The question has been asked; “Why Germany?”
I first felt the Lord calling me into the ministry in the
summer of 2004. During this time, I
never knew or understood where exactly the Lord was guiding me. At first I thought that He was leading me to
be a pastor or a youth pastor, but with both of those I never felt at
ease. I had numerous conversations with
my parents, church pastors, mentors, and friends; all of whom committed me to
prayer as I walked through this time in my life.
One evening I opened my Bible to begin reading 1
Timothy. And it was in chapter 1 verse
12, that the Lord opened my heart to missions.
It was at this point that I felt confident on where the Lord was leading
me to serve Him.
It was then that my focus turned on the question; “Where?”
As many of you who read my
blog may know, my Grandparents (Wayne and Phyllis Cline) are missionaries to
Africa (Benin and the Congo Kinshasa), but are based out of Nice, France. My
Grandparents are to the point of retirement and I thought that this is where I would
be. But it wasn't until my junior year of High School, that I would meet a
young man from Germany. However, my mind was always on the work of my Grandparents and
continuing their ministry, but even then
I never felt confident in this work.
After talking to my German friend and one of his friend who
would visit during the summer that I began to ask questions about the churches and spiritual life in Germany. I was told that most young
people do not go to churches, they find it boring and they see God as something they do not
need (a view that is held my many people around the world). The friendship that was created between us
was a leading factor and is something I believe God placed in my life to help guide me to where He was leading me to serve Him.
It was not until my first mission trip to Germany in 2008 that I truly felt in my heart that God was leading me to serve in Germany. I have made several other mission trips to Germany and I have never questioned the calling that God has given me. In 2011 after graduating from Southeastern Bible College, I served in Southeast Asia for 2 months on a mid-term trip. It was even during this trip that I felt the confirmed call to serve the Lord in Germany.
It was not until my first mission trip to Germany in 2008 that I truly felt in my heart that God was leading me to serve in Germany. I have made several other mission trips to Germany and I have never questioned the calling that God has given me. In 2011 after graduating from Southeastern Bible College, I served in Southeast Asia for 2 months on a mid-term trip. It was even during this trip that I felt the confirmed call to serve the Lord in Germany.