For the past four years, I have been known as “the worship leader.” My identity has been found in being able to sing and play guitar. When people asked me what my spiritual gifts were, the only thing that came to my mind was leading worship.
This spiritual gift has dominated my life. It reached the point where I thought this was the only gift I had.
With that being said, ever since my first month on the race I knew God was preparing me for something more.
Last month in Thailand, my team spent an evening figuring out our spiritual gifts. As each spiritual gift was called out, we wrote down each gift under the “Have” column or the “Desired” column. When leadership was called out, I hesitantly wrote it down under the “Have” column. After I wrote it down, I stared at the word and wondered why in the world I placed it where I did. I took my pencil and was about to erase the word when something inside of me told me to leave it there.
A few weeks later, I was chosen as a new team leader.
When I first discovered this news, doubts and apprehension filled my mind. I kept thinking to myself, “There are so many other people who would be better leaders than me.” Regardless of my feelings, I knew deep down that this was exactly where God wanted me to be.
So I accepted the position. 
My new team members are Carmen Record, Ashley Bronkema, Kelly Brooks, Jenny Ellis, and Michelle Cook. These girls are amazing! We decided to name our team Eleutheroo (we pronounce it as “eh-loo-the-roo” and often refer to ourselves as “The Roo”). This Greek word means “to make free, to deliver.” Our team wanted a name that proclaims freedom. God is already freeing us from fear, from our pasts, and from the weights of this world. He is teaching us to walk freely as daughters of His Kingdom.
It is beautiful.
Our ministry this month involves teaching English to forty Cambodian university students at a center called Agape Shalom. About 60% of the students are Buddhist, and everyday Jesus comes up in conversation. They are all curious as to why we follow Jesus.
God is doing some incredible things … we have seen one Buddhist student give his life to Christ … there are many Buddhists at the center who want to know more about Jesus … freedom is being discovered on my team … my identity no longer lies in being “the worship leader” … God is enhancing my ability to be a leader … and God has revealed one of my callings in life. (This last one will be my next blog!)
