Education Founded on the Kingdom of God

Prof. Donella Pitzl

Prof. Donella is the Co-Founder and Director of IMEA. Prof. Pitzl has an International Professorship through Kayiwa International University and is an International Certified Master Life Coach. Prof. Donella’s doctorate work is in Biblical Counseling with an emphasis on Kingdom Character Building through United Graduate College and Seminary International. She has over 40 years of Christian education and ministry experience and has written several training materials and curriculum for children, youth, seminary students and ministry volunteers. 

______________________

One of the goals of IMEA is to make a Kingdom Education available for pastors, ministers, laypersons, and life-coaches, anyone that has a desire to forward the kingdom message across the globe. You will find the articles we post are a testimony of, not only the Kingdom message, but also Kingdom leadership and mentorship. 

When I was working on my doctorate I knew that biblical counseling was part of the answer to helping people but I also had a sense that God's kingdom character development was of equal, if not greater importance. Without an understanding of what it looks like to exemplify the character of a citizen of God's kingdom, our efforts are futile. Religion has set standards, based on the bible, but God's kingdom standards and principles are not religious rules but rather an expression of a true kingdom foundation and understanding. When we understand our kingdom citizenship and the allegiance we are to have to our King, our attitudes and behavior - life culture - will reflect those convictions and understandings. A true representation of God's kingdom is a product of a relationship with our Father God.

Dr. Myles Munroe is, I believe, one of the strongest teachers of God's kingdom for this day. He brings such a convincing, true to God's Word message of God's kingdom. He was raised under the influence of an earthly kingdom, Great Britain in the Bahamas. He often addresses the fact that when you live under the rule of an earthly kingdom you don't have ownership of anything in that kingdom, but rather you are made a steward of the properties of the kingdom. The influence of that kingdom is everywhere you look and leaves it's imprint behind even when it is gone. This has been one of the concepts that most impacted my theology. Being raised in the church in America, and America being a republic with a democratic system in place, I realized how much my life is centered on ownership. Even when I was in ministry it was a "my ministry" mentality that was promoted. This does not work and has no place in God's kingdom understanding. We were created to represent the kingdom of heaven on earth, to be true kingdom citizen operating and bringing the kingdom of heaven to earth. As the Lord's Prayer says, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." (Matt 6:10 KJV) That is our job as kingdom citizen. 

The word "repent" means in essence to change your mind, to turn from going one direction and move in another direction. God is in the process of changing the minds of many of His children, joint heirs created in His likeness, those that are ready and willing to hear and comply. We are in a day and time when the message of the kingdom is resonating from heaven. This message offers hope in a time when hopelessness covers much of the world. The Word says, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." (Matt 24:14 KJV)

IMEA in cooperation with United Graduate College and Seminary International are working to aid in the spreading of the message of God's kingdom. What mankind is longing for is a return to what we were originally created for. No religion, occupation, earthly relationship, nothing can fill and satisfy the emptiness that existed when man lost God's kingdom calling and gave their authority over to the prince and the power of the air, satan. The King of Heaven, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, our Father God is busy calling the much loved creation to return to Their original intent for Their creation - To be joint heirs ruling and reigning with the King on earth as it is in heaven.

A UGCSI student in Mozambique Africa, gave us some comments regarding his education with this organization. He said, "I thank you so much for this powerful foundational training. Personally, I gained a lot . . . You also confirmed that everything is indeed doable provided we have passion enough and profound dependence on God, our heavenly Father." This man is one among many international students that are benefiting from a kingdom centered international education.

I hope IMEA can help lead you into a kingdom education that will return many to God's original intent, having a kingdom relationship with the King of the Ages and operating in dominion on the earth.

Respectfully Submitted,

Prof. Donella Pitzl

Building Hope In The Next Generation - Kingdom Character

Prof. Donella Pitzl

Prof. Donella Pitzl has an International Professorship through Kayiwa International University and is an International Certified Master Life Coach. Prof. Donella’s doctorate work is in Biblical Counseling with an emphasis on Kingdom Character Building through United Graduate College and Seminary International. She has over 40 years of Christian education and ministry experience and has written several training materials and curriculum for children, youth, seminary students and ministry volunteers. She is also the Director of IMEA.

______________________

Our future is held in the lives of our youth and our children. It is embodied in their training, mindsets, hopes and desires. Every generation faces challenges and needs encouragement to become all that God has created them to be. Good biblical principles built into the understanding of our young will allow them the ability to tap into the life God has to give them.

From Psalm 119, I have captured and paraphrased “22 Principles for Life”. When God’s Truth is applied to daily living with a practical application, it will bring hope by creating a lasting foundation. The way one looks at life will shape that life. What is understood about God - His love and care - will help one live in wholeness fulfilling God’s intentions for each generation on the Earth giving them a future and a hope.

The 22 Principles of Life – From Psalm 119

1. I am blessed when I live according to God’s principles; I will not suffer shame – Ps. 119:1, 6
2. The Lord keeps my heart pure when I live according to His Word and seek Him with all my heart – Ps. 119:9-11
3. My eyes are kept open that I can continue to see the path; God’s principles are my counselor – Ps. 119:18,24
4. Even when my heart is tired and sad,  I am strengthened by His principles; on this path I find freedom – Ps. 119:28, 32
5. I know I can ask the Lord to direct my thoughts and to keep my eyes on Him; His ways preserve my life in righteousness – Ps. 199:33, 35, 40
6. My hope in God brings freedom and puts strength in my words – Ps. 119:45, 46
7. I find comfort in hard times because I know God promises to keep me because I keep His principles – Ps. 119:50,56
8. I know if I turn my face towards God and stay diligent, I will find strength – Ps. 119:59, 61
9. I am thankful for hard times because they help me learn about God – Ps. 119:71
10. God made me and I can trust Him to teach me; I can trust His love to comfort me – Ps. 119:73,76
11. I know I can trust God’s commands  even in the face of hardship – Ps. 119:86
12. I realize although there is nothing perfect in life, I am unlimited as God’s principles are without limits – Ps. 119:96
13. I believe God’s principles rather than my enemies make me wiser – Ps. 119:98
14. I know God directs my path and even if others would try and trap me, I will happily stay on God’s path for my future – Ps. 119:105,110,111
15. I will stay singularly focused on God’s principles because they keep me and bring me life – Ps. 119:113,116
16. Loving and knowing God’s principles helps me hate every wrong path – Ps. 119:127,128
17. I realize God always shows mercy to those that love His name and He will not let any sin rule over me – Ps. 119:132,133
18. I can live because I trust in God’s principles which are true  – Ps. 119:138,144
19. I understand God has established His words to last forever and if I stay focused on them, I do not have to be afraid – Ps. 119:148,149,152
20. I believe God defends me and saves my life because of His compassion – Ps. 119:154,156
21. I see it is good to praise God and be thankful because He keeps me, knows all about me and gives me peace – Ps. 119:165,168
22. If I stray off the right path and yet not forget His principles, God will find me. Lord let me live that I might praise You – Ps. 119:175,176

Note: All Scripture verses are paraphrased from the New International Version of the Bible.

Active engagement is important. If the young people of today were to engage in the following activities, God would bring hope to the areas in life that are troubling and create a strong foundation in God for success in life.

• Write a statement about how you see yourself.
• Identify your area(s) of distress or hopelessness. Apply at least one of the 22 Principles of Life and on a daily basis declare it loudly over yourself.
• Identify an area where you can act upon daily to put your thinking on a right path.
• If you do not believe in God, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”  (NIV, Luke 11.9) You must ask for help from God.

Applying the Truth from God’s Word to the belief system of a young life will form that life to walk in God’s Kingdom with stability and bring change to their world and reality. Scripture confirms we can experience life – as in Heaven, so on Earth when we see through God’s eyes and believe His Word.

Counseling/Coaching Philosophy - Two is Better Than One

Prof. Donella Pitzl, PhD

Prof. Donella Pitzl, PhD writes on life, purpose and the need for others to come along side during our journey through life. She is a Board Certified Master Life Coach and has her PhD in Biblical Counseling with emphasis on Kingdom Character Building.

 ___________________

It has been my observation during the course of my life and my studies that mankind, as a whole, is at a loss without hope and encouragement. Not only are we overrun by our life circumstances, but also, we really do not know why we are on the earth. For many, making ends meet, striving to become a professional at something, or raising a family is not enough incentive in life, and rightly so. God’s Word addresses how a lack of vision in life affects us, it speaks of a “perishing.” In every culture and society across the globe mankind in general suffers from a lack of vision and understanding. The result is strife, greed, violence, suffering, lack of provision and integrity to name a few. This state of being is very contrary to the plan of our Creator for His creation. It is my intention in life to address God’s answers, provide tools and challenge old mindsets in the hope that the Life of God and hope will be embraced and we can change the direction of our state of being.

We have been blessed with those that have discovered they are gifted to offer good Christian counseling and coaching. I am a firm believer in the importance of good counsel and coaching. In Ecc 4:12 it says, "And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken."  

There are many lines of thinking and approaches to aiding mankind and addressing the difficulties of existence on the earth. I have participated in programs that have been created to help people. I have been involved in Christian counseling with varying results. In my studies of and interaction with the methods to help people, even Christian programs, I find a lack of long lasting results. Statistics show that in programs like AA and even Christ-centered recovery programs, there is under a 20% true recovery rate and that is being generous. 

The central strength of these programs is that they encourage you to find help by interacting with others and having accountability - two are better than one. So why the low percentage of long lasting results? In my personal experience with these programs I discovered there is an emphasis on our mistakes and “cleaning up” our past, but very little on learning our purpose for being on the earth and discovering what our future can become by creating a pathway of discovery. We can work all day long on cleaning up our life but if we do it just to relieve pain, if we don’t get to the root of the pain, the pain will return again and again. If we don’t discover the “why” of our existence, we will perish as our troubles remain to haunt us.

I believe we have to combine good Christian counsel, coaching, support, and engage in activities that are holistic and well rounded. Thus, in my work, I encourage and engage in both good Godly counsel and also guidance and empowerment in an interactive program of personal discovery and kingdom character development.

My hearts desire and vision is to offer practical tools to build a life that reflects God’s intentions and strengthens one to face the difficulties of life - facing the journey with integrity of character that only comes from the Author and Finisher of our Faith, Jesus Christ.

Be blessed in the knowledge that you do not have to face life alone. If you truly want help, help is there for you. Face the challenge and the  hard work and seek it out. God truly makes a way for HIs people, His creation.

---