Hey everyone! My name is Sarah Ruplinger. I grew up in Delavan, WI with my mom, dad, younger brother, and a whole slew of different pets. I am now in Madison, WI where I recently graduated with a B.A. in Psychology. I've always enjoyed traveling and adventures so I'm pretty stoked to leave my little bubble for a whole year to experience God's creation. Other things I like: swimming, card games (Sheepshead anyone?), dancing like a fool, talking for hours on end about anything and everything, baking, spontaneous and wacky adventures with friends, making dorky craft projects, and playing/ministering to children. Oh my goodness do I have a heart for children. I'm ridiculously excited about ministering to kiddos on the Race.
Now on to the good stuff… I grew up going to a Catholic elementary school, but I never really understood the Gospel. In high school, I decided religion wasn't for me. I battled depression in my early teens trying to find happiness in being accepted and loved by friends and my boyfriend. Over and over, I was let down by the people I loved. At the end of my junior year of high school, my friend Josh started asking me to come to youth group every week. I turned him down a couple times, but eventually gave in. I was blown away when I attended. There was something different about the people there. I scanned the room in awe as the people around me worshiped and I watched the speaker deliver his message with so much passion. I knew that I wanted the joy and peace that overflowed from the people in that church. I started regularly attending youth group and eventually church. I was excited about my new-found faith, but I was only making it a part of my life.
It wasn't until college that I gave my life completely over to Jesus, finding my satisfaction in God's grace. A short, spunky senior in Campus Crusade for Christ came knocking on my dorm door one day to invite me to her Bible study. I wanted to get involved in a Christian group, but it wasn't very high on my priority list. Despite my initial indifference, Lindsey pursued me and began to disciple me. She taught me what it meant to have a personal relationship with God. Since then, God has been working in my life in incredible ways to give me peace and heal me of my past hurts as I find my identity and hope in Him. The joy I have found in my Savior blows my mind.
Last January, I attended TCX, a Christian conference, where I committed to setting aside one year after graduation for full time ministry. Then in February, my friend Jessie asked me to come with her to check out this Bible study with a family who wanted to plant a church in Madison. Aaron and Tia, the church planters, were the most genuine and loving people I had ever encountered. I couldn't believe how much they cared for me, even though they barely knew me. Over the past year I have become part of the Red Village Church family. Here I have found so much encouragement and love. At the same time, I'm challenged to deepen my faith, flee from sin, and boldly proclaim the Gospel. Over the past year, God has grown my heart for overseas missions. My decision to devote a year to missions is no longer about making good on my promise, but it's a matter of following God's will and the desires He had placed in my heart. I'm offering myself as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1) and I'm so excited to see how God will use these 11 months to glorify Himself by changing my life and the lives of those I'll be serving.
