When nothing else makes sense, God does
Disclaimer: Some of the details in this story have been modified to protect those involved.
I have a couple of questions for those who have been in ministry for a while.
Have you ever felt like the Lord was leading you into additional ministry while your current ministry is far from where it should be?
Have you ever found yourself pondering whether the direction your heart is leaning toward is a product of your imagination or the guiding of the Holy Spirit?
I was introduced to the plight of child mothers about two years ago. Child mothers are girls as young as 13 who have been sexually abused, become pregnant, and then left to fend for themselves.
Child mothers are turned away
Julie’s Heart Cry began to serve these girls as best we could with the limited resources we have available. Unfortunately, I had to turn away young girls in East Africa because there was only so much I could do.
In my mind, the ministry in the Central African Republic still needs to become self-sustaining; yet, the weight of turning away those vulnerable girls began taking a toll on me.
Acquiring a piece of land in East Africa to build another Youth at Risk Center for these precious girls was crucial – but how?
The more I reasoned my way through this problem, the more my faith took a back burner. None of this made financial sense.
During a recent trip to sub-Saharan Africa, I began looking for land in East Africa, but I left completely broken, discouraged, and empty-handed due to the cost. While boarding my flight to head home, I reminded God of my intentions for these girls and how uncertain, frustrated, and angry I was. However, I said, Lord, you are a God who sees, and you love these girls more than I could love them. I'll continue to pray and wait for you to provide. Then I slept the entire flight to Amsterdam.
While settling in at my gate for a five-hour layover, I met a lady who just “happened” to be on the same flight. She and I began discussing her travel journey and her recent retirement. She asked where I was going or coming from. Among other topics, I discussed JHC, our work in East Africa since 2019, my disappointment with land costs, and the challenges child mothers face.
God is in the details
She paused, then asked if this country’s First Lady knew about the work JHC had been doing through the years. I would have fallen to the floor had I not already been sitting down as she spoke these next words:
“Although I just retired, I was the First Lady’s secretary for many years,” she explained. “I think we will be able to help you.”
In less than 12 hours, I went from uncertain, frustrated, and discouraged, to having a heart flooded with joy as I witnessed God’s hand faithfully orchestrating circumstances.
The urge in my heart for these girls had motivated me to seek out land. But as we traveled from one property to another, I quickly realized Julie’s Heart Cry couldn’t afford one acre, let alone the three I was hoping to purchase. I began to question whether God was in this, or if it were just my personal desire.
You and I know there are no coincidences with God. We serve an extraordinary God who gives us the promise that “ … all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” And Hebrews 11:6 reminds us, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Won’t you join hands with me as we follow God by faith, not by sight, while serving the vulnerable?