God has really moved in a huge way over the past year of my life.
Although I accepted Christ when I was 7 years old, I didn’t fully
dedicate my life to serving Him until October 2008. Over the next year, I
began to learn what it really meant to follow Christ wholeheartedly and not
hold anything back from Him. This is my story-a little about me, and a
lot about Christ moving in my life as a result of stepping out of my
comfort zone and having audacious faith.
As you may know, my name is Kristen Huey, and I am a born and raised
Charlottean and Clemson University graduate. I grew up in a
Christian home and attended Christian school for most of my young life. I
accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior when I was seven years old, however I
never really understood what it meant to “take up my cross and follow
Jesus” until last July. While studying Animal and Veterinary Science
at Clemson, I began to attend NewSpring Church in 2008. It was
there that I began to realize that following Christ was more about Him and less
about myself. I started to dive into God’s word and began volunteering in
the children’s ministry.
Until last year, I was confident in my plans for the future.
Until last year, I could have given you a trajectory of my life for the next
ten years. I planned on graduating in August 2009 and applying to
veterinary school at NC State that October. I had the grades; I
had the experience; I had excellent recommendations. The plan was
all laid out as it had been since I was a child. But what I didn’t know
was that God had been laying the foundation for a very different plan, one that
would require complete faith and trust in Him. Last summer
I led a group of students from NewSpring Church to BigStuf camps in Daytona
Beach, Florida. On the very last night of worship, I felt the Lord
impress upon my heart a call into ministry. At first, I thought I was
mistaken, but as the night progressed, the overwhelming feeling that I was on
the wrong path began to take over. I asked God, “What about the
plan? I am graduating in a month and already in process of applying to
vet school. It has always been the plan.” At that moment, God
spoke into my heart, “Kristen, that was your plan, and this is mine.
Follow me”. I knew at that moment that I had a choice to make.
I could either a) follow my 10 year plan or b) take a leap of faith and blindly
follow Jesus. I chose b.
I heard about Elevation Church when Pastor Steven Furtick came
to preach one Sunday back in 2008. I decided as soon as I moved home to
Charlotte, I would attend Elevation. In August 2009, I graduated from
Clemson and moved back in with my parents in Charlotte, NC. I got plugged
in immediately. I began volunteering in eKidz and signed up to lead a
high school group. On the day I was to sign up students for my group, God
impressed on my heart the overwhelming need for a women’s 20’s group, so
I changed my plans last minute and started one. Twenty-two girls signed
up that day, and I didn’t turn one of them down. That group turned out to
be a blessing from God as we developed community and challenged each other to
grow in our walks with Christ. I knew I was called to work with students,
but I knew God would let me know when it was time. In February we began a
series called “New Thru 30”, where as a church we read the new
testament in 30 days. God laid it on my heart to start a second
group for high school women. Seventeen girls signed up, most of
which are still in the group today. These girls are incredible and teach
me so much every week about the amazing grace and love of Jesus
Christ. They keep me on my toes.
At this point, God was silent as far as my future was concerned.
Despite my family’s plea to continue on the path I had started many years ago,
I chose to wait on God. It was a struggle, especially when I had no
response for over five months. At one point, I actually convinced myself
that I never really heard from God and began to think about grad school.
That same day, Pastor Furtick delivered a message in which he said something
along these lines, “Someone in this room had clear direction from
God, and you are about to make a big mistake.” It shook
me from the inside out. I knew he was talking to me. I promised God
that day that I would never question Him about this again. One week
later, I received an email about a mission opportunity that would begin the
journey God had planned for my life. He was just waiting on me to fully
surrender all along.
In March 2010 I went on my first mission trip to Guatemala with
Living Water International to build a well in the community of Maria Del
Mar. I was given the opportunity to be the hands and feet of
Christ as we supplied the community with its first source of clean water and
provided each individual with a bible in their own language. These people
changed my life. They were one of the poorest communities in all of
Guatemala. They lived in grass huts and their only sources of water were
a river 4 miles away and a 50ft well, which was not deep enough to give
them safe drinking water. Despite this, many of them loved God in a way
that I simply didn’t understand. They had such joy; a joy that
doesn’t exist in America. And I wanted it. I never knew it
was possible to love complete strangers so much. Their faces are
permanently ingrained in my mind. Its safe to say that this trip had
a significant impact on my life. It may be an understatement
to say I felt called to continue in overseas missions.
Less than a week after I got back from Guatemala I received a phone
call from Adventures In Missions asking if I would lead a youth mission
trip in July. I was given a few different options of trips I could lead
including: Kenya, Cameroon, Scotland, and Guatemala. The only trips I
could attend were Cameroon and Scotland, so without thought, I chose Cameroon.
That night, I prayed that God would send me to the place with “the
greatest need”. The very next day I received an email from AIM
asking me if I would consider leading the trip to Scotland because the
trip to Cameroon had been canceled. My heart sank. I wanted to go
to Africa!! I thought, “Who goes to Scotland on a mission trip!?
How am I ever going to be able to raise money to go to Scotland? No
way…” Then I remembered the prayer that I had prayed the night
before, and decided to attend the leader training camp that weekend with an
open mind. On the very last night of worship, I finally
surrendered my own feelings and reservations to the Lord and committed my
summer to leading the students to Scotland. Little did I know that this
trip would be one of the best months of my life. Not only were my
students incredible, but I learned so much about God’s divine province.
All along He knew that I was meant to lead those 10 students. All
He needed me to let go of myself and step aside so He could move in a
powerful way. Needless to say, this was a life-changing journey-both for
the students and myself.
Less than a week after I got back from training camp for the Scotland
mission trip, I received an unprovoked phone call from a staff member
with the World Race. (You can read about this conversation on my Bio page). The
conversation left me with an overwhelming sense of destiny. It
was a divine calling. Then and there, I put aside all of my fears,
insecurities and personal plans for the next year and registered for the
January 2011 World Race.
I know that as a result of my obedience, God is going to use me to
impact hundreds of lives all over the world. This is only the
beginning.
To live is Christ and to die is gain.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I hope that it
gives you a small glimpse into my life and how much I am willing to give up to
serve the Lord. I am ready to go, but I am still in need of supporters
who would like to join me in this journey. If you would like to support
me, please CLICK HERE.
Thank You!
“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will
never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be
discouraged” Deuteronomy 31:8
