When we moved down here, we wrote God a blank check about how He wanted to use us. I thought I knew exactly how that check would be filled out, but we still prayed seriously about every opportunity that came our way. As we met missionaries, we would pray about their fields and see if God wanted to use us there. He never seemed to respond positively. Churches approached Ben about being their pastor. We prayed about that, and still no positive response. The whole time we kept feeling like God was pulling us to Kenya, and so we embraced that and continued to move forward. Only, things didn't seem to move forward...
And then, last fall, Ben started his class at seminary on the Book of Acts and Church Planting. He didn't tell me until December, but another opportunity was placed before us. One of his teachers is a pastor of a local church who has a mission point in Georgia. They had lost their missionary that fall, and were in desperate need of a new one. The church had declined a good bit, and they weren't sure who they could send down there to get things going again. So, like always, we once again started praying. We spent his entire Christmas break praying about it.
This time, we didn't get a definite 'yes', but we didn't receive that definite 'no' like we typically did. So, in March, we went on a whirlwind weekend trip to visit the church in Atlanta. Ben preached; we got to fellowship; they asked us the hard questions; and, the following week, they called Ben and told him they voted unanimously to call him as their pastor.
Frankly, that was not the response I had expected. God still had my heart hovering over Kenya. I was doing my best to stay open-minded, but I was just so thoroughly confused by what God was doing. Ben reminded me of our blank check, and how God sometimes requires more preparation than we think for the task He calls us to. It was no coincidence that at the time I was doing a Bible Study with my neighbor on Paul's life and his missionary journey. Paul had a lot of work to do, important work, before he reached the Greeks. So, we continued to pray and allowed God to lead us.
In May, when Ben had finished his grueling semester, we went back to GA for a full week to work with the church and survey the area. Ben was able to preach a couple of times, we got to do a couple of service projects with the church, and even got to attend the graduation of several of her members. We kept waiting for God to shut some doors, but everything stayed wide open. Meanwhile, a church was seriously praying about sending us to Kenya, so we didn't feel ready to make any final decisions. We continued to pray.
I think Ben would have made a decision a lot sooner if it wasn't for me. This stubborn girl didn't want to give up the possibility of reaching the people of Kenya. I knew that desire in my heart came from God (I NEVER would have come up with it on my own!). So, even though I could feel God's pull towards Atlanta at this time, I just wanted God to clearly tell me 'no' about Kenya. But He didn't.... I think He didn't because it isn't a 'no' to Kenya. It's a 'not yet'. He has better things in store for our family right now. He has opened up an opportunity where Ben can grow in his leadership skills, his preaching skills, his discipleship skills, his ministerial skills. A place where our oldest can graduate high school in an environment he is comfortable with.An opportunity for our family to serve and prepare for whatever God places before us next. And, I cannot forget, He is giving me another time to rely on Him fully, to expand my faith, and to teach me more than I ever knew I had to learn.
So, right before we left to go North, Ben told me he made a decision. He would answer God's call to Atlanta. He said that was the hardest thing he had to do: to follow God and risk disappointing me. But, God is faithful. And just as He did before, He had prepared my heart for that moment. I was ready to follow Him too.
Two weeks later, as we opened up Kings Camp, we received the call that Emmanuel Baptist Church in Malvern, AR had voted unanimously to send us out as their missionaries. God is so cool.
We have a lot of work ahead of us. Ben will finish up his Masters of Theology this fall. He will fly once a month to Georgia to be with the church there. The rest of the time we will be getting to know our sending church better, visiting supporting churches, and visiting other churches to share what we hope God will do, through us, in Georgia. If you are interested in having us share with your church, or helping us through this time of transition, please visit the "How You Can Help" tab. We plan to move and be on the field full-time in December. We thank you ALL so much for all of the prayer, support, and assistance you continually provide to us. To God be the glory!
Here We Go!!!!!- Anne
"So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the Gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us." -1Thessalonians 2:8
