For we live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7. Hello dear friends, family, and fellow lovers of God! The Lord has given me an amazing opportunity to serve Him and spread the Good News of His love and forgiveness. At the end of this September I am embarking on a missions trip to the city of Cebu in the Philippines to take a Discipleship Training School (DTS) through Youth With A Mission (YWAM). What is a “DTS”? A DTS is a six month long school that grows you closer to God and teaches you how to become a missionary. It is split up into a lecture phase and an outreach phase. The lecture phase will focus on growth in our relationship with God as we learn from international missionaries. I really love how YWAM disciples through one-on-one mentorship, Bible study, prayer and worship. In the outreach phase we will take what we’ve learned into the nations, serving communities through evangelism, children’s ministry, and practical services. Where am I in life? I am really excited with where I am at in life and how I’m growing in my relationship with God! I am three semesters into an Associates degree in Cyber Defense and Information Security (or if you want the fun answer: anti-hacker stuff). I am hoping to finish that Fall 2024. Following my DTS I am aiming to get an internship and employment in the IT world. Doing a DTS will further equip me to bring God’s Kingdom into the cyber world. Spiritually I would say I am doing well. (But always wanting more growth!). One phrase sums it up well: I am letting God live His life through me rather than me just adding parts of Him to my life. What I mean by that is that everything I do is for God and for His glory. I want everything I think, say, and do to honor God. He has been calling me deeper into receiving His love and pouring it out to those around me. He has been showing me how to grow in different spiritual gifts as well as refining my heart and purifying my mind. I know that this DTS will only accelerate my growth into God! Why? Why am I doing this? Why am I putting my life on pause? Why am I just up and leaving to spend half a year on the other side of the world? God, that’s why. Growing up on a YWAM base I always knew I wanted to do a DTS sometime in my life, but never put any thought behind it. Then in early 2019 I joined my dad on a trip to the Philippines for three weeks. Long story short, in one worship time God specifically told me that I would be doing my DTS there in the Philippines. I never fully forgot that. Then this February during a normal Sunday service God gave me a quick “burst” of pictures; pictures of me in the Philippines doing a DTS and serving people. I then heard Him say very clearly “You will be doing a DTS this fall.” Of course, my human-self started doubting immediately. I kept asking God the following weeks and I just kept hearing confirmation. When I told my parents they got excited, same with my friends and my pastor. I took that as a green light. If faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains, then I knew God would use my hesitant “yes”. And after a bunch of trouble getting my application to the base in Cebu, I was accepted to the school a couple of weeks ago! What I am asking for: Some friends of mine from India have a saying, send or be sent. I am asking you to help send me to the Philippines. I am trying to raise 8,000 dollars total for flights, school fees, visas, and diabetes supplies, etc. Everything makes a difference, and every penny adds up! (I did not send this to 800,000 people so please don’t give a single penny, maybe two.) Other ways you can support me are through prayer (which is free, how convenient!) and any words of encouragement or prophetic words that you receive from God. I am super excited to take this opportunity to grow even closer to God and be able to serve Him! Thank you everyone for listening and coming alongside me in this new season. If you want updates, I will be posting pictures as well as small updates on Instagram (hatchetclan05) and Facebook (Joshua Pike).
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