Emil Schjelde Kofoed is a theology student and part-time preacher in Denmark.
When did you trust Christ?
Since birth, I was brought up in the Christian faith. When I was about 14 or 15 years old, I began to understand who God the Father and Jesus are and what they mean to me and my life. I attended a boarding school where, in addition to standard education, I was taught the Bible, and my faith was nourished. During these years, I grew closer to Jesus and God the Father, gaining a better understanding of what a relationship with them meant to me and for my life. Since that time, my relationship with Jesus has been a central part of my everyday life.
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
The boarding school I attended enriched my relationship with Jesus. A lot of my fellow students had a personal relationship with Jesus, and we supported each other in our faith. During the three years of my college attendance, I was a local leader of our KFS-group (KFS is IFES in Denmark). Though I was alone, and leadership was difficult, I learned a lot from the experience. After college, I attended a Bible school in Jutland and grew a lot in my personal faith. The fellowship at school was amazing, and tight spiritual and social bonds grew. Shortly after attending this school, I decided to start studying theology at Dansk Bibel-Institut (Copenhagen School of Lutheran Theology). During my two years here, I have been spiritually challenged. I hang onto Jesus and trust that He will help me and guide me through life's challenging times.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
I hope to become a better leader and to grow spiritually. I also want to inspire others to grow in their faith.
What is your ministry?
Currently, I am part of the preaching team in my church, preaching one to two Sundays each semester.
What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?
During my initial three years in college, I was a leader of our local KFS (IFES), and I was part of the broader KFS work in Copenhagen for college students. One Friday night each month, we arranged a gathering where we ate, prayed, sang together, and were taught.
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
I am a theology student at a private university and do not receive government financial support. I hope attending the conference will help me in my future job or role as a church or organisation leader. I also hope to develop relationships with other Christian leaders.
