About 15 years ago I earned a suffix. A comma rests between my last name and the letters “APR” in my professional signature. APR stands for “Accredited in Public Relations.”
The process of achieving my professional credentials was exacting.
First, I had to pay my dues by being employed in the public relations/communications field for at least five years. After another year of intense preparation, I spent eight hours in an exam room where I filled hundreds of circles with a no.2 pencil — crafting case studies, a crisis communications plan, and a myriad best-practice essays. An official interview, packed with grilling questions, finished the assessment.
Then, after several anxious weeks of waiting, I received a congratulatory letter — along with a shiny gold name tag bearing my new suffix.
As soon as the credentials were officially mine, I began adding my new initials to everything. I went completely overboard and even signed my grandfather’s birthday card with “Cheers to a Fabulous Year! Love, Angela Nazworth, APR.”
Over. The. Top.
I was shout-from-the-mountain proud of my credentials.
While I’m a little less enthusiastic about those three little letters today, they’re still special to me. I worked hard for the right to place them next to my name. Each letter means something to me and to the professionals in my field who truly understand public relations.
While my professional achievements are a part of my life story, they don’t define me. Just as there is more to my career than me earning an accreditation in a certain field, there is more to who I am than how I perform.
Lately I’ve been thinking about the “credentials” I carry as a Christian. Not the kind of credentials that are earned. Not the type of credentials that will advance my career or boost my chances of snagging a job interview. But the type of credentials that come to all who earnestly follow Jesus.
Here are a few that come to mind:
Angela Nazworth, COG – Child of God
“All of you are God’s children because of your faith in Christ Jesus.” {Galatians 3:26}
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.” {John 1:12}
Angela Nazworth, FD – Forgiven Daughter
“For this is My blood that establishes the covenant; it is shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.” {Matthew 26:28}
Angela Nazworth, WWWM – Womb-Woven and Wonderfully Made
“For it was You who created my inward parts;You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made.Your works are wonderful,and I know this very well.” {Psalm 139:13-14}
Angela Nazworth, WDF – Worth Dying For
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” {Romans 5:8}
Angela Nazworth, HOC – Heir of Christ
“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” {Titus 3:4-7}
Angela Nazworth, NC – New Creation
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” {II Corinthians 5:17}
I didn’t take a test or do anything special to deserve such distinction. In fact, had there been a test, I would have failed it miserably. My God-given credentials do not belong to me because of who I am, but rather because of to Whom I belong.
When I take time to reflect on my significance born of Christ’s sacrifice and independent of worldly acclaim, I am acutely aware of a quiet strength that rests within me. I also am reminded of the responsibility I carry as a representative of Jesus . . . how I am to boast about Him to His glory.
I’d love to learn what you think are some of your God-given credentials. If God handed you a business card, what initials would be placed after your name?
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Angela,
I love this…I had a suffix behind my name on my business cards years ago, and yes, it was a source of pride to be able to write those initials behind my name because I did work hard for them. Then, for a long while I was Bev Duncan, SAHM (Stay At Home Mom). I particularly like WWFM and WDF. Or what about RBJB? (Redeemed by Jesus’ Blood). What’s wonderful is that these all pertain to me/us! Someone else (Jesus) paid the ultimate price and did ALL the work to earn me those credentials. That’s something worth boasting about…Him! Good stuff to start my weekend!!
Blessings,
Bev
RBJB! I love it, Bev! Thank you for sharing.
Angela, here are a few that came to mind after reading your article, DOTK = Daughter of the King, FF=Freely Forgiven, SBG = Saved by Grace, NC = New Creation…. this is fun and inspiring. Blessings and Peace to you this day and always.
Thank you, Rebecca! I love all the ones you listed here!
Cynthia Hosmer, BHF (blessed and highly favored)
Ohhhh! That’s a good one!
Oh I love this!! Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you, Abby.
Hi Angela,
Thank you for sharing.
I have picked FB = Forever Blessed
“Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” {Psalm 23:6}
Margarita, FB
Beautiful! And thank you for sharing that amazing scripture.
This is a great idea! It helps us to remember many of the ways God loves & takes care of us. I think I would say: “Debi Gable ABG” meaning, Alive By Grace. I have had many situations in my life where, if God didn’t intervene, I would have been dead. At one point, I wished I was. But, He has seen me through, & I know that I don’t need to fear death, because when it’s my time, according to God, it will be WONDERFUL!!!
Oh Debi! Thank you for sharing. I am so glad that you are ABG and joyous to be here! Love to you!
Love this, thank you for sharing! I like ARPC, Always Rejoicing, Praying Continually.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
That’s awesome, Sheryl. Thank you!
Needed this after attending a counseling conference this morning. SAHM still has more weight than LPC will ever have in my life. Showing the young ladies that was important and that they could still have a part time career was priceless.
Keep sharing, Tracey! 🙂
Love this! I worked really hard to be able to put “JD” or “ESQ” after my name, but it didn’t take long for me to realize that this is not even close to being the most important part of my identity. It’s still a part of me but I’m liking “Child of God” much better.
Wow! This was so powerful! It spoke so much truth! As an undergraduate student in public relations, I could understand where you were coming from about working in PR. In working for your credentials, you’re trying to establish yourself in the field, proving yourself to your employers. I’m still working towards my degree. But I’d never thought of my spiritual credentials. They show how much I’ve done God’s work and had my faith test. But you’re right. We don’t have to take a test. We don’t have to prove ourselves to God. Another important aspect of having credentials in Christ is not just recognizing who we belong to, but also showing them shamelessly, like how you signed that birthday card. We boldly declare we are COG! We are WDF! We are HOC! Thank you for this uplifting message.
Thank you for sharing your heart, Bryana! I wish you all the best in your career.
So thankful God gives us our credentials!
Susan Gruener BA – Born Again!
Me too! Thank you, Susan.
Thank you Angela. Yes credentials say who we are. People work hard to obtain those credentials. But in Christ we don’t do anything except believe in the one who died, resurrected and lives again! I feel I’m a COG who is bbm-blessed beyond measure!
Thanks Angela and have a great weekend! 🙂
Love it! And thanks so reaching out, Beth.
God given credentials in my life SOS. Savior of my Soul.
Love SOS, Glenda! Thanks so much for sharing!
Angela,
I so love this! We can go about life collecting title like my son collects Matchbox cars, lining them up and proudly putting them on display. The title for Christ that I’m proudly wearing at this moment is FI, Free Indeed. Over the last year He has been freeing me from regret, shame, hurt, betrayal and more. This is such an inspiring, fun prompt and would make for a great Tweet Chat.
This would be a great tweet chat! Thank you for the suggestion. And I LOVE FI. Beautiful!
Angela – An inspiring and thought provoking message that I loved reading…
I love COG, NC —what a privilege to have these initials.
I also like:
UGC – Under God’s Command
TOG – Temple of God
LBS – Led by the Spirit
Oh Sujana, I love the credentials you added. Love them all, especially LBS
Thank you for posting what God put on your heart. Here are a few of mine: Kathy Sturgis, LBU. – loved beyond understanding;
Kathy Sturgis, WYSTC – weak yet strong through Christ; Kathy Sturgis, DOH; and one more Kathy Sturgis, FGG – for God’s Glory.
I will be sharing this with my friends.
Oh Kathy, these are so wonderful and I love how you spelled out your name and put the credentials right there. All of your selections are so beautiful and powerful. Thank you for sharing here.
The DOH stands for Dependent On Him
🙂
Love this! 🙂 How wonderful would it be to see these credentials littering FB & Twitter feeds, business cards – showing us that we really do have more in common with those around us that we might think. And when we recognize we’re in the same SBJ (Saved By Jesus) “club”, perhaps we can show love more freely and embrace our fellow COG family.
Thank you, Carrie. KI love your perspective.
What a great idea, Janet. Love your heart for sharing the Gospel.