A Season of Enlargement

As I look back on this past year and all that God has been doing in my heart, one word comes to mind: enlargement. He has been enlarging my heart for the nations; deepening my understanding of His global purpose to raise up worshippers from every tribe, tongue, and nation; intensifying His call on my life to bring His hope to the lost and suffering in this world; and expanding my vision for the teams and interns that I am leading.
It’s exciting! And also a little overwhelming. Though I’m not quite sure where this is all going, I do know that for now, God has me in a season of learning, growing, and maturing. I am excited to continue learning as God develops my heart, mind, and calling.
One main area of enlargement is with the teams and interns that I help lead. This past year I coordinated the trips for 17 teams and 14 interns to serve with our ministry in Africa (and I helped host 13 of them during their time in Kenya). I am already working on the trips for 11 teams, 4 interns, and more to come, for this next year.
Though it is often overwhelming and leaves me feeling inadequate at times, I LOVE being a part of these life-changing trips! I learned much this past year (often through my mistakes) and am excited to tackle the task again this next year.
God is enlarging my vision to see every team member gain a radical understanding of His passion for the world, His heart for the poor, and His call for them to live a life of abandoned devotion to Him. As I plan their trips, train them ahead of time, help prepare their hearts and minds, host them in Africa, and follow-up with them afterwards, I want to do so with this goal in mind. Through their trip, I long to see every team member eternally changed and to discover their role in God’s global purpose. Maybe they aren’t called to live overseas, but as a believer, they have a role to play in the Great Commission. And I want to challenge them to find it and live it!

Up Next: A Season Of Preparation

The Teams! I am excited to prepare all the teams and interns for their trips next year! As I train them, pray for them, coordinate logistics, and prepare their hearts and minds with required readings and prayer requests from Africa, I pray that God moves in a mighty way in each heart. Lord, may you begin to break hearts now and may you prepare fully equipped vessels.
Perspectives!
I’m planning to take the Perspectives Course this spring! Perspectives is a 16-week course hosted at churches all over the U.S. on the World Christian Movement and the Biblical Basis for Missions. I can’t wait to continue to learn about God’s heart and purpose for the nations! Want to take it with me? (You can get collge credit.) Let me know! Or check it out on your own at www.perspectives.org.
Swahili! My new goal is to be fluent in Swahili by the time I head to Kenya in June. I’m asking for a home study course for Christmas and can’t wait to dive into it. I want to be able to help translate for the teams and minister to the Kenyans in their own language. Plus, I know that God has given me a gift for languages, and I want to be a good steward of that gift.