Reset
It’s interesting how God works. During my junior year of college, I attended a conference called Jubilee. It was hosted by the Coalition for Christian Outreach, aka the CCO. My big take away from that experience was that I felt a calling to do some sort of mentoring/ discipleship ministry. After that experience, I was amazed by the number of opportunities that I had to speak into other people’s lives. I strived to live out the calling in an informal way and to just invest in the people who were around me. I realized that I could disciple people regardless of what my actual job at the time was. I understood that discipleship is more about sharing life with others.
After I graduated from college, I started looking for my next step in life. I didn’t know what it would be but I was sure that God had something for me. I applied to a variety of positions but COVID shut down the hiring process again and again, so I moved back home and started substitute teaching, a role I truly enjoy. I like the challenge of getting a new class each day and being forced into improvising when the day doesn’t go as planned. I also really like that every day is different, and I enjoy making the school day exciting for the students. I love getting to invest in so many different classes. While subbing was a good fit for me, I recognized that it wasn’t a long-term option. I was not using my giftings and skills to their full potential. I started praying about this and looking for an opportunity that would fit me better. I would scan LinkedIn and Indeed.com two or three times each week to see if anything caught my eye, but I didn’t have any luck.
Last Monday I had the day off of subbing for MLK day. I was lying in bed when I got a phone call from Wendell Witter, my mentor from college. He told me about a program that OneLife Institute was starting called “Reset”. He explained that It would involve spending two months living with a group of college-aged students who are wrestling with the “what’s next” question and looking to grow in their Christian faith. In short, I would be discipling them. He asked if I would be interested in being introduced to Derek, site director for the program. I welcomed the connection, and soon learned from Wendell that if hired I would be starting later that week and I would need to move back to Pennsylvania…
Later on Monday, I had my first conversation with Derek and got a feel for the program. We decided to set up an interview later that night. In between those calls we prayed a lot and sought discernment about whether I was a good fit. The next day I was offered a position and I accepted. I packed up my car and headed back to PA.
I just moved into my home for the next eight weeks. I am getting to know the team that I am working with and we are preparing for the students to arrive. I am so excited to see how God will use these next weeks to grow both me and the other people who are here. I have so many questions about what this experience will be like, but I am sure it will be great! God is definitely at work and I am so excited to be a part of what he is doing.
God works in each of our lives. He may call us to make a big change like moving to another state. He may ask us to listen to and invest in the people that we are already living in community with. The important thing is that when we sense that calling, we take steps to act. When we let God use us amazing things happen, and when we get to be a part of those things it can be truly life changing.
