Celeste Osmanson

My name is Celeste, women’s staff mentor here at Atlas.  Growing up in the church, I often wondered, “Is this it?  If God is so amazing…why doesn’t it seem that way?”   It wasn’t until 1995 that I clearly heard the voice of God say to me, “Celeste, I have so much more for you”.  Since then I have been in the process of discovering who I am in Christ, and living my life understanding that I am a daughter of King Jesus.  It has been the greatest adventure!

I am eager to listen to and help women discover the same.  Through the discovery we often find that we are not walking in the freedom that Christ offers.  Generations back on both sides of my family are filled with addiction, abuse, and adultery….yet I am free from fear that my life will be the same or look the same as that of the past.  I am a captive that has been set free.  I have been healed, renewed, set apart, and restored. 

Together let’s discover what it is that God has for us.  I am excited to co-labor with Christ, through ATLAS, to “Preach Good News to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim that captives be released, that the blind will see, the downtrodden be freed from their oppressors, and that all experience the Lord’s favor” (Isa 61:1-2).  Jesus says in Matthew, “Come to me, all you are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you.  Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls.”

So…I invite you to come.  God loves you and cares about you- great adventures await!

 Justin Vandewater

Hi, my name is Justin, slave to Christ, husband to Jaymi, dad to Grace, Lainey, Joah and Asher and director of ATLAS here in Sioux Falls.  I've really struggled through seasons in my life with pride, identity, cynicism, religiosity, lust, arrogance, focus, jealousy, bitterness, and purpose.  As over-arching themes winding through each of these seasons and gripping my heart for many years were small little lies I was believing (maybe you can relate!): "what job you have, what car you drive, what house you own, what clothes you wear define who you are," "money will fulfill you," "your job will fulfill you," "you need to please people," "you're better than that person," "you're too good for that job," "it's all about you and your comfort," "you deserve recognition," "you can't give that much," "you're right, they're wrong," "one look won't hurt," "You're entitled to that," "Just work harder." These lies were so subtle that, even though I loved God and would profess Him as Lord and Savior in my heart, my mind was being swayed and I would look to Him primarily for personal fulfillment.  For most of my life I have had a very self-centered relationship with Jesus Christ.  My prayers focused on my own needs, blessings and happiness.  How can God make my life more comfortable?  I wanted to use God for my purposes. 

“What a wretched man I am!  Who will rescue me from this body of death?  Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!”  Romans 7:24