{"id":644,"date":"2014-10-06T21:40:39","date_gmt":"2014-10-06T21:40:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/?p=644"},"modified":"2014-10-07T19:41:15","modified_gmt":"2014-10-07T19:41:15","slug":"overcome-by-faf-champion-alissa-bannerman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/2014\/10\/06\/overcome-by-faf-champion-alissa-bannerman\/","title":{"rendered":"Overcome by FAF Champion Alissa Bannerman"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"overcome\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Alissa Bannerman is the 2014 winner of the IPHC National Fine Arts Festival in 8.2 Creative Writing Fiction Alpha. This is her winning piece.<\/p>\n

To read all of the creative writing winning pieces click here <\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

My parents told me how people used to gather to worship God and how beautiful it was.That is not the world we live in now.ln this world,the government abolished all religion with the help of the Tenebris Imitatores.or the Dark Followers.They are a group of spies and warriors who fight to keep religion in the dark.<\/p>\n

The imitatores have been around for as long as the war has been going on;the war that has caused the genocide of almost every Christian.It has been three decades since it started.<\/p>\n

But, there is resistance.People like my family. My name is Peter, and I have twelve brothers and sisters. My brother and my sister, Mark and Livvy, are in Oklahoma with me training until God sends us.They find comfort in this statement from an archaic book,”I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”<\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *<\/p>\n

I\u2019m Johanna.I am a student at a boarding school in Yukon,Oklahoma. I’m seventeen. I’m on a couch, “I thought, as I woke up in a room I’ve never seen.<\/p>\n

Standing up,from a gold couch, I felt a sharp pain in the back of my head from blacking out. Dizzily,l looked around noticing the plush couches,mahogany tables, and expensive paintings filling the walls.<\/p>\n

A knock was followed by a door opening.I focused on a man with a comforting smile. Behind him was my roommate Livvy. Livvy had been my room mate at school for the last four years.<\/p>\n

They both walked in and sat down on the couch before me.Then the man started to speak. His name was Peter. He talked for hours about a Christianity and Heaven. A story about a God who loved us so much that he sent his son to die on a cross.<\/p>\n

He talked about a group called Tenebris lmitatores.They fight against the resistance and kill all Christians.<\/p>\n

Then he said I was chosen by God and that I\u2019m destined to fight in a war for God.Also,that I may be one of few who could end the war.<\/p>\n

When he finally finished, he looked at me.I didn\u2019t know what to say. What was I supposed to say?I wasn\u2019t a warrior!I was a nerd.I couldn\u2019t run a mile without puking.But somehow I knew he was right.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut, what does that mean for me? Now,that I’m ‘cho-sen’?”I asked,confused. “We’d like to train and teach you until its time.”Peter replied.<\/p>\n

“Time for what?”<\/p>\n

The fight that God has destined for you.We won’t make you agree to anything. But,in order to do this, you\u2019ll need to overcome yourself and the world. It won’t be easy, but it’ll be worth the while, “he explained. Without needing to think about i, I agreed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Over the next few weeks.I trained harder than ever. My trainer is Mark, Peter’s brother. He is a foot taller than me and really built. He has beautiful hair, black as raven feathers.<\/p>\n

”What’sup?” I asked today, in training.<\/p>\n

”The fight is\u00a0 tonight” he said.<\/p>\n

I stopped what I was doing.”What! The battle?!”I panicked.<\/p>\n

Mark came over and put his hands on my shoulders. ‘”We will be going, it will be okay. We have God on our side, and with him, we can do some major damage. Remember, in John 16:33,Jesus said.”I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.But take heart! I have over come the world, “he comforted me.I loved him for the effort, but it seemed useless.<\/p>\n

After training, I went to my room and prayed about what was to come; I prayed for strength and help to overcome this enemy and this war.<\/p>\n

After I was done, I noticed a letter stuck under my door and reached for it. It said:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

If you want to save your friends, Chosen One.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Go to the subway at dusk..ALONE!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I shot off the floor and grabbed my favorite dagger. I flew out the front door.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I got there quicker than I thought I would. I hear footsteps.<\/p>\n

Wielding my dagger, I turn. From what I could tell, he was at least a foot taller than me; I could\u2019ve sworn he was smiling. I raised my chin. We started for each other. Deflecting and trying to strike each other, it was like he was in my head.<\/p>\n

He pushed me back and my dagger went flying. Before I could react, he picked me up and threw me on the ground with my face in the pavement. I felt a sharp point in my back.<\/p>\n

I wasn\u2019t going to give up that easily! I flipped off of my knees and swung my right leg in the air with enough force to kick him back a few feet. Be he could do anything, I started running.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Soon my legs started to go numb and my fate began to catch up with me.<\/p>\n

He came from behind and grabbed me. I felt a blade pierce by back but no slicing the skin. He dragged me to the ground, and I felt the blade go through me and the pain overwhelmed me.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

All I could see what the man shaking his hair, black as raven feathers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"alissa\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Alissa is sixteen and a junior in high school. She loves to hang out at church, read, and watch movies.. Alissa plans to attend University of Central Oklahoma when she graduates.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"excerpt","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","slim_seo":{"title":"Overcome by FAF Champion Alissa Bannerman - IPHC Discipleship Ministries","description":"Alissa Bannerman is the 2014 winner of the IPHC National Fine Arts Festival in 8.2 Creative Writing Fiction Alpha. This is her winning piece. 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The event kicked off on Thursday, July 21st with a full afternoon of Fine Arts at the Hilton, Daytona Beach Hotel. 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This is his winning piece. To read all of the Creative Writing winning pieces, click here Immediately I knew that something was wrong. I could hear the sniffles and I could\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Discipleship Ministries"","block_context":{"text":"Discipleship Ministries","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/category\/discipleship-ministries\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2014\/10\/jonathan-bryan-copy.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2014\/10\/jonathan-bryan-copy.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2014\/10\/jonathan-bryan-copy.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2014\/10\/jonathan-bryan-copy.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1521,"url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/2015\/07\/02\/yq2015-will-light-up-the-night\/","url_meta":{"origin":644,"position":2},"title":"#YQ2015 will Light Up the Night","author":"Kaleigh","date":"July 2, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Do you like black lights? Glow-in-the-dark swag? T-shirts? Foam parties? THE BEACH? If you like ANY of those things then you are going to LOVE our Light Up the Night Rally on Thursday July 23rd! Hosted by Student Ministries, this glow and foam party will start at 8 pm\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Discipleship Ministries"","block_context":{"text":"Discipleship Ministries","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/category\/discipleship-ministries\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"light up the night rally yq banner","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2015\/06\/light-up-the-night-rally-yq-banner-1024x255.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2015\/06\/light-up-the-night-rally-yq-banner-1024x255.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2015\/06\/light-up-the-night-rally-yq-banner-1024x255.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2015\/06\/light-up-the-night-rally-yq-banner-1024x255.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2203,"url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/2016\/02\/16\/youthquest2016-announces-core-value-influenced-theme\/","url_meta":{"origin":644,"position":3},"title":"#YouthQuest2016 Announces Core Value Influenced Theme","author":"Kaleigh","date":"February 16, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"*graphics and images c\/o Kaleigh Hamilton The road to creating the theme for YouthQuest 2016 was a long and winding one, with a diverse group of people contributing to the concept. The theme \u201cLuminaries\u201d is a direct reference to the 2016 Core Value Emphasis \u201cWe Prayerfully Value Holiness\u201d and may\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Discipleship Ministries"","block_context":{"text":"Discipleship Ministries","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/category\/discipleship-ministries\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/02\/stumin-web-banner.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/02\/stumin-web-banner.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/02\/stumin-web-banner.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/02\/stumin-web-banner.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1527,"url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/2015\/07\/14\/after-party-at-yq2015\/","url_meta":{"origin":644,"position":4},"title":"After Party at #YQ2015!","author":"Kaleigh","date":"July 14, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 by Skye Hakes Liles This year we are partnering with our awesome IPHC colleges to throw you the best after parties EVER! Together with Holmes, Emmanuel, and Southwestern we will be hanging around outside the Hilton after the evening services on Friday and Saturday. 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