About Dawn
Dawn Amsden Stark is a change agent, a storyteller, a promise seeker, and a beach lover. Her 23-year infertility journey which included 7 IVFs, 2 high-risk pregnancies, and 2 international adoptions fundamentally transformed her life and faith. Today, she is a development manager for Operation Blessing where she matches the philanthropic goals and interest of partners to the needs of the most vulnerable worldwide. Dawn is also the founder of {Re}Purposed Lives, a social business that supports at-risk children and families while reducing textile waste through recycling unwanted stuffed animals and plush toys. She volunteers at her church and in her community to support women walking through infertility and parenting after infertility. Dawn holds a B.A. in government/international relations from Regent University and a M.A. in international community development from Southeastern University. She lives in Sarasota, Florida with her husband of 36 years, five young adult children, and Siberian Husky puppy. Called to War: How Life’s Battles Transform Us for God’s Purposes is her debut release.
Statement of Faith
Practically speaking, I am a Christian with a non-denominational, though for the past few years have been incorporating spiritual formation practices from a Contemplative tradition into my faith. I am a pastor’s kid and for much of my marriage, a pastor’s wife; a life of faith is intrinsically wired into my DNA. Our family values worship and prayer that is Christ-centered, spirit-driven, biblically-based, and missionally-minded. My church exists so that people far from God will be raised to life in Christ.
Traditionally speaking, I align with the creeds of old: “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and sits at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.” ~ Apostles’ Creed
Morally speaking, my faith –not my emotions – informs my choices. I believe the relativism of our age has caused the people of God to shift away from standards of righteousness. The results of which have been devastating to our culture, church, and family units. I do not believe the highest goal of life is “happiness”, but rather I believe to live with Christ means a gradual dying to self (Rom.6-8). We are all called to transform ourselves by putting off our old nature, and taking on the likeness and image of Christ (Eph.4: 22), which are manifested by the virtues of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).
Relationally speaking, I believe when you love God first, thereby honoring the first and greatest commandment, everything else falls into place (Matt 22:37). For me, proper relationships flow out of a love affair with my Heavenly Father marked by personal devotion overflowing with worship and prayer. “Worship your way through it” is the hallmark of my life’s journey. My present reality (“on earth”) changes when I find God first (“as it is in heaven”) as outlined by Jesus in the Lord’s Prayer (Matt 6:10). I’ve discovered that “moving mountains” and “mountain top experiences” often occur because of a change of my perception, not because of a change of circumstances – although my God is more than capable of changing circumstances too!
Missionally speaking, I moved into the world loving my neighbor in the manner in which I was loved: unconditionally! Serving humanity’s need is the action of my faith and my honor to the second great commandment to love my neighbor as myself (Matt 22:38). When I love God whole-heartedly and unabashedly, I pick up His heart for the impoverished, the hungry, the unloved, the orphan, and the widow. This is my due diligence to a worthy and pure King: “to visit the orphan and widows in their trouble” (James 1:14) and to care “for the least of these” (Matt 25:31-46).
