presentation) as a volunteer. One day at a presentation in Sacramento, a rabbi approaches me and says, "These people are not your friends. Come back to Judaism." I realize I wanted to do just that!

1991:

Dan and I move to Colorado Springs. I know "Christian Lingo" so well, I easily get a job at Focus on the Family. During my time at Focus, I begin to really want out of the Christian world, but can't figure how since I'm married to a Christian.

1996:

Shortly after I had my second baby, I decide I no longer want to go to church and want to be "Just Plain Jewish."

1997:

My husband tells me he no longer believes in God. Together, we write out our Ex-Tian-Monies and think we've "buried" them on the internet, but we don't know our stories were found by people that used to work for Jews for Jesus.

Dan and I raise our three children as secular Jews and try to forget all memories of our "past life." We pretend it never existed. We pack up our bibles and Christian books and records.

2001--2002:

I start the ex-jewsforjesus email mailing list and it eventually becomes a cause and fight. I even write a book that tells my story. I truly believed I was called by God (like Moses) to lead and fight that cause.

2003:

The ex-jfj cause falls apart. I "repent" again and tell people I'm sorry, but that doesn't last for long. During that time, Moishe tells me that I never was "saved."

In response to the confusion I experienced when the ex-jfj cause fell apart, I begin seeking G-d in Judaism. I begin studying with Partners and Torah, Jews for Judaism, and Chabad.

2005:

My husband almost dies in a horrible accident. I cry out to God and believe Dan's accident is a way of punishing me again. I try to "repent" again. I ask people of all faiths to pray for Dan. He recovers miraculously. I believe it is miracle.

2010:

I travel to Maryland with my kids for a skating ice dance camp and looked up a friend of mine who is still a Jews for Jesus missionary. I tell her I consider myself a secular Jew, but if Jesus is really the Messiah, I want to leave that door open and consider it. She begins meeting with me once a week via Skype.

2011:

I pray a "sinner's prayer" with Lynn, but a little over a month later I realize that I like being Jewish and "I can't do this." In response, I try as hard as possible to seek G-d as a Jew, but continue meeting with Lynn to keep the "door open."

2012:

As time passes, I get to the point where I decide G-d doesn't even exist. I stopped seeking G-d as a Jew. I stopped seeking God at all in fact. That was a very dark and "scary" time.

2013:

Some things happen in my life that not only convince me that God exists, but that Jesus is God and is the Messiah! Long Live God!

What's Next for JO ANN?

Can I follow through? Can I not "turn back?" I don't know what will happen next and what is in store for me, but I think I will write a book that will give more details of my story. Keep me in your prayers.

Long Live God!

Yesterday when I was driving through beautiful Colorado, I listened to music from the musical Godspell. The last song, ends with the resurrection and the chorus keeps singing, "Long live God..Long live God..." I found myself singing along. All of a sudden, I knew. Jesus Is God! I believe. Now, I just must make that commitment and follow through.

It is strange in some way for me to realize that a month ago, I wondered if there was a God at all, but certain events in my life have convinced me there is.  I have been "humbled in a big way."  I'm not going to write about what happened, but I truly believe G-d taught me a lesson and that lesson not only showed me He exists, but also taught me about forgiveness.

In some ways, I am like the Prodigal Son, returning to his father, but I'm not sure that totally describes my journey.  I know there is more humbling to come before I make that final commitment.  I have to spend more time in the "pig pen," and "eat with the swine," and be miserable at bit longer, but will leave soon...

 

Though None Go With Me....No Turning Back

I watched a movie last night called "Though None Go With Me." It is the story of a woman who made a commitment to G-d, but then, afterwards, faced terrible sadness and trials in life. Throughout her life, even though she doubted G-d at times, she continued to trust and believed. At the end of the movie, she was honored by her community for over 50 years of doing good things. People came forward who she had touched.

I found the movie because I was intrigued with the song, "I've Decided to Follow Jesus." I read a bit about the history of the song, and stumbled on the movie.

Right now, today...1-19-2013, I'm trying to decide if I should do what I've been fighting for so long. Should I take the "plunge?" I know this time around there can be "no turning back" and "none may go with me" in my family.

At this time, I am going through a hard time personally and professionally and need major prayer. What I am going through is very, very serious. It seems like in times like this, I turn to G-d, but then I always walk away and go back to what I was doing before.

I feel like Jimmy Stewart in the movie "It's a Wonderful Life." I asked my FB friends for prayers. It's overwhelming to see how many people care! I still need those prayers and thoughts, and will especially need them on Tuesday morning 1-22-2013 Mountain time at 9:00 am. I also realized that I've done many good things in my life, but also have done bad things. I don't want to do those bad things ever again. Yes, this time, I have to make the commitment not to "go back."

My Tormented Nights May Be Over

Last night, I slept in peace. Not only did I sleep in peace, but the evil that had haunted me for months was gone. I knew it. My tormented nights are over I think.

I felt like I was a new person who had just been released from a dark prison.

This is what led up to it:

Yesterday...all of a sudden, the anger and hate that has been inside of me disappeared. It started when I woke up in the morning and continued through the day.

What happened with me being told I needed to "change my ways" regarding writing about negative things that had to do with a certain subject may have changed my life. By "repenting" and saying I was sorry (I was forced to do that in writing), I had a chance to start over with a clean slate.

There was even a person who acted as a mediator for me. When she talked to me about the serious nature of what I had done, I told her that I understood what she asked me to do and I told her that I could and would change. I made that promise to her and then put that promise in writing.

She did the work for me as far as relaying my apology and promise to change to "the upper-ups," but it was up to me to make the commitment to stop writing negative publicity about a certain subject.

I had lost a battle and admitted defeat. In a sense "I surrendered." I had been humbled but found I rather enjoyed being humbled...

The feeling that I have been released from the battle I had been fighting may have changed me inside. The hate and anger disappeared.

I thought I'd only said I was sorry to make things right on the outside, but yesterday, I realized that I was really sorry and wanted to change. There was a feeling of being free by letting go of the battle since I can no longer fight it.

And the hate that motivated me to fight that battle was gone.

I was sorry too on how I treated God and I wanted to obey Him.

I kept telling God I was sorry, but I didn't think that had done any good since I believed it was fake, but yesterday I realized that night of saying sorry every hour during another sleepless and haunted night was not fake at all. God heard me and God forgave me and now I can sleep again.

I have been taught a lesson (perhaps by G-d)

Yesterday, I got a call that I think may have inspired a change in me.

I was told that I had to make a major change regarding some of the articles I have published on a certain subect. In fact, I can no longer write any articles about that subject without getting myself into major trouble. I have been told I am not in trouble yet, but if I continue what I am doing, I will be.

To sum things up, I've been disciplined like a bad child might be disciplined and I had to apologize.

As I reflect on what has happened, I realize that what has happened may be a good thing. I no longer have to fight a battle and cause that I can't possibly win. In fact, I have been defeated. I thought my efforts were good, but maybe they were not.

As I am just beginning to believe in God once again, and I believe that God may have used this situation to teach me a lesson. I have been humbled too.

It didn't feel good about being disciplined and defeated at first, but today, when I was talking to someone and just enjoying the conversation, I realized the cause had filled me with hate and had caused idle and perhaps even unnecessary talk or gossip to come out of my mouth. The hate is gone now since this is no longer my battle and I can move forward.

I may even truly be sorry. (I have wondered also if G-d needs me to apologize for denying His existence for that past two months.)

Update - I believe in God again

I haven't written in awhile since I've had very little to say.  For the past two months, I've wondered if G-d existed.  When I told some friends about what I wondered, some discussion generated.  It's been a tough time actually.  Also, when I tried to face each day without G-d, I felt very vulnerable, so it seems that for now, I do believe in God.