The Call

So here’s how this all started…

I’ve actually told this story several ways by now, including short and long versions, but recognize several distinct and important components to the story of how God called us.  Actually, we have come to understand that our call began long before we realized or understood it.  In fact, I guess the best answer would have to be that God has been preparing us all along.

We were first introduced to the Esther School through Tina’s work with GEMS Girls Clubs.  GEMS is an organization that provides resources and materials to churches and other groups in order to create clubs for young girls, historically throughout North America.  Tina was employed at GEMS for about 8 ½ years as their graphic designer.  In 2005, GEMS took a call to Africa, responding to God’s prompting to bring the message of GEMS to girls beyond North America.  As Tina designed various promotional materials for the work being done in Africa, we were slowly introduced to this fascinating place called Zambia, and the inspirational project that would become The Esther School.  In fact, in 2008 Tina was able to travel to Zambia with a group of women on a trip to train Zambian women in leading clubs.  A secondary mission was also to explore options for land where the school would be located.

Of all the causes and ministries that we were familiar with, the Esther School slowly took on a very special place in our hearts.  Although we didn’t understand why then, we were able to be a part of some important meeting and conversations that afforded us a unique inside look the early stages of this evolving vision.  We saw firsthand how the Spirit was moving in the hearts and minds of some committed and talented leaders to reveal His plan for The Esther School.  We were increasingly aware of how God kept putting this work in front of us and we began to ask Him how He wanted us to become more involved with this project. 

During the same period of time, in a parallel process that we didn’t recognize as connected to our passion for The Esther School, we were also praying for specific ways that God would shape our lives toward his Kingdom.  Our lives had settled into a pretty safe and comfortable place, and we knew God was asking more of us.  For several years we had been praying that God would draw us into a deeper relationship with Him, teach us to seek our comfort in Him rather than the things of this world, to live in a way that reflected His presence in our lives, to share His love with others.  As our boys grew, we were also discussing with ourselves and other young parents how to teach our kids these principles and show them how to live as activists for Christ in a broken world, especially when their lives were so comfortable as well.

 Little did we know, but God was preparing to bring all of this together, weaving these events and processes together in a beautiful way that only the Creator could.  We couldn’t yet see how He would answer our prayers very directly and specifically, but in a very different way than we could have imagined or would have planned ourselves.  Eventually, in His time, God made the call clear to us in a way that we couldn’t ignore…