"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Hello, my name is Charles Nickens, and I would like to begin by giving God all glory and honor for His unfailing love by sending His Son Jesus Christ to take my place on the cross and for repentance and His resurrection power. I would also like to thank Pastor Rocky & Sister Debbie, Shiloh staff (Jason, Joe & Brother David). Volunteer teachers (Pastor Randy, and Pastor Mike) and all the supporters of Shiloh. There are special people who have loved me in difficult times, my loving family. I want to thank Pastor Mark Trice and his associate, Scott Niemeier for mentoring me in leadership while on staff at Maranatha Church. Also thanks to Brother David Slack, Pastor Jerry Hovater, and my best friend Pastor Chuck Fountain for expressing the love of Christ in a tangible way that has impacted and changed my life forever. You have a special place in my heart and I am eternally grateful and love all of you so very much.

What joy it brings me to have the opportunity to share with you about my life after graduating from Shiloh Ministies. First I must say, looking at who I am today, my past becomes more surreal, like a daydream or fairytale from a distant world. When giving my testimony it seems like I’m talking about someone else. That’s mainly because I am talking about someone else. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new”. Wow! What a beautiful exchange, my old sinful nature for a new man in Christ Jesus. It is truly a Supernatural Event.

God has truly blessed me. Immediately after graduation from Shiloh; I went on staff as the maintenance man and grounds keeper at Maranatha Church in Mont Belvieu TX. They gave me a place to live, supplied me with transportation and offered an internship position in the ministry. Pastor Mark and staff are continuing to pour blessings into my life as I serve the Body of Christ. Here at Maranatha Church, I open and lockup the church; get all the buildings setup and ready for all services and events; decorate for the Holidays; sometimes work the video camera. I guess you could say that I’m a man of many hats, always having to be ready to jump in where needed without warning.

I have recently been assigned and put in charge of the cart ministry at Maranatha Church. The cart ministry is a shuttle service we offer here to all members and visitors. Hot, cold, rain or snow, we are ready and willing to pick you up at your car and take you to the front doors of our beautiful church. To some this responsibility may seem small but what I see in this is a mustard seed. Being a little larger than a speck of dust, when planted in good ground, the mustard seed grows and becomes a tree. If stewarded well and operated through Kingdom Love, like the mustard seed, this responsibility too will grow. The Lord loves using small things to represent majestic things. Nothing on earth has the ability to bury the power that lies within one tiny seed, AMEN.

Also, I am deeply devoted to Brother David Slack and Sus Manos Extendidas - Mexico Medical Missions. Sus Manos Extendidas means, “His Hands Extended” and provides medical and dental care to those in the rural areas of Mexico. They do an outstanding job of spreading the Gospel and bringing many souls into the Kingdom on “every” campaign. As you may know, the danger levels of Mexico rises each day. Please keep praying that the Bloodline of Jesus would be wrapped around the entire team and equipment, for safe travel, and favor at the border.

I have also had many ministry opportunities with bank tellers, people at Wal-Mart, with the homeless, people in gas station parking lots, and so on. In fact, the Lord has personally made it a weekly mission trip for me to go at night to certain areas in Baytown, TX. to minister Kingdom Love to people who have no hope and blinded by darkness. I do this because I am a testimony of God’s love. What He did for me He will do for another. I see the hopeless as someone Christ died for, somebody that desperately needs to experience a love encounter with Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, AMEN! I may need or would like to have a lot of things, but what I truly and deeply desire the most is to see lost souls saved, an increase in God’s Kingdom.

I truly find life satisfying and astonishing to live life in right standing with Father God. It has brought me complete forgiveness and total peace; I would never trade this for anything. It is good to know that you were created on purpose, for a purpose. Which is, to tell others the Good News and to worship Him. I can hardly wait to see what’s next. Come Holy Spirit and fill us with your love, mercy and Great Grace! AMEN.