Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten ~ David Ogden Stiers
Take a moment and stop. Take in your surroundings and breathe. Now ask yourself, who has marked me? Who are the people in my life that have molded, shaped, and supported me? When I evaluate where I am now and where I want to go, who are the people empowering, encouraging, and challenging me to achieve my dreams? I have ruminated over this and I can truly say I’ve been marked. There are so many people in my life who have marked me. I am beyond grateful for their investment, insight, and inspiration. Right now, there are 27 people who have wrecked me in an unforgettably way.
During the missions trip to South Africa, God bombed me with a revelation. The team and I were in the city George. We’d just finished debriefing and we were entering a late night worship session. As we worshiped, the presence of God came and rocked us. It was then, as I surveyed the room, that I heard God say, “this is what family looks like”.
I broke. Tears ran down my face as I took in this moment. I was surrounded by powerful, passionate, purposeful men and women. We saw each other. Not a day went by that someone was not encouraged, honored, or loved. Self-seeking agendas were squashed under the thickness of our bond. God began to show me that this is what ministry with a team looks like:
It’s family. It’s empowering and pulling each other to higher heights
It’s seeing the gold in each other and highlighting it. No one slips through the cracks.
It’s pouring out, giving, and trusting our hearts with one another.
For three weeks, my heart melted with 27 others. My heart was squeezed and enlarged with a love so indescribable. I have been marked by this team of world-changers. I don’t say “world changers” flippantly. We hear that a lot, you’re gonna change world etc..etc.. When I say I was blessed and honored with the chance to do life with these men and women, I mean it. They will change the world. They will rock the seven mountains of society. They will change the face of history.
The biggest thing I learned from my team was the importance of serving the bigger picture and what that looked like. They showed me that serving the bigger picture doesn’t mean we all look, act, and think the same way. It means bringing ALL of YOU to the table and submitting it to the vision. It doesn’t mean change how you pray, prophesy, or evangelize. It DEFINITELY doesn’t mean morph into someone else. It means take what is uniquely yours and connect it with the next person and watch how the Holy Spirit intricately weaves it to His plan. My team showed me the beauty and strength of empowerment. With them, I felt I could do ANYTHING. things I would normally reject or downplay my ability to do, they encouraged and stretched me to step into it. I learned what trust and submission look like.
Guys, I’ve been marked by these people. I’ve been inspired, honored, strengthened, and loved by them. Coming back to the U.S., I’ve learned the power of community. I’ve learned the power of selflessness. To my team, I LOVE you guys. You all have a special place in my heart. I’m honored and blessed to know you all and to have ministered alongside you. Thank you. Thank you for seeing me, believing me, and being true examples of submission to the bigger picture. To my readers, life is full. Life is full of people who will mark you, who will mark you for the better, EMBRACE THEM.
Til next time,
D
TheReddingProject 