Meet Hannah*, a new fieldworker with GSI! Today, Hannah joins us to share her background, how she was challenged into missions, and what advice would she give to people considering missions long-term. She recently finished her training at Radius and is enroute to Asia, but delayed due to COVID-19.
Hello, my name is Hannah. I’m in route to leave for the field for the first time as soon as flights resume.
How did you get challenged into missions?
Looking back, I can see God’s hand leading me in this direction, but it took me awhile to understand His guidance. Ultimately it was God’s Word that challenged me into missionary work; verses such as Acts 1:8 and Romans 15:20. However I also have to thank individual disciplers of mine, the Perspectives course and my church body who taught me those Scriptures, challenged me accordingly and continued to encourage me on the path towards missions.
What do you anticipate the most challenging thing on the field will be?
During training I processed through many potential challenges. I believe the most difficult for me will be my own tendency to over-analyze with the combination of fear of conflict. In relationships with others I have the tendency to jump to incorrect conclusions and avoid addressing my concerns with the other, thereby putting a strain on the relationship. It is the same challenge as home; only this particular challenge will be heightened in that my team is my family, my co-workers, my fellowship and thus put me in danger of being an ineffective vessel for His use. My teachers have taught me that it is usually not big things that take people off the field, but the little things that go unchecked which snowball together.
What advice would you give someone 20 years old who is starting to think about missions?
- Get involved in your local church
- Allow the leadership to get to know you and counsel you
- Dwell in the Word and memorize it.
If you weren’t doing cross-cultural ministry, what would you be doing?
I honestly haven’t thought much about what else I would be doing. As soon as I was awakened to the reality that our lives on this earth are about declaring the gospel message throughout all nations, there was no longer any doubt in my mind of going. I knew that if I didn’t it would be my own selfishness stopping me and being disobedient to God’s will. Therefore, if for whatever reason I could not go myself, I would be mobilizing individuals to go, awakening others who can go to this reality and helping prepare them for what is ahead for them on the field.
Fast Facts:
- Life Verse: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
- Coffee or Tea: Coffee
- Favorite missionary biography: The Pastor’s Wife by Sabina Wurmbrand
- Restaurant you will miss: Pizza Luce
*Pseudonym used for safety