Rosen Journey

God has been calling and sending people for thousands of years. It’s one of the recurring aspects of His nature. We live in a broken world with hurting people all around us. In response to this, God asks us to be bearers of hope and healing through Jesus Christ. This means that we too must be willing to respond to God’s call. As the late 19th century missionary CT Studd once said, “Some want to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop, within a yard of hell.”

CT Studd reminds us that there are some places in life that are more comfortable than others. But what about you? Where is God calling you? What is He asking you to do? Are you ready to respond to God’s call whatever and wherever that might be?

Fourteen years ago, my family and I moved to Ellensburg. Through all these years I have been the pastor at Family Christian Center while my wife Karin has taught reading in our elementary schools. At the same time, our boys have completed Elementary, Middle and High School and even graduated from College. Now as clearly as we felt God had called us here, we also feel that He is calling us to move on.

Over the last 18 months we have sensed God asking us to serve overseas in missions for the next season of our lives. As a result of this process, we are now within just a few short weeks of leaving Ellensburg and joining a Christian Medical Missions Organization called Mercy Ships. Mercy Ships follows the 2,000-year-old model of Jesus by bringing hope and healing to the world’s forgotten poor. Specifically, Mercy Ships provides free life-changing surgeries to those in need in Sub-Saharan Africa.

It’s quite interesting when we tell people that we are moving, they quickly ask where? When we say “Africa” the responses are varied. Some are immediately intrigued while others look at us like we’ve gone crazy. And trust me there are days that it feels that way to us as well.

When God calls us to a new assignment there are few things we have control over. He asks us to submit our “when, where, and what” into His hands. It always goes according to plan, but not necessarily our plan. I’m reminded of Proverbs 19:21 “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” As we have responded to God’s call, Africa was not on our radar, and yet the timing has been clearly orchestrated by God. Our “what” is a beautiful mix of my wife and I’s strengths and passions, as she will be teaching in the onboard academy, and I will be a crew chaplain.

So what are we learning in this process about God and His call? First, it is God’s call. He issues it, and He sets the parameters like orders that are given to a military soldier. Our responsibility is obedience—nothing more, nothing less. Second, God’s call is not about our comfort. As a matter of fact, it is usually quite the opposite. God will oftentimes put us in situations that we would not have chosen for ourselves. In these seasons we get to trust in Him in new ways. We also learn to depend upon Him in every detail of our lives. The promise from God to the Apostle Paul is for us as well: “My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

As my wife and I continue this new adventure, we are reminded that God never promised to make us comfortable. He doesn’t call us to do easy things. He calls us to obedience and perseverance. And with that combination He will bring about growth in us and hope to those we serve. Furthermore, I’m convinced He will do the same for you in the place of your calling.