“I was healed of a brain aneurysm…”
Bethany Henderson (2nd Year), Creative Arts
with Gabriella De Jesus
OSL student, Bethany Henderson, has just completed her first year in the Creative Arts Internship. We sat down with her to learn more about her story and how her time here has impacted her story.
Can you tell me about your family life growing up?
It’s just me and my parents. My parents weren’t always Christian when I was growing up. I mean I guess you could have classified them as secular Christians. They believed in God and in Jesus and what He did. They even accepted Him, but they didn’t live the lifestyle. Since then, they’ve changed and grown in their faith, like me. Other than that, they have always been super loving and supportive. They are always there for me. My dad has worked so hard and has been through so much just to help me go to school. My dad is the definition of a man of God. My mom is one of my best friends. If it wasn’t for them, I would not know who or where I’d be.
Were there any major impactful moments that affected your life at this time?
At the end of my senior year of high school, a friend of mine passed away. He was in a coma and we had thought he was going to be okay, but we were wrong. It messed me up. I went down a dark path and I completely turned my back on God. Then, a few months after graduation, I started getting really sick. I had to drop out of school because I missed so much class and I couldn’t catch up. My doctor was positive I had a brain aneurysm. I remember being at peace about it because I already knew something was wrong with me.
I remember an early-September Sunday morning, I felt the need to go to the Oaks Church. When I told my mom she was confused but chose to go with me. When we got here, we ran into a couple that used to attend our old church and they invited us to sit with them. Coming from a small church, seeing them was a blessing. Now here’s the thing: They sat in the very middle section, in the second row, and
I had a pink faux hawk and wore black lipstick that day. There was no way I could be missed.
I stuck out like a sore thumb. It was hilarious.
I remember Pastor Mark being on stage. He and I locked eyes and he said, “I feel like there are people in this room that need healing. If you’re one of these people, I need you to stand up so we can pray for you.” I wasn’t going to stand up because I’m one of those people where I didn’t really feel like I needed it, but my mom kind of forced me to stand. There were around 20 people that laid hands on me and that was it. I sat down. I didn’t feel any different. The week after, I went to the doctor for some more scans I had lined up. After my appointment, I didn’t hear anything back for a couple of days. When they called me, they said, “We really don’t know what’s going on, but you’re completely healed.” They began to doubt themselves, but my mom and I knew what had happened. My first time at the Oaks, I was healed of a brain aneurysm. At that moment, I just knew this had to be our new home.
Were there any mentors that helped you during that season?
My old youth pastor, Carlos, and his wife, Sasha, were just always there. Carlos was at the hospital so much during the time my friend had been in a coma. He would just let me cry on his shoulder. Sasha was the same, just always there. They just knew how to support me. I don’t even know how to explain it, but they were just so loving and showed consistent support. Just knowing that they were there helped. I could literally tell them anything, and they would talk me through it. Quality time is my love language, so that alone was the only thing that mattered to me.
How did you come to Christ?
Growing up, I was kind of like my parents, but I still kind of had discernment in me. I never really did anything that was really bad. I loved Jesus a lot. Then the year 2013 came around. It was a wild ride, but then I rededicated to God during OYA, so thanks, Pastor Dillon! I would say it was around Thanksgiving in 2014, at OYA’s Turkey Bowl. Now here I am.
Was there a specific moment that you realized the call God placed on your life?
Here’s the thing, every plan I have ever made for my life has never turned out well. So I have and am still taking this time as the time for me to just listen to the Lord. To just wait and prepare myself for what He wants me to do. I’m pretty sure my calling has to do with production in the church. I think being an Art Director, like Pastor Kelvin Co, would be sick. But I think just being here at this time is just an impactful moment for me because I have no idea of where I am going to go or what I’m going to do.
All I know is that I am supposed to be here right now, and that is all that matters.
When I’m here I feel like I can truly be who God wants me to be.
Can you tell me about any struggles you had with your calling?
I used to struggle majorly with depression and knowing my identity. I still struggle with knowing my identity sometimes. It’s a battle, but now I have God with me to figure it out hand in hand. I just recently decided to start seeing myself the way God sees me, which is not an easy thing to do. It’s kind of sad to say because it should be easy, but it’s not. I guess it’s because, growing up, I was bullied so often. It really messes with your psyche, so it’s hard to see yourself the way God sees you.
How did your story bring you to OSL?
Around the time I was healed, Dillon Wilson became the young adults’ pastor. It was in that time I got involved serving and ultimately rededicated my life. I made friends and ended up on a mission trip with them where I met H. David. He tricked me into serving with the creative team. I really loved it, even though I had never really seen myself volunteering with production, but it was so much fun. He told me about the internship. I thought it would be really cool, but I wasn’t expecting anything to come out of it. On a Sunday after that, Pastor Bryan Brooks was doing an OSL plug and my mom thought it would be a cool opportunity and encouraged me to do it. I was still pretty hesitant because I still hadn’t seen myself working at the church. But she picked up a packet anyway and gave it to me. So I looked over it and realized how much I was actually interested in it. I began to talk to H. David about it and he told me about getting started with scholarships. So I applied, got accepted, and I joined the creative team.
How did you choose the Creative Internship? Have you been part of any other internships?
I have only ever been in the Creative Internship, and I don’t really plan on changing that. I chose that internship because of the role H. David played in introducing me to OSL. After being accepted, I immediately joined the creative team, which was the best decision of my whole entire life. I love them more than anything. I love OSL more than anything.
Have there been any difficulties you have gone through while in OSL?
I actually got sick again. We thought I was going to have to have surgery. The doctors believed that I had cancer in my thyroid. At that time, I was scared, because I didn’t have that peace about it as I did with my brain. But it ended up okay. I didn’t have cancer. I do have Hashimoto’s disease, which is an autoimmune disease where my thyroid doesn’t make the correct kind of hormones. When it does create the hormones, my body attacks itself because they’re not right. It is kind of a struggle. I take medicine which helps a lot, but I get tired so incredibly quickly. I feel like I can’t work to my full potential.
How have you gotten through this season of your life?
The people. The creative staff specifically. We’re like a little family. The constant prayer and just knowing that. Like Jesse Fox offered to go to doctor’s appointments with me, and that is so monumental. Them just being there and having the knowledge that I have that support behind me is the only thing that matters to me.
Thinking towards the future, where do you see yourself after graduating from OSL?
Here. I don’t really want to leave. I am praying that the Lord keeps me here. If he doesn’t, I feel like I will probably go on to be an Arts Director at a church plant. Definitely something in the church production world.
What are your hopes for the remaining time you will spend in OSL?
I want to learn anything anyone is willing to teach me. I love learning, especially if it is something I love. I definitely feel that when I started here, I grew closer to God. I want to continue to do that. I also desire to make lifelong friendships, so that’s what I hope to get out of it.
Do you have any advice for your peers in OSL, students coming in the fall, and prospective students looking into our program?
Just do it. Just jump in. There is no better place to be. Just dive head first and don’t be afraid. Also, just listen to God. You are going to know if this is the place you’re meant to be if you just listen.
The Oaks School of Leadership (OSL) at Oaks Church was founded in 2009 and since then more than 600 students have gone through OSL. Many serve in high-caliber leadership positions throughout our nation and around the world. OSL exists to position students for effective leadership in a variety of capacities, including ministry, non-profit and business leadership, by providing students with hands-on leadership training combined with a degree from an accredited university.
