Volunteer Spotlight: Karla Curran Cultivating Strength

Karla has been a member of Christ Community Church since its early days in 2001. Known for her enthusiastic love for the Lord and her evangelistic gifts, when Karla was asked to teach a Yoga class in 2017, she knew that she could use it as an evangelism and discipling tool. 

How long have you been enjoying Yoga? Since 2015.
 
How did the idea of having Yoga classes at CCC come about?   
Someone from the 6:30 a.m. prayer gathering asked me if I would teach her some yoga in 2017.  We started practicing together after the prayer meetings. People saw us and joined, and it slowly grew from there. Last fall, Anja asked if I would do it for LifeSchool. Now we have a nice little core of regulars.
 
Has the participation exceeded your expectations?   
Yes.  In December and January over the holiday break, we regularly had about 20 people.  There were college students, youth group kids, and men and women of all ages. It was a really fun cross-section of our church. 
Today, it is about 6-12 people.
 
What do you enjoy about serving in this capacity?
I love to see people start to notice that they are stronger. I really enjoy watching someone grow in confidence, and I love to see friendships start to develop among people who come regularly. We have some people who come mostly for the fellowship.
 
I also love the chance to pray and share scriptures.  I take a long walk and pray before each class. He always gives me something to share!
 
What are some of your favorite moments from serving in Yoga? 
I love when we laugh together. Someone complains about a certain stretch or pose... a little groaning and complaining is kind of funny. But everyone has learned that it only encourages me to make it a little harder!  I love to see people get strong!
 
I love when non-Christians come for the free yoga.  Angie Hollis is quite a natural evangelist, and people from her gym are always showing up saying Angie sent them! There are several who have expressed an interest in Jesus just from their time at Yoga. 
 
We banded together to give rides to one woman and her children.  Last week, we all rejoiced when she got her driver’s license. We will rejoice together again when she gets the job she needs and for which she hopes! 
 
There is a woman from another church who comes a half hour early to be around the worship music and other believers.
 
But my very favorite thing is when we all spontaneously begin to worship and sing quietly as we move or stretch.   
​It is sweetly worshipful.
 
 
What would you tell someone who is wondering if they should get involved as a volunteer at CCC?
If there is something that you love doing or that has helped you; somewhere that you feel the Lord meets you-- consider sharing it!  I think of the scene in Chariots of Fire when the runner said, “When I run, I feel God’s pleasure!” We can share those things with other people.  I am not really that good at yoga. It certainly isn’t classic traditional yoga. It’s good enough to help people move, though. And people start to feel the pleasure that I have in Jesus as I move and encourage them. 

I don’t need to be more than just a willing person who loves Jesus. That’s enough. That’s plenty! We can share that if we have it.