Oct 28, 2015
by Katrina Goodrich
Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable,
he will be a vessel for honorable use,
set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house,
ready for every good work.
—2 Timothy 2:21 ESV
These are excerpts from the exit testimonies of Team VESSEL
The idea of participating in SCSC was briefly brought up by a friend and that was all it took for the seed to be planted. All throughout 2014 the seed grew and I couldn’t deny the calling God placed on my life. I listened to the call and submitted my application.
From the very beginning the whole adventure of SCSC has been a growing experience for me. Stepping out of my comfort zone was hard for me from the start. As the weeks continued I was thrown into new roles and environments I had never experienced before.
This year our theme at training was “Identity.” We learned that our identity is formed in Christ and not in our own self-perception. This was an important theme for us to study and take the time to discuss because it is something that we all can struggle with at times. Not knowing who we are in Christ is the easiest way for us to lose our way.
God has been teaching me about my identity through training for leadership and learning what that really means. Expanding on my experience of learning with leadership, I learned that God may call me to do something out of my comfort zone and I will have to rely on Him even more. Learning to let go of pride, becoming a servant leader, and letting God take control in whatever I’m doing is a lifelong pursuit.
I had to get it through my head that my will power was not going to cut out the sin in my life and that I had to accept God as my identity, claiming His things as my own in order to leave the others behind. The spiritual counsel I received at SCSC training and on tour will be used to keep God the main focus and not be led by the worries of THIS world, but the concerns of my heavenly Father.
SCSC equipped me to work and be used in ways I never felt I could before. Once I get home there are more opportunities for God to use me in forwarding his kingdom.
God showed me that He can and WILL use me. I have always thought there are plenty of other people capable of doing my job. God showed me this summer that He wants to specifically use ME. It totally blew my mind. I plan on returning home and being open to opportunities that are placed in my path. God showed me that I am capable and that I am stronger than I know. Even though I had a lot of fear about this summer, God blessed me for jumping into the unknown. Hopefully, I won’t stop jumping.
I saw God moving, working with each word we spoke, using each lesson, each song, and each leader. God showed me that no matter what the situation or who the person is, so long as His glory, honor, and will are placed before anything else, He will make things work.
God worked in crazy ways this summer, and I think that our team made an impressive impact in the church and community. I’m thankful for the opportunity that God gave me, and for the love and guidance that He provided through it.
At the end of project, my partner and I were told that we had relieved much stress and had been an enormous blessing to the community we served.
God has really stretched me this summer and I can’t wait to see where I will go from here.
There is so much I have to learn. I am ready for wisdom to grow and to continuously pray for my family to come to God and to be a leader for them. Amen.
For SCSC application information go to http://bit.ly/scsc2016 (applications due by January 8, 2016).
Make sure to check out the new foci!