The handful of people that personally prayed with and for me about God’s calling on my life! Peggy, Steve, Kellar, Chris, Lori, Claudia and Ken, Logan, our LEO Life Group, and our family.
I remember looking at countless stars as a 21 year old and relinquishing control of my future to God (at Camp Challenge in Bedford, IN).
Surrender led me into school teaching, student ministry, and college campus pastoral work. These moments honed my calling to help others hear, trust, and follow God’s call on their life.
As I grew in experience, the tension between responsibility and authority grew taut. I would take on ministry-opportunities, grow in wisdom from non-fatal-failures, and gain skills.
Both in Fishers and Bloomington, the vocational role didn’t expand as far as my competencies!
The transition from Fishers down to Bloomington followed literal prayer and fasting.
I would close Sunday night youth group and not eat until dinner on Monday. Then, at stupid-am on Tuesday mornings, Bob and Eric met me at Geist Coffee with the simple invitation, “What did you hear?”
Hearing God’s voice often get’s shaped in community.
Earlier this year, I began to ask God to speak again and reframe my vocational path forward.
A missionary organization (that I’ve been connected with for years) came to campus with an expansion vision — they wondered if I would build a piece of this new ministry.
Excitedly, Laura and I prayed. I invited several of you into prayer with us. And we bought a plane ticket to Florida to investigate the opportunity.
Armed with plenty of non-fatal-failures (aka- wisdom), I asked questions of the potential ministry... as I heard the answers, my stomach would knot up.
I was ok with God closing the door on the opportunity, but I was confused at how quickly and forcefully He slammed the door!