Joy
Serving the Lord in my local church has been a way of life for me since I was a teenager, whether it was as a Sunday School teacher, AWANA leader, Camp counselor, Ladies’ Ministries Director, Children’s Ministry Director, pianist, playing the keyboard, entertaining, or having a revolving door of visitors while we had teenagers in the house ourselves! The gifts of administration and encouragement have been given to me along with the gift of helps, and I have shared those gifts for many, many years.
However, during the past few years there was reason to step back in areas of ministry and to re-assess my worship of the Lord I served. In so doing, I had to learn to say “no” when asked to take on, or share in, the opportunities of service in the church. I chose to focus on what pleases my Father and that is my worship of Him. Now it had begun to be easy to say “no” to serving, but we are called to serve and I knew that. James 2:26 “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”
During a gathering at Bridgeway, the Lord spoke to me so loudly that I came home and told Don that I thought we needed “to do” something for the Lord. You know how we women always have “to do” and the message I received that night was that NOW was the time. You see, we often talked about all the things we had done – youth chaperones, AWANA Directors, teen retreats, ladies ministries, leading discipleship groups, mission trips, on and on, but again, they were all things we had done – in the past. What were we doing now? Well, our answer was that it was someone’s turn. We had done our time. Don was going to Peru a few times each year, and I was giving up my summer vacation to go there and serve Him. I went with New Covenant on a trip in June 2004 and saw first-hand how the Lord used me in areas totally out of my comfort zone and in ways I never anticipated. I no longer asked whether or not we should go to Peru but I had to ask myself why not go. So, we agreed we would. Later.
But the Lord said, very clearly, there is still work to be done and this is the time. We no longer had elderly parents living or children living at home. What was holding us back? Well, it wasn’t in our plan. I was serving the Lord at Bridgeway Christian Academy. He had blessed me with that position years ago. It was an answer to prayer and I agreed to serve Him there. I couldn’t walk away from that ministry. My parents brought me up and taught me that when the Lord places you somewhere, you don’t move until He moves you. I had the opportunity to leave BCA on three specific occasions. All offers had come from other Christians in the education field or in church work. I chose not to leave because I believed the Lord had me where He wanted me. Even when the temptation was to leave, with a better salary offer, and benefits, I chose to be obedient and serve Him even in difficult times, at the school.
In thinking about it, I don’t know what I would do in Peru. But I soon learned. Working on the medical team without medical training may sound a little scary, but with the gift of adminis-tration, He uses me on that team every trip! The Peru New Covenant Office is a two-person laptop operation. With all the ministries in progress, growing and groaning, there is need for more administrative help. Ummm, what does that tell you? Praise the Lord for the clear direction He has given me and the peace about facing the challenges of language school, being distanced from children & grandchildren, and living out of a suitcase for a yet to be determined length of time! It is only through obedience that I find real peace.
A couple of experiences I want to share with you so you can hear how God uses a “regular” Christian when we let Him.
In Romans 8:26 we read, “ In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” Praying for the women in Peru – At the close of a women’s conference one evening, the New Covenant Team members were asked to come forward to pray with those who desired prayer. This specific night, I happened to have a young lady come forward from the church and offer to be my interpreter. Helen was a delightful young adult, about 25 years old. The ladies came forward and lined up waiting for the American Christians to pray with them one at a time. They responded to the message of the secrets kept inside that they needed to confess so they could move on in their walk with the Lord. Most of these secrets were sexual sin or abuse that they had not dealt with. At the end of our prayer time, Helen asked me to pray for her and she broke down in tears telling me her personal story. She was so concerned that we would be gone that night, and soon back to America, and she wanted me to pray with her again someday. I promised her I would pray for her anyway. A year later, the team returned to the same church. Helen saw me and came up and asked if I remembered her. Of course, I did! I saw her from a distance and wondered the same thing. As we talked she took a ring off her finger and showed me the inscription inside the band. It read “Lord Jesus Christ”. She was so proud to say it was her purity ring and that she had remained pure since we prayed that night! You see, even one prayer one night, and another, and another, is rewarded. Thank you Lord for Helen and her walk with You!
Job 1:10 says “you have put a hedge around him and his household” Some of you might remember stories I’ve related about our taxi cab rides in our newsletters. God continually reveals Himself, His love, and His protection of us in the most unexpected places and ways. The most recent experience was in June 2008. Don had just preached at the Sector 5 church. We had to get back to Sector 3 so our interpreter, Sheyla, could interpret for another service there. Suzanna the pastor’s wife ran out of the church and hailed a taxi. She chatted with him and gave him our fare and opened the back door for us to get it. I asked Sheyla if the driver knew where we were going. I told her to tell him we were missionaries with New Covenant, why we were here from America and that we didn’t know our way around, but would trust him to get us where we were going. When she told him, he assured her he knew the church. He and his brother are both cab drivers and drive for the other missionaries, Greg & Bridgett, and Alex & Holly. Now, remember I said, God continually reveals Himself to us in the most unexpected places and ways. Why was Rory driving down that specific road, at that specific time, that specific day? I know! It was all part of His plan.
The opportunity to let the Lord use me while I'm "living life" as a wife, mother, grandmother, and friend is awesome and looking back into scripture we find that we have the responsiblity to go and tell others what He has done and is doing in our lives. We all have a story to tell to the nations. The nations include home, our community, neighbors, locally, nationwide and at this time in my life it moves me even further from what I now call home, to a new community and home in Peru. Where He leads, I will follow.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Brief Testimony of Don Norris' Call to the Ministry
Don:
The year was 1954 and I was a young man in the paratroopers. I was not from a Christian home and did not know the Lord as my savior. But I knew about Jesus Christ and God the Father. I had graduated from jump school. My training was complete. Jumping was no longer a new experience. However, jumping was always risky and a rush at the same time! This particular jump did not go by the book. About 1200 feet above ground, the jump began, and my main shoot came out, but did not open. The lesson learned was to next pull the reserve shoot. I did. It didn’t come out. Falling at an undetermined rate of speed towards the ground, one thinks twice about what’s next. But God intervened and the main shoot finally responded and my life was spared as I landed safely.
The year was 1996 and I was enjoying Disney World with some of my children and grandchildren. We had eaten a wonderful, tasty, rather large Italian meal late one evening so when I woke up in the middle of the night with severe heartburn; I knew this sign, I was getting older! Joy suspected it was more than heartburn. But, I knew what I was feeling. We went to the park and continued to enjoy our family get together, riding the rides under the hot sun. We returned home and over the next few days I felt worse, my strength was zapped. I decided I needed to see my doctor. After being admitted to the hospital, running tests, and so forth, it was discovered that I had 4 blocked arteries, tests revealed only 32% oxygen in my blood, well below the fatal level, and I needed open heart surgery immediately. Again God intervened and spared my life. I now realized the Lord wanted something from me as he spared my life again.
The year was 2004 and I was determined not to spend my retirement years in a rocking chair. I was challenged by Bruce Carter, to go to Peru the following spring on a mission trip. I was asked to take on the responsibilities of Director of Construction Ministries with New Covenant Creation Ministries out of Norcross. I couldn’t help but ask myself what did I know about being on a missionary team. How was God going to use me? I thought being a missionary was for others, but not for me. I listened to Bruce and thought of reasons why I could not, actually why I would not, go. During a meeting I had with him over coffee one day, I finally agreed to go. Heading home to share the news with Joy, I was travelling down Route 141 at about 50 miles an hour when a car pulled out in front of me from a side street. I couldn’t totally avoid an accident and hit the rear end of the car. With traffic coming behind me and through the intersection it was amazing no one was hurt. Again, God intervened and spared my life.
In the next few days after I agreed to the trip, I applied for my passport and knew I had 6 months to think about it. However in January I was asked to go on a pre-planning trip and again, had no reason not to go. I went. What I saw, experienced, and tasted was God at work and I came back with a desire to return again, and again. For years I searched for ways to serve the Lord, but now I felt His leading where He wanted me to serve Him rather than where I wanted to. You see, looking back over my life, I see where some of it makes sense to me now. As a child I shined shoes. I’ve had paper routes. I’ve written contracts. I’ve managed work crews. I’ve worked in many areas of construction, being a mechanical engineer, designing buildings, HVAC systems, plumbing contractor, etc. So how does all this fit into life as a retired man? God prepared me over the years for the plans He had for me in Peru! After a couple of years in Construction Ministries, a young man was called to work in Peru with us and would be on-site to carry on the work I was trying to do a continent away. I was then asked to be Director of Research and Development, which enables me to work independently and provide feedback on what can and needs to be done in different ministries of the organization. It has been a whirlwind of trips, each one teaching me more about how He uses me in this ministry.
Let me share a few short stories of how the Lord has worked in and through me in these past few years.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 I met a Christian brother at a funeral of a mutual friend. He saw my shirt with New Covenant embroidered on the pocket. After sharing about our work, he asked me to speak at a full gospel fellowship businessmen’s meeting. Now a public speaker I am not. Nor, am I of the charismatic bent! I would just have to be myself, and I knew it. At that time I shared the need and prayer request for a laptop computer. I had been praying about the need for a laptop and was provided one from some well meaning friends. However, it was so old that it wasn’t worth upgrading. I realized that I had not prayed specifically for my needs and began to ask the Lord for a new system. At the end of the meeting a man stood up and said that he had a brand new computer he would bring to me the following Monday. He bought it for his son, and found his son was using it for pornography so he took it away from him. It has been used a very short time. This was a Saturday morning meeting. I thanked the brother and thought in the back of my mind, we’ll see if and when he contacts me. I guess I was a doubting Thomas! Monday morning came and I received a phone call. The man was coming from McDonough to bring me the lap top. We enjoyed a special time praying together! This was a lesson in learning how to pray!
Matthew 17 tells us “if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." The first construction job under my watch was painting the inside of a large church in Peru. The experience I had in scheduling jobs over the years indicated that with the timeframe allowed, and the lack of painters available, we were facing an impossible task. I said it couldn’t be done. However, I was chastised in love and prayed fervently that the Lord stretch my faith, and He did bless us with more help than expected and the job was completed in record time. Everyone praised the Lord for the “new” face on the church, the safety of the volunteers and the lessons learned through Him.
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24 -- After visiting Sector 8 Church in June I was looking forward to visiting them again in November. But upon arriving at their place, I found the church had relocated up the street. Why? The rent had gone up and they couldn’t afford the increase. I spent time with Pastor Luis and asked if they purchased the new facility. “No, we can’t afford to.” He responded. “Would you like to stay in this neighborhood?” “Yes, up in the hills there are thousands of lost people. But, we may have to move again. I know this is where God called us to plant a church.” My heart was touched. I wanted to help them buy that little building. I spoke with Pastor Bruce about my longing and he said the ministry was focusing on finishing Pat’s Place and we couldn’t ask for funds for the church at this time. But he didn’t want to discourage me and suggested I begin praying about the funds coming from some unknown source. We prayed for a few weeks. If it is His will was our prayer. It was near the end of the calendar year and he had a meeting with a brother who wanted to make a large contribution to the work in Peru. Bruce shared with him the needs of Pat’s Place. But the brother was not inclined to support a battered women’s shelter. Instead he asked what other opportunities were available. When Bruce mentioned the desire to purchase the little church building, the man wrote the check! God answers prayer and uses us in ways we don’t expect. We need to be faithful in our praying for His will.
As many of you know, we write a newsletter and send it out on a regular basis. It was because a friend of ours shared the newsletter with a friend of his, that he was led to make a large donation to the work of the Lord in Peru. The first brother was requesting financial support on our behalf as we did not know the businessman who had the resources. The Lord provided the resources in His timing and in His way – something we had absolutely no control of. Those funds were used to build a private apartment for the Directors of Hope House, who previously lived in an underground single room. Now they have a fully equipped kitchen, modern bathroom with a tub and shower, a bedroom, and living room/office away from the children and staff of the orphanage. It was a privilege to be entrusted with the funds and to make the determination how to best use them for His glory.
Praise the Lord for the unbelievable support received by Christians – approximately $85 thousand dollars has been given to the work of the Lord in Peru since He has given me the vision and passion as to how we, here in America, can help. We continue to put our trust in Jesus to meet our needs and the needs of the ministry He has called us to. We confidently walk knowing that He goes before us and prepares the way, each and every day.
The year was 1954 and I was a young man in the paratroopers. I was not from a Christian home and did not know the Lord as my savior. But I knew about Jesus Christ and God the Father. I had graduated from jump school. My training was complete. Jumping was no longer a new experience. However, jumping was always risky and a rush at the same time! This particular jump did not go by the book. About 1200 feet above ground, the jump began, and my main shoot came out, but did not open. The lesson learned was to next pull the reserve shoot. I did. It didn’t come out. Falling at an undetermined rate of speed towards the ground, one thinks twice about what’s next. But God intervened and the main shoot finally responded and my life was spared as I landed safely.
The year was 1996 and I was enjoying Disney World with some of my children and grandchildren. We had eaten a wonderful, tasty, rather large Italian meal late one evening so when I woke up in the middle of the night with severe heartburn; I knew this sign, I was getting older! Joy suspected it was more than heartburn. But, I knew what I was feeling. We went to the park and continued to enjoy our family get together, riding the rides under the hot sun. We returned home and over the next few days I felt worse, my strength was zapped. I decided I needed to see my doctor. After being admitted to the hospital, running tests, and so forth, it was discovered that I had 4 blocked arteries, tests revealed only 32% oxygen in my blood, well below the fatal level, and I needed open heart surgery immediately. Again God intervened and spared my life. I now realized the Lord wanted something from me as he spared my life again.
The year was 2004 and I was determined not to spend my retirement years in a rocking chair. I was challenged by Bruce Carter, to go to Peru the following spring on a mission trip. I was asked to take on the responsibilities of Director of Construction Ministries with New Covenant Creation Ministries out of Norcross. I couldn’t help but ask myself what did I know about being on a missionary team. How was God going to use me? I thought being a missionary was for others, but not for me. I listened to Bruce and thought of reasons why I could not, actually why I would not, go. During a meeting I had with him over coffee one day, I finally agreed to go. Heading home to share the news with Joy, I was travelling down Route 141 at about 50 miles an hour when a car pulled out in front of me from a side street. I couldn’t totally avoid an accident and hit the rear end of the car. With traffic coming behind me and through the intersection it was amazing no one was hurt. Again, God intervened and spared my life.
In the next few days after I agreed to the trip, I applied for my passport and knew I had 6 months to think about it. However in January I was asked to go on a pre-planning trip and again, had no reason not to go. I went. What I saw, experienced, and tasted was God at work and I came back with a desire to return again, and again. For years I searched for ways to serve the Lord, but now I felt His leading where He wanted me to serve Him rather than where I wanted to. You see, looking back over my life, I see where some of it makes sense to me now. As a child I shined shoes. I’ve had paper routes. I’ve written contracts. I’ve managed work crews. I’ve worked in many areas of construction, being a mechanical engineer, designing buildings, HVAC systems, plumbing contractor, etc. So how does all this fit into life as a retired man? God prepared me over the years for the plans He had for me in Peru! After a couple of years in Construction Ministries, a young man was called to work in Peru with us and would be on-site to carry on the work I was trying to do a continent away. I was then asked to be Director of Research and Development, which enables me to work independently and provide feedback on what can and needs to be done in different ministries of the organization. It has been a whirlwind of trips, each one teaching me more about how He uses me in this ministry.
Let me share a few short stories of how the Lord has worked in and through me in these past few years.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 I met a Christian brother at a funeral of a mutual friend. He saw my shirt with New Covenant embroidered on the pocket. After sharing about our work, he asked me to speak at a full gospel fellowship businessmen’s meeting. Now a public speaker I am not. Nor, am I of the charismatic bent! I would just have to be myself, and I knew it. At that time I shared the need and prayer request for a laptop computer. I had been praying about the need for a laptop and was provided one from some well meaning friends. However, it was so old that it wasn’t worth upgrading. I realized that I had not prayed specifically for my needs and began to ask the Lord for a new system. At the end of the meeting a man stood up and said that he had a brand new computer he would bring to me the following Monday. He bought it for his son, and found his son was using it for pornography so he took it away from him. It has been used a very short time. This was a Saturday morning meeting. I thanked the brother and thought in the back of my mind, we’ll see if and when he contacts me. I guess I was a doubting Thomas! Monday morning came and I received a phone call. The man was coming from McDonough to bring me the lap top. We enjoyed a special time praying together! This was a lesson in learning how to pray!
Matthew 17 tells us “if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." The first construction job under my watch was painting the inside of a large church in Peru. The experience I had in scheduling jobs over the years indicated that with the timeframe allowed, and the lack of painters available, we were facing an impossible task. I said it couldn’t be done. However, I was chastised in love and prayed fervently that the Lord stretch my faith, and He did bless us with more help than expected and the job was completed in record time. Everyone praised the Lord for the “new” face on the church, the safety of the volunteers and the lessons learned through Him.
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24 -- After visiting Sector 8 Church in June I was looking forward to visiting them again in November. But upon arriving at their place, I found the church had relocated up the street. Why? The rent had gone up and they couldn’t afford the increase. I spent time with Pastor Luis and asked if they purchased the new facility. “No, we can’t afford to.” He responded. “Would you like to stay in this neighborhood?” “Yes, up in the hills there are thousands of lost people. But, we may have to move again. I know this is where God called us to plant a church.” My heart was touched. I wanted to help them buy that little building. I spoke with Pastor Bruce about my longing and he said the ministry was focusing on finishing Pat’s Place and we couldn’t ask for funds for the church at this time. But he didn’t want to discourage me and suggested I begin praying about the funds coming from some unknown source. We prayed for a few weeks. If it is His will was our prayer. It was near the end of the calendar year and he had a meeting with a brother who wanted to make a large contribution to the work in Peru. Bruce shared with him the needs of Pat’s Place. But the brother was not inclined to support a battered women’s shelter. Instead he asked what other opportunities were available. When Bruce mentioned the desire to purchase the little church building, the man wrote the check! God answers prayer and uses us in ways we don’t expect. We need to be faithful in our praying for His will.
As many of you know, we write a newsletter and send it out on a regular basis. It was because a friend of ours shared the newsletter with a friend of his, that he was led to make a large donation to the work of the Lord in Peru. The first brother was requesting financial support on our behalf as we did not know the businessman who had the resources. The Lord provided the resources in His timing and in His way – something we had absolutely no control of. Those funds were used to build a private apartment for the Directors of Hope House, who previously lived in an underground single room. Now they have a fully equipped kitchen, modern bathroom with a tub and shower, a bedroom, and living room/office away from the children and staff of the orphanage. It was a privilege to be entrusted with the funds and to make the determination how to best use them for His glory.
Praise the Lord for the unbelievable support received by Christians – approximately $85 thousand dollars has been given to the work of the Lord in Peru since He has given me the vision and passion as to how we, here in America, can help. We continue to put our trust in Jesus to meet our needs and the needs of the ministry He has called us to. We confidently walk knowing that He goes before us and prepares the way, each and every day.
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