At the end of month 7 in Cambodia, our squad was privileged to take part in a first-time event called the Awakening. The Awakening is an opportunity for ministry hosts in Cambodia to come together and network with one another and share their stories with racers. All the meanwhile, 3 WR squads come together to share this weekend of ministry, worship, and wisdom-gleaning with each other and with our host friends.
Three squads, 200 people, all at different stages of the race – S squad anxious to begin month 5, O squad (my squad) looking forward to our 8th month of ministry, and I squad heading into their 10th month of the race. Each of us were asked to choose (from 5 options) an area that we would like to serve in. I prayed about it and felt that God was telling me to choose worship. Well, let me just be the first to say that I might not shatter glass but I don’t have the best pipes around and I definitely don’t play any instruments. (Although, my hope is for that to change. We’ve got access to a ukulele this month!) Anywho…
With a bit of curiosity as to why God wanted me to, I said yes to worship.
A few weeks later I received a message asking me to be 1 of 2 point people for our squad to help lead and organize worship. Although this is not what some would consider a significant leadership opportunity, I was overjoyed to be able to do this.
See, beginning the race I was hoping to be a team leader or a treasurer – something with a title, something with significance, something to give me a chance to have some leadership experience. I would be lying to say that my intentions were 100% pure in that desire.
However, I quickly learned that if I had been given any of these responsibilities, I would not have been ready for it at that time. What I didn’t know is that God had some work He wanted to do in me. I had a lot of spiritual maturity that I needed to walk through. I had a lot of growth coming in the following months.
Ya know, some of us have this idea that leaders are just people in charge. At this point I understood that leadership was more than that. It is serving others from a pure heart without the need for recognition. It is putting the needs of the team above your own needs and desires. It is allowing your actions – and not just your words – to be an example to those around you. Leadership is using the gifts, talents, wisdom, understanding, and resources the Lord has given you to empower others. Empower. I just love that word!
That’s exactly what the Awakening was for me. Through the opportunity to help organize and lead worship, I was empowered to recognize the gifts and talents the Lord has given me. Though they didn’t fit the typical “worship” mold, I was able to offer a perspective that others might not have seen and I was able to tap into this passion for creative worship that I didn’t even know I had!! God was telling me that I didn’t need a title to lead. I didn’t need to be seen or recognized. I just needed to say yes to Him & He would give me the privilege to empower and encourage those around me in His perfect timing. I had to be patient in the waiting, while the fruits of His Holy Spirit were ripening within me.
P.S. For any future racers: the Awakening was an amazing couple of days. It is definitely a full schedule but worth it! I learned so much about different missions opportunities and was able to glean some wisdom from the ministry hosts that shared their stories and their lives with us. Worship was my favorite: the rooftop that we did worship on was half covered, half uncovered. One night, it started to rain and I chose to just stand in the rain as I worshipped our amazing God. His Spirit was very tangible that night & I was overwhelmed and in awe of His magnificence. 🙂
