As I wrap up the last two years of Ministry in Germany, there are many things that were learned, challenged, broken, and redeemed. None of these things were expected, yet none of them were handled alone. None of them were easy, but none of them impossible.
When God nudged me into a relational ministry vocation, he wasn't just giving me a job with an organization to hold me over for the next two years. Instead, he took my passions, career goals, and gifts and completely refined and redefined what it meant to nurture relationships and be kingdom minded in professional spaces, cultures, and communities. As a professional musician, I had a rhythm, a system, a way of doing what I needed to do to make ends meet, grow professionally, and build relationships in the industry. When I partnered with Gocorps and my sending organization, I was equipped to approach this craft with a different lens; to focus on the people that the Lord was going to put in my path; to grow as a child of God, as a worshipper, and as a kingdom minded worker. He was able to allow me to grow in how I handle discomfort. Believe it or not, living cross culturally for two years isn't as easy as it might be cracked up to be, but the Lord used the good and the bad for his Glory and for my growth.
That being said, if you are considering a season of cross cultural ministry or to take the time to tithe your career, here is a list of things to be aware of and trust the Lord in.
- Try the locally favorite spots. I didn't say the list would be sorted by importance, but I do consider what we put in our bodies to be important. God gave us diversity to be able to experience things that would have otherwise been out of our purview. As a self described coffee snob, my first idea of a cafe experience wouldn't have been in a turkish bodega with machine cappuccinos and coffee beans that are so oily you can see your reflection in them. But, when you are knee deep in a neighborhood you don't know, hearing a language you don't speak (yet), the local third spaces are a window into the life breath of the people that live there. What do they value? what do they believe? what do they long for? These conversations are always happening, and simply engaging with the community in these spaces provide a great picture for what God wants to do in the heart of the community.
- Learn the language. I live in a city of 3 million people, and English is becoming more of a dominant language. It is great, especially for my expat friends, to be fluent in such an important language. There is, however, something that happens when you utter even simple phrases and words from the local language. The door opens for people to immediately be more comfortable sharing themselves with you, as you learn, you grow in endurance (perhaps from the late nights of studying or ordering chicken when you wanted beef too many times) and you learn what it is truly like to be dependent on the Lord. You become like a child, yet the Lord uses all of the language learning and late nights for doors to open up for His kingdom.
- Say yes. I am the type of person who is overly protective of my time, so the word "no" (or "nein") became a staple part of my vocabulary. There are times I wish I would've said no in my time, but there are many more times I wish I would have said yes.
- Pray. 99% of ministry is prayer. The Lord is so good, and to be able to bring friends, coworkers, strangers, and the city to Him is such a gift.
- Trust your gut. One thing that the Lord did for me in my time cross-culturally is that, when He wanted me to listen, he would literally move me physically. When there is a moment, a specific situation, or a specific person that the Lord wants to use you for, you will know. He will not hide that from you.
I hope this season of discernment and new breath to your career is fruitful and lovely. I also pray that God will provide exactly what you need, in exactly His timing. I have no doubt that God is working in our midst as missionaries. If all else fails, know that the Lord is simply with you.
In Christ,
Levi