{"id":4658,"date":"2022-03-02T14:55:04","date_gmt":"2022-03-02T20:55:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/?p=4658"},"modified":"2022-03-02T14:55:04","modified_gmt":"2022-03-02T20:55:04","slug":"shared-stories-browning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/missions\/shared-stories-browning\/","title":{"rendered":"Shared Stories – Browning"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Journey<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Joy in Just Following Him<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"Ma'am, will you share a verse?\"<\/p>\n

As a teacher at the school\u00a0where I've been volunteering in\u00a0athletics approached me, my mind immediately started racing through different possible verses to share as I realized my chosen, seated position on the fallen tree beside\u00a0the assembly of kids hadn't made me inconspicuous after all.<\/p>\n

I pulled out my phone while simultaneously asking the Lord to speak, and to do so quickly, all while\u00a0listening to the kids open their Bible Study time in what my ears heard as a\u00a0beautiful symphony of Zulu choruses (at least I think it was Zulu).<\/p>\n

A favorite verse? An encouraging verse? A Psalm? A Proverb perhaps?... \"Don't overthink it, Whitney.\u00a0Keep it simple\"...something I'm constantly having to remind myself.<\/p>\n

Ahhhh, the joy in following Jesus...That's it. It's that simple. The simple gospel...Following Him.<\/p>\n

In\u00a0Matthew 4:18-22 we read of Jesus calling the first disciples. He approached\u00a0Simon and Andrew, James and John, and spoke the words that changed their lives forever -\u00a0\"Follow me\". He calls them just as they are, where they are, and invites them on a beautiful journey to walk with Him...\u00a0to follow Him.<\/p>\n

In the last five months of being in South Africa, I feel as though I've had a lot of moments where Jesus has invited me to follow Him all over again, and my 'yes' to Him has led to a great adventure! This month, walking with Him has led Zsofi, Haley, and I to accept an invitation to do a bit of leadership training with the youth directors from the IPHC Central Conference (pictured below), we've opened our home to start a young adult group through our local church of Christian Heritage, and we've been blessed to build connections at a local nonprofit that just opened an afterschool program in Krugersdorp (a literal dream to get to see in action). However, while all the new things this month have been quite exciting, I've also found great zeal in the places that are becoming consistent; such as volunteering at the school and getting to serve on the worship team at Christian Heritage. (Can I just stop here to say how surreal it is to think of how I now get to pray for, pray with, and actively serve a church I first rode by and took a picture of when a trip to the game park turned into a tour of Krugersdorp in 2019... not even realizing at the time that it would eventually be the place I would call home?) I still can't believe my journey in following Jesus has brought me here, to this place, to meet these amazing people. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. I haven't even mentioned the ways He's been tugging at my heart. I'm telling you, the joy of following Him is unmatched.<\/p>\n

\"Athletics<\/a> \"Whitney<\/a> \"Whitney<\/a> \"People<\/a><\/p>\n

Getting to share about the disciples' call to follow Jesus wasn't something I expected when I showed up at the school that day, but I think the Lord knew I needed the reminder of the power in the simple gospel, not the well prepared and rehearsed attempt at profound words I often feel I must formulate to be a \"good\" minister. Instead, what a reminder to just share Jesus.<\/p>\n

I'll be honest though, often on my own journey\u00a0I've wondered about the emotions the disciples\u00a0processed as they just dropped everything and followed this man who had made them an offer of just two words that\u00a0they somehow\u00a0couldn't refuse. If they are anything like me then I'm sure at least one of them asked, \"What did I just do...what have I gotten myself into...what now...?\" But Scripture is pretty clear about the outcome:\u00a0He's worth it. Getting to walk close to Him, to know His voice, to be in His presence...worth it. And, that's\u00a0not just for the kids at the school. It's for all of us. Aren't you glad He calls us just as we are to daily make a choice to follow Him?\u00a0In my own life, I've found Him nothing but worth it.<\/p>\n

So yes, I've been in South Africa for five months, ministry is picking up and starting to fill our schedules, but whatever my month has been like, whatever the next will hold, I'm grateful that He calls me (us) to daily walk with Him.<\/p>\n

As always, thank you so much for partnering with me in the work we are doing here in South Africa. I dearly hope you are making the daily choice to follow Him. He's worth it. It's the greatest joy.<\/p>\n

Here's how you can pray for our team:<\/strong><\/h2>\n