When I was a new Christian several years ago, I dreamt about coming from a dark place that felt scary and dangerous into a beautiful brick-walled garden much like some European gardens. I couldn’t wait to go inside. It felt warm, welcoming, and safe. As I began to check out this amazing garden, I heard a booming, Charlton Heston movie voice, “Kerygma!” This voice startled me, and I woke up. I shared it with my husband, who had been a Christian since his teens. Even he didn’t know what Kergyma meant, so he looked it up: To Proclaim the Gospel. “It is related to the Greek verb κηρύσσω (kērússō), literally meaning ‘to cry or proclaim as a herald’ and being used in the sense of ‘to proclaim, announce, preach’—that Jesus died, rose, and is Lord—meant to evoke a personal response of faith, distinct from deeper teaching. The Kerygma is in the Nicean Creed. (Wikipedia)“Kerygmatic” is sometimes used to express the message of Jesus’ whole ministry, as^[3] “a proclamation addressed not to the theoretical reason, but to the hearer as a self.” This is distinguished from the didactic use of Scripture that seeks understanding in the light of what is taught.^[4] The meaning of the crucifixion is central to this concept. I didn’t give it much thought except to wonder about it.

Several years later, I had another dream about this garden. This time, I noticed more details: a gushing white fountain, neatly kept flowers, plants, and bushes. As I walked further inside, I found a very large wooden cross on a stone pedestal, and it cast a shadow behind it. Intrigued, I walked around behind it, standing in the shadow, and looked up at it. I spread my arms wide, neatly fitting within the shadow of the cross. An incredible peace and joy filled me in that moment. Then I woke up. Even later, I heard the Lord say to me, “I want you to write.” This time, not in a dream, but just His quiet, distinct voice. I began following this call to ministry in the 1990’s, and to write in 2015.

Since then, I’ve answered the call to teach the Bible and write. Beginning with a Bible study insert in a Christian women’s magazine to teaching in churches, and teaching online, I’ve enjoyed opening up God’s Word with Christians of various Bible understanding.  I’m more of a discipler than an evangelist. It wasn’t until recently that I recognized these dreams as part of my call to ministry. Even as a Bible teacher, I regularly proclaim the Good News.

Since I’ve started writing Bible studies and devotions, I decided to put these studies, devotions, books, and publications under my online publishing brand, Kerygma Garden Collective, with my book publishing label, Kergyma Garden Press.