While coming to and fro with my dedication to The Lord growing up, I never strayed from the desire to help and love people. I was a part of a drama outreach ministry for a few years before having some disagreements with the leaders. Even though the departure from the ministry was pretty painful on many levels, I know they were the first to introduce me to ministry.
In high school, I visited several different countries on a two week trip. I already knew I loved different cultures, but this really convinced me. I wanted to do global missions. In retrospect, it was a weird revelation because, I wasn’t exactly following The Lord. I guess I was waiting for someone to show me the way back, and they did! After crying during the fast song during praise and worship at a youth retreat, I heard Jesus asking me to empty my heart so that He may fill it. So, I cried more.
That led me to became a part of the youth leadership team, and I started a two-year internship at my church where I eventually received my ministry license. Through that, I was introduced to the local international house of prayer, known then as wvihop. I found out that singing the bible is possibly one of the most excellent activities I had ever done, and that I would like to do it again, and again. My maxed out schedule officially consisted of church, internship, wvihop, work, and college. I almost forgot to mention that the summer right before my freshmen year of college, I went on a short mission trip to Italy. Again, send me Lord! I’ll go!
During the next summer I decided to do an intense 40-hour-week internship with wvihop. I didn’t have to worry about school, but work was an issue. My beloved manager moved, and a new one started. I’ll just say that she liked me significantly less. I worked there for a few weeks that summer before getting fired/quitting for refusing to work on a day that I consistently for a year dedicated to church. I still don’t know if this is a bad point of view, but I felt the reward of my suffering a few weeks after that when I heard the entire company was closing. Let a lesson be learned; Don’t fire the Lord’s servant!
When the internship was over, I decided to join the staff at wvihop. I did part-time while I was in school. They were planning a missions school that I was very interested in. I was actually introduced and thinking about the World Race too! But neither one seemed at all possible because of school. I ended up being kind of an assistant to the director of the school, so I could still be involved. Through a series of events they postponed the school. Not long after that, I decided that I would take a break from school to do full-time house of prayer instead. I was in the process of teaching myself how to play the piano and started singing. I eventually was doing anywhere from two to five sets a week playing and/or singing with and without a team.
After not being able to raise enough support to live off of, I went back down to part-time to get anorther job. I really felt stuck in a few ways. I didn’t exactly know what The Lord wanted from me. The same time that I was going through personal transition, the ministry was also. Wvihop prayerfully decided to change its name to torchhouse in reflection of its new calling to our city. Torchhouse is to known as a praying missionsl community. That means it’s not only a prayer room, but a dedicated outreach ministry and a community of people filled with love and the Holy Spirit! I love this place!
While, the transition there seemeed to be rounding out, mine was still full-force. I thought more about personal calling. I knew that I still loved the idea of global missions, and I even got a new tattoo of the world map on my back! After praying a lot, I was reminded about the World Race. I was reminded about how possible it is for me to go now. Im fact, if I didn’t seriously comsider it, I would be a hypocrite considering I have the world printed permanently on my back!
Well, I seriously considered, applied, interviewed, interviewed again, and became officially approved for the World Race! So, my current battle is preparation! But, I know that I am called. I know that my heart is moved in a profound and glorious way toward the heart of Jesus. I am honored to leave my life of rich American comfort for this year of sacrifice! All praises to my God!
Thank you for reading! Please feel free to ask me questions in the comments and be blessed! ?? 🙂
