"It will be your best year ever if it's your best year spiritually." -Pastor Stovall Weems
How true is that?! The closer we are to God the better are walk here on earth is.
So, this is my first ever blog and I'm sitting here drinking my Starbucks Soy Chai Tea Latte with Vanilla just contemplating on the journey God has taken me on. This past year has been a year of growth, one with some of the best times and some of the worst, a time of healing from a past relationship, a time of strengthening my leadership skills on and off the mission field, and a time of revelation and confirmation from God on what my next steps are.
God has me exactly where I'm supposed to be...for now....AND He has me on my way to Zimbabwe, Africa!!! When I think about it I'm blown away, the way God intricately weaves things together to get you where He wants you, you just have to be open and willing, submissive and obedient. And most of all you have to listen for His still voice in your quiet times. Most of you know my heart for missions and my heart for Africa and now I'm about to put this calling into action full-time. Almost 3 years ago I walked into Celebration Church in Jacksonville after returning from London and I had no idea what God would do through me there. Immediately I felt at home and my heart for serving just started to burst forth. I got involved in many serving areas from youth to worship, missions and now to children's ministry. These years of serving in different ministries have prepared me for what God has in store next. You see God is good like that. His timing is absolutely perfect.
2 years ago was my first trip ever to Africa. I went to Swaziland and helped with Children's Cup. Holding an African child in my arms and hearing her say "I love you" just captured my heart, it was then I fully understood God's unconditional love for me. When I left I knew I would be back, and sure enough just 1 year later I was and this time to Zimbabwe to help with our Celebration campuses there. First impression of Celebration Zimbabwe, HOME but on another continent. I kept thinking to myself, "how can this be?.....that I feel so comfortable here and can envision a future where half the time the electricity is out and also where there is no Starbucks?!" But when God puts a dream in your heart those things kind of fade into the background. So I started thinking "What matters most?" instead of "Where do I want to be?". I spent months going back and forth and praying about where on the mission field I would be. And it all came down to where I could make the most impact for God's kingdom. I may have loved doing mission work in places such as The Amazon, Haiti, Laos....but God was opening up doors for me in Africa I couldn't ignore. And when that happens you need to step forward and just trust.
So that's my story, I'm on my way to be a full-time missionary to Celebration Zimbabwe and will be helping specifically with the children's ministry and just be a willing vessel to help wherever is needed. God placed me in a role of helping lead children's worship for a reason here in Jacksonville, see how God weaves things together for our journey? How cool is that?! You know, I dream about seeing Celebration Church not only in Zimbabwe but one day possibly Mozambique, Zambia, Botswana, South Africa, Malawi.....the possibilities are endless!! And the children are the next generation for Africa, they need to see the love of Christ, to feel loved, to feel hope.
This is just the beginning of my journey to get there. Over the next few months I will be working on raising my funds for being a missionary to Celebration Zimbabwe. I have no doubt that God will use people in my life to provide the way, I'm not worried, I'm excited! I'm excited to share with all of you the vision God has put on my heart and how each of you can get involved!!!
Keep a look out soon for more info to come on how you can be a supporter in this ministry. And remember, any money donated is for the children in Zimbabwe, not for me.....I'm just the willing vessel God will use.
I want to leave you with a great message from Dr. Leon van Rooyen of South Africa. He offers some essentials a person needs to have to be in missions. Please pray that I can always possess these characteristics that are so important as I make my journey to Africa.
1. You must have a sense of humor and learn how to laugh. Enjoy what you do. Be joyful. You will need this on the mission field!
2. All ministry flows out of a relationship with Jesus. Work with God not for God.
3. Stay committed to developing your relationship with God. It's our fruitfulness that counts not our busyness.
4. You must have a love for God AND His church.
5. You must be possessed with courage and boldness.
6. Be a servant in heart and nature.
7. You must have a vision but be possessed by leader's vision though.
8. Work as a team
Blessings to you all for reading what is on my heart!! I can't wait to share this amazing journey with you.
Shannon
