Around two years ago, I was asked to pray about moving to Eugene, Oregon once I finished school to join a team in planting a church and sharing the gospel to a lost and dark city. This team would be called The Crash, and would carry the vision to spread the gospel to lost, broken, and dark cities as lay people. At the time, my answer to this was "Why not?". I had no plans after graduation. Not a thing to keep me in Alabama. In January 2011, the Crash Mission Team moved to Eugene, Oregon while I finished my last semester of college at UAB. In a matter of one final semester of college, my heart changed. I went through a couple of months of rebellion against the Lord's calling on my life, I was offered a job in Atlanta with plans to move me around the country, and with some pressure from peers and family, I accepted the job and the plan to move to Oregon was done.
I'm not sure what God's perfect plan for my life was or is, but I do know God is sovereign, and His forgiveness and grace is unending. I believe every step and decision I've made has led me to where I am now, and all I can say is "Praise God!", because He is writing a beautiful story for my life that I know I couldn't have written better.
Tonight I had the opportunity to spend some time at Lifepoint-a church full of people who are so dear to me and have played a huge role in discipling me- hearing and learning what my dear friends are doing in Eugene, Oregon. I am so blessed to say I am friends with The Crash mission team, and I am extremely encouraged and challenged to spread God's love to the lost and broken after hearing testimony's from the people of Eugene. God may not have called me to Eugene, but He has placed me here in Gadsden, Alabama for this time and season.
Recently I've been asking God to open my eyes to the brokenness of Gadsden. Being Assistant Engineer for the City of Gadsden, I have the opportunity to go to parts of the city I would stay away from otherwise, and my heart is broken. My heart is broken for those who use drugs and alcohol because they are trying to fill a void only Christ can fill. My heart is broken for those girls who are giving themselves to men as objects because they feel the need of affirmation. My heart is breaking for these people, and yet I don't know how or where to begin to show them love.
I may not be on the other side of the country or across the ocean, but I can be missionary here in Gadsden, Alabama. I can be a part of the Crash Mission Team wherever I am as long as my heart is to show the broken God's love. I challenge you to pray with me asking God to create opportunity to minister to the lost and broken. Pray that when opportunities are given, faith will exceed all fear, and God's name be glorified. I also challenge you to pray for my friends in Eugene and The Beautiful Mess church as they build relationships with the people of Eugene.
"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." -2 Timothy 1:7
"But you will receive the power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." -Acts 1:8
"No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us." -1 John 4:12
