It is funny how this time last year, I had a calling but couldn’t see the path to make that calling a reality.
Last March, I had a phone call with John Carroll, Director of the Apprentice Experience. This call was designed to determine my fit for the Apprentice Experience. Though I was extremely excited about the possibility, I had my doubts that it would ever come to fruition.
What about the time commitment?
What about my family?
Isn’t this self-indulgent?
And my thoughts usually returned back to how can I pay for such a thing?
I began to devise some plans and determined that if people I know can raise money for mission trips why couldn’t I raise money for 18-months of discipleship training. I had to force myself to be vulnerable here. I knew there would be people who wouldn’t understand fund-raising for what looks like a series of spiritual retreats and small group activity. They would think that it is self-indulgent and a form of escapism. But I pushed ahead and knew there would be others that would totally get it and welcome the opportunity to help me.
Amazingly, I have had friends and family give. I have had people I have never met give and people I have barely seen in years and years. I have hosted a fund-raising party that saw people give hundreds of dollars and really commit to the cause. People’s willingness to give has been overwhelming.
God has provided in other ways as well and I have been totally blessed.
Last summer, I mentioned that I began praying for very specific things. One of my specific daily prayers was for the funds to complete the program. I can say, with a year left in the program, that I have met my fund-raising goal and have the funds to make all of the payments.
God has answered my prayers long before I thought possible.
When he calls you to something, He makes the way available for you to do it. I don’t know why I ever doubted this truth would apply to me.
Grow Up Blog 