DNSF Testimony: Ashley Cure
As I entered high school, I began to make plans for my future career and what college I wanted to attend. During my senior year of high school, my parents were on deputation to go to Spain, and I wanted to know which college I would be attending and what my major would be before our leaving the states. That year I asked the Lord to show me where He wanted me to go and what He wanted my major to be. I had some definite interest in working with youth and helping people.
As we traveled that fall to different churches, people would often ask me, “What school do you want to attend?” and “What do you want to major in?” I would tell them my interest and then they would often reply, “I was a counseling major,” or “If I were going back now to get another degree, I would be a counseling major.” And then on top of that, many of them said they went to Bob Jones University. So, in the fall of 2005, I came to Bob Jones University as a freshman biblical counseling major.
As I sat in my orientation class that year, I was challenged to live life with the end of life in mind: What heading could be used to encapsulate my life? The speaker shared a passage that became my life verse.
Jeremiah 9:23-24 — “Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”
Coming to Bob Jones University, I wanted to make new friends, I wanted to succeed academically, and get involved with student life. However, as I sat there I realized I didn’t want those things to be all that college was about. Instead, I wanted to “understand and know God.” I can stand here before you today and say that I was exposed to more training and higher levels of thought. Bob Jones University taught me how to work, live and serve among my peers. But most importantly, Bob Jones University helped cultivate my relationship with Christ. While I have not arrived, I can honestly say Bob Jones University helped me to “understand and know God better.”
In Philippians 4:19 it says, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” On May 9, 2009, I graduated from Bob Jones University with a bachelor of arts degree in biblical counseling. I did not reach that goal on my own. During my four years of school, I watched the Lord use His people to help provide “for all my needs” through personal gifts and foundations such as the Demonstrative Need Scholarship.
I counseled teens at a camp this past summer and have returned to BJU to continue my education. My goal is that I would “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen” (II Peter 3:18).