Have you ever heard that phrase, “God does not call the equipped, He equips the called?” Well that is how I feel about my next steps, and I am so excited about it!
First, I apologize for the lack of blogs. I have been settling into quiet, small town life in Buena Vista. It has been a wonderful 6 months being home. I thought that I would just be here for a couple months, survive living at home until I knew what to do next. But I have loved being back home! I love my job at the Roastery coffee shop, I love hanging out with high school kids at my home church’s youth group, I love the community of young adults that live here! I have seen so much blessing come from my decision to invest here, knowing that I may not be here long term. I found such incredible life and community here. That is why it will be difficult to leave here, but it is time to pursue what God put on my heart about 5 months ago.
　
If you remember my blog about Project Searchlights (the debrief I went to in GA in July), I wrote about some changes in direction that I felt God was moving me. I had planned to attend a dance school in the fall so that I might become better equipped to pursue my passion of teaching dance in ministry. Well, when Pastor Ed Glover came and spoke at our debrief, the Holy Spirit started moving my heart. Pastor Ed started an organization called Urban Impact in Pittsburgh, PA to reach at-risk kids in dangerous, violent neighborhoods and instead give them better options–options that start with Jesus changing their lives. The video at the bottom of this page explains more about what this incredible ministry is doing.
As soon as Pastor Ed began explaining what is happening in Pittsburgh, my heart got so excited about it! You should know that Pittsburgh has never been on my radar. The only thing I really knew about this place was that I hated the Steelers. Why the heck was I getting so excited about this? At one point Pastor Ed asked us to pray for people to be a part of this ministry. As I sat on the edge of my seat praying for this, I could hardly pray. I could hardly pray because I knew that I was praying for myself; that I was the one that would be responding to this call to work with inner city kids. When I finally sat with this revelation, I broke down. I realized how tightly I had been holding on to my plans of becoming better equipped. But I knew God was calling me to jump in and let Him equip me along the way.
Urban Impact does use dancing as one of their venues to reach kids for Christ. And though I feel under qualified and ill-equipped, I am going. I am choosing to jump into this new adventure and see what God does. When I visited Pittsburgh last week it felt like home and God confirmed that this is where I belong next.
View of Pittsburgh I took on my phone while visiting last week.
I plan to be a part of Urban Impact as a “Ministry Associate,” which is a 1 to 3 year commitment. This means that they will plug me into whichever department I fit into best (performing arts) and I will do whatever is needed to support the ministry. I will invest a lot of time in their dance program and eventually may start my own! Who knows what God has in store? One thing I learned on the World Race was to be adaptable. I am entering this new season with a “learner” attitude, ready and willing to help however best supports Urban Impact.
The next step? My favorite thing ever: support raising!! I will need to raise money for my daily living so that I can fully invest my time and energy into the ministry. Stay tuned for more details on that.
I have been so humbled by your investment in me so many times in the past and in God’s call on my life. Please keep me in your prayers and prayerfully consider if you might like to invest in this next chapter of Ruth’s adventures. J
