Like Jesus Did
NORMA IGARTAWhen Norma Igarta moved to Denton for college, she had no car. Her roommate’s parents volunteered to take her to the church where they attended. They would drive to UNT, bring her with them to The Village Church, and drop her off back at school. Her first Sunday at TVC was the start of the “Practices of Presence” sermon series, which was exactly what Norma needed to hear.
“It was like Beginners 101 for God,” said Norma. “It was amazing. They talked about loving God, loving people, praying, fasting, reading your Bible, and being with Him. And I never knew that I could read my Bible.”
The church Norma attended as a child used the King James Version of the Bible, and she couldn’t understand it. She thought reading the Bible was just for pastors.
“The first sermon I heard Matt preach, he said, ‘It’s not just for pastors!’ The way the Lord spoke directly to everything that had been in my past and addressed it all in one spot was just beautiful.”
Everything began to change for Norma, and a desire grew in her to be like these people who were helping her get to church.
“That was my goal. I will be the person who welcomes. I will be the person who extends the hand and the invitation. Jesus welcomes everyone and extends that. And so what better way to be like Him?
She started serving in Connections and soon found a new desire to disciple children in Kids Village. She signed up for the Training Program and fell more in love with reading and studying God’s Word. She stayed in the program as a cohort leader. More recently she has been serving as a volunteer in the Prayer Ministry.
Norma’s life goal is to be a missionary overseas. She is currently in a Goer Missional Community with the hope of finishing in April 2024.
“I’ll raise support, and then I’ll be sent at the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025,” said Norma. “I love this church so much. I’m going to leave, but until I have to go, I’m going to spend as much time as I can while I’m still here doing what I love and being with these people who I love and love me.”
She started serving in Connections and soon found a new desire to disciple children in Kids Village. She signed up for the Training Program and fell more in love with reading and studying God’s Word. She stayed in the program as a cohort leader. More recently she has been serving as a volunteer in the Prayer Ministry.
She doesn’t like sitting on the sidelines. When she is blessed by something, she wants to see others blessed by it as well.
Norma’s life goal is to be a missionary overseas. She is currently in a Goer Missional Community with the hope of finishing in April 2024.
“I’ll raise support, and then I’ll be sent at the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025,” said Norma. “I love this church so much. I’m going to leave, but until I have to go, I’m going to spend as much time as I can while I’m still here doing what I love and being with these people who I love and love me.”
