I have opted out of ministry this month. I have said no to the ministry Jesus placed on my heart. I told Jesus it was bad timing and He would simply have to present it to me at a later date.
Can I do that? Can I “opt-out” of ministry on the Race?
I can when the only person who knows I did was God.
Alright, it’s time to explain this whole “opting out” thing.
After arriving at our ministry site in Penang, Malaysia we were given the opportunity to choose between six ministry sites. It is our last month on The World Race and our leaders decided to let us pick the ministry we felt most passionate about. We were given 24 hours to pray over our options and turn in a list ranking our preferences. Right away I knew which order I wanted to place the ministries:
(1) Just Coffee
– An amazing coffee house that opened our first day in Penang. Two years ago God told two twenty somethings they would be getting a coffee shop. He also told them that they were not to pursue the coffee shop. They were asked to be patient and watch as He opened the doors to make it happen; they were faithful and so was God. The duo works at Penang House of Prayer, an amazing prayer house that if full of the Spirit. One day they were in the lobby of their building when they noticed a “for sale” sign on a first floor space, it was a coffee shop that was left fully furnished. Three months later the shop was open and we were witnesses to God’s provision. During the summer before I left for The World Race I was blessed by the chance to volunteer at my church’s cafe, I loved the experience and hoped this ministry would be as rewarding.
(2) Kawan Shop
– A thrift store that funds the homeless shelter in Penang. Over the past month I have started to miss a work environment, specifically getting to provide customer service. I hoped that this would help fill that desire and provide an excellent time to have fellowship with the staff. In my mind it was a way to reminisce back to the years I worked at Ralph Loren in high school.
(3) Kawan Drop-in Center
– A homeless shelter that provides fellowship, meals, showers and clothing to the areas needy. I was immediately excited about the shelter. In high school I went on missions trips to Toronto, Canada and Washington, D.C, both trips provided the opportunity to work in shelters and see the impact and need such ministries have. This ministry was placed third on my list because I was a little uncomfortable after learning it was mostly men. After months of smiling and placing a compassionate hand on women to show them they are loved, I was unsure how to convey the same message to men without crossing a line or giving mixed signals.
(4) Penang Adventist Hospital
–The hospital ministry is focused on fundraising for cancer and heart patients. The hospital was opened in 1924 and offered free care to the poor since day one. Previous teams that have done this ministry noted it was hard work, but very rewarding; They talk of getting to meet patients and some even saw healings through their prayers.
(5) Door of Hope
– An after-school tutoring program run by a single woman devoted to fill the gaps in the education system. Debora is an amazing woman of God who has a heart for ensuring the kids who walk into her center are truly understanding the work they are given. Our ministry there is to partner with Debora by helping her manage the kids while tutoring, introducing them to the gospel and playing educational games with them.
(6) Luma Art Show
–This ministry asked for only two Racers that had a passion for art. Those who went would help explain the pieces, share the gospel through art and even have the opportunity to add to the collection. Proceeds of the sales go toward charity.
I present you with the order in which I submitted my choices so I can further explain how I ran from what God placed on my heart. Ever since training camp I have been praying for God to show me a healing that is far beyond any explanation outside of a miracle. When the hospital ministry in Penang was mentioned my first reaction was excitement over the opportunity to experience prayer move into the physical realm. Through this race I have discovered a love for prayer and a hospital is the perfect place to put into practice such a passion. So what would stop me from saying yes? Fundraising and being a brat. God was handing me a ministry I had been asking for and I was saying “no”,” later”. I will soon start the fundraising for my year at Center for Global Action and I did not want to “tap-out” my support raising ability before addressing MY need for support. –See the bratty side– I did not even look into what fundraising at the hospital entailed. If I had, I would have realized that the fundraising occurred within the hospital.
Did I change my preference order?
Sure did, but not without God giving me a taste of what he was calling me to do. On the bus ride to church I sat next to a sweet Chines woman. We engaged in small talk and before long I wanted to pray for her. After, I asked where she was going and she told me she was on her way to visit her mother in the hospital –seriously Jesus!– Immediately there was a fire within me to be there praying for people.
While short lived the experience provided affirmation to the fact that God pursues us and does not want us to miss out on the things that will not only grow us, but allow us to see Him move and work in our lives. Yes, I would have had fulfilling ministry at the other locations, I would have grown and enjoyed my time there; but God had a specific challenge for me and also wanted to answer my prayers for hospital ministry, not later, now.
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