A Charge to Keep

I knew very little about armor bearers or the fact that their ministry is indeed a High call from God. That was until I met Jeff Conley over 10 years ago. I can see now in my minds eye, the first time I saw Jeff; it was in the lobby of the Bank of America building in Richmond, Virginia. There was a glow around him and his smile simply lit up the atmosphere. Must have been the light of God shining through him.

I have seen first hand Jeff in his position of armor bearer serving his Pastor's and church family faithfully. Jeff always seemed to be able to anticipate needs and he was always on point. He is a faithful servant and he never seemed to mind decreasing so that others would increase.

Although I met Jeff in a business environment, I soon found out that he was indeed God's man and a man after God's own heart. Jeff and I share a love for music ministry and that's one of the things that brought us into close fellowship and the other was the fact that we both desire to be in the perfect will of God.

Last year I was blessed to hear that this humble man of God and brilliant communicator added author to his list of accomplishments. I was so excited that I couldn't wait to read his book. The title of the book is, A Charge To Keep: A servant's guide to the service of armor bearing.

Once I began reading this anointed book, I simply could not put it down. I believe I read it in one sitting. I was blessed and humbled at the same time as I heard the heart of God regarding servant hood through this anointed vessel that I affectionately refer to as "Jeffy".

Today I was able to speak with Jeff and have him share his heart about his Spiritual Journey and how God birthed this wonderful instructional guide for Armor Bearers throughout the Nation.

AC: Hello Jeffy! I am so happy to be able to speak with you today and allow you to share your heart with our readers.

JC: Karen, God bless you for your faithfulness, anytime I get to speak with friends, saints, blessings like you is a true pleasure & delight.

AC: Okay, Jeff, let's get right to it. Tell our readers where you were raised and when you first received Christ as your Lord and Savior

JC: I was born in Virginia Beach, Virginia, I grew up in a tiny little ministry that was big in the spirit, and in fact the name of the church had "Big" in it. I first received Christ as my Lord and Savior at the age of 15 years old, and I decided I would give God something to work with so I was back out in the world by 19, but thank God for a second chance! I have been "saved real good" for many years now, no matter what anyone says! Just kidding!

AC: How did becoming a deacon or elder in the church at such a young age affect you?

JC: I struggled when I first became a Deacon, because I was constantly seeking the approval of others, and all I had known of deacons, was the old guys who prayed too long and walked around with white gloves. When I became an Elder in my current ministry I was more spiritually mature and I have seen and experienced what the word says about being "found doing". One of the things that I say in my book is that your position has nothing to do with your destiny, so even the wild years of my youth were just preparing me for the destiny that had been manifested for a time such as this.

AC: Amen, by the way readers, did I tell you Jeff was also one of the funniest guys I've ever met? Okay, I digress. How did you know for certain that you were called to be an armor bearer?

JC: Wow I guess if I wrote a book about it, I better know that I am called, huh? I believe it was the wisdom of my pastor, Bishop Daniel Robertson, Jr. who helped stir up the gift that God had placed in me to serve. The word of God says that the greatest among us is a servant, and my call has always been to serve. I desire to see the vision of ministry be furthered and that means humbling myself to serve another.

AC: Were there people who considered you to be less significant in the body of Christ because you were serving?

JC: Oh yes, that is where the humbleness comes in. I have been mocked and ridiculed for my gift, interestingly enough; many of those who "mocked" me now stand back in awe at the blessings that God has bestowed upon me. It is always difficult to serve too, when you are sometimes disrespected, by those that you serve, but I have learned to not be seen or heard and then my gift speaks louder than any of my actions.

AC: When did you realize that God was leading you to write your current book? How was it birthed?

JC: Honestly, Karen, it was when others began encouraging me and telling me that the knowledge that I have had to be shared with others. I began training in my local church and then in the community, and after several sessions and seminars I had quite a lot of resources that I developed and God said "Go for it". I wrote the book over a period of 18 months, mostly in secret, all the while serving and assisting, even helping to birth the books of others, this I know is a harvest of the efforts that I sacrificed, and also explains the success of this book.

AC: I don't want to give away too much of the book, because I think it will bless every reader to get their own copy; but tell us the main objectives of this book and who is the main audience would be.

JC: The main objectives of the book are to equip leaders in the body of Christ to serve and develop the skills required to build up not just the spiritual needs of our 21^st century church, but also model successful behaviors that will transfer to the corporate sector and make leaders in our communities as well. The main audience for the book is Pastors, Leaders, Deacons, and Security Ministries, even those who consider themselves the Pastor's aides.

AC: I read recently that you serve as the Director of Armor Bearers for the State of Virginia for the Full Gospel Baptist Church International. How did it feel to have so much responsibility?

JC: It is an awesome opportunity for me to show forth the gift that God has destined and birthed in me. I am blessed to be recognized for my labors and give honor to God for the privilege to be able to serve him with gladness. I love seeing others that I have trained and or consulted, flowing with their own level of excellence, it warms my heart to have brothers and sisters both say that they have watched me serve and it motivates them to serve better. When it comes to responsibility, I am reminded of something you once told me and that is "Whom God appoints for a task he will surely anoint for the task".

AC: Did you have any idea how God was going to use your gift to bless the body of Christ.

JC: I could have never imagined the vast nature and magnitude of how God has used me; the lil boy from Virginia Beach to minister to the needs of his people, the gift that he has placed in me has put me before great men and women of God. Most recently I was honored to carry the message of Jesus to the country of Uganda Africa.

AC: Wow! From Virginia Beach to the continent of Africa...What a Blessing! How does your family feel about your current accomplishment?

JC: Well I sold quite a few copies of my book at my family reunion! My family has often been called the Waltons, and we are all very close, I could not have had or continue to have more support. My Mother and Aunts have all been caught selling the book out of their trunks! On the spiritual side of things I believe that my light has really begun to shine bright with my family, I am humbled that they recognize God's call on my life for ministry.

AC: How do you stay centered? Do you have an accountability partner?

JC: I do have several accountability partners and I value their insight and guidance. I recognize that different people bring different value to my life experiences, my life experiences have taught me to recognize and honor those that I allow into my circle of influence.

AC: Tell our readers where they can contact you for a copy of your recent book or more information regarding your ministry.

JC:They can contact me at my email tjeffc77@msn.com I am still a work in progress, I hope to come back soon and share with you my website that is currently under construction. Pray for me because as you know I am not the most computer literate, but I AM fearfully and wonderfully made!

AC: Do you think that the body of Christ is ready for the Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ? Are we really equipped?

JC: I believe that we are at a time in the body of Christ that we are and should be fully equipped for Christ's return. God has so blessed the body of Christ with his messengers who are like John was standing in the gap for Him who is still to come. We can get a rhema word of truth on our ipods, our radios, and our televisions and of course in our local places of worship, and most importantly through our own consecrated walk with the Lord. Being a music lover and since this is something we share I can best explain it through a song of old, by a dynamic couple Angelo and Veronica, I had the chance to speak with Angelo recently and shared with him my favorite song of theirs and the lyrics were "It's not enough to read your word alone, it's not enough to know the truth, the only way you will know is how I live" The ultimate prove of a believer's readiness is just that. how they live.

AC: Okay, Jeff you went way back with the Angelo and Veronica, but I love them too. Can you give us some final words of wisdom as to how a person can determine if they are called to the position of Armor Bearer?

JC: The call of an Armor Bearer is unique in that it requires one to deny self and press and push a vision of another. I believe that we all have "A Charge to Keep", and the charge comes with a price, the price of an armor bearer's anointing is predetermined when one recognizes that they are in covenant with another man or woman of God and will sacrifice all to see the manifestation of that gift come to pass, even if it means that your name is never up in lights, the work and service that you perform in equipping that ministry gift is unto the Lord and not to man.

AC: Jeff, it has been an absolute pleasure speaking with you today and I want you to know that I love you and I am so proud of everything that you're doing for the Body of Christ and I pray God's continued blessings upon your life.

JC: Karen you are a precious jewel in the body of Christ and I will always treasure the bond that God has so formed between us, no matter how far or how long just know that we are in this together and my prayers are always with you, don't get weary in your well doing for in your due season you SHALL reap a harvest. Love ya much!