I grew up as a MB (Military Brat), so “home” to me is synonymous with heaven. But if I had to call someplace home, I guess it would be TN (where I enjoyed my high school years and grew spiritually in a strong church) or MN (where I have resided longer than anywhere else, grown through ministry & service, and treasure many friends). I’ve lived in Minneapolis / St. Paul area for the past 10 years, attending college and then practicing as a CPA not-for-profit and local government auditor.
Sometime during my fifth year of public accounting, while simultaneously studying History of Israel and the Minor Prophets in Bible study (BSF), God placed within me a desire to take a “Sabbath year.” In Leviticus 25:1-7, God calls for the Israelites to let the land rest for a year, not planting crops in the seventh year, but instead relying solely on God to provide for their needs. In this way, the land was given to God for the year (“A Sabbath to the LORD” -vs. 4). It was through the study of the Word that the Lord sparked a hunger for a Sabbath year. Since then He has molded it into much more than just a year of serving.
Over the past 2 ½ years, God opened and closed many doors of short term missions and other opportunities to serve, almost as if He was testing me like Abraham with Isaac, asking, “Are you really willing to give it all for me, Esther?” In the fall of 2004, I was burdened for the poor, and responded as the Lord enabled me at the time. Then in the fall of 2005, my ministry perspective became international – not to do international business (which had been my aspiration over the prior several years) – but to serve HIM internationally. In February 2006 at BSF leaders’ retreat, I received fervent direction from the Lord, confirming a place in international ministry. But to which people group? To what country? Through what ministry? I shared this exciting news with a close friend. The next day she received the email from AIM about 2007’s World Race. It was everything I described. Enough confirmation? J I took steps behind the scenes toward making this a reality, also exploring several unrelated opportunities presented. Yet there was a hesitancy for all of these opportunities, unsure which was God’s plan, until I read an article on the World Race website in late June 2006. God once again confirmed in my heart by lavishing His peace saying “go.”
In a book I’ve been reading lately (
The Calling: A Challenge to Walk the Narrow Road by Brother Andrew with Verne Becker, 2002, Fleming H. Revell), Brother Andrew is quoted as saying “It won’t be long before you begin to see the entire world, and your part in it with different eyes. You will discover that God is opening doors for you to serve Him in ways you never thought possible.” May it be!
Come and serve with me by praying fervently for our World Race team and (more importantly) the many lives we will touch as our world perspectives change. And may the Lord use us all together as a team as He did with Queen Esther (4:14b) “…For such a time as this.”
— Esther
