The season of Lent is an invitation to embark on a journey of the heart, where the transformative love of God marks the landscape. This journey commences not with the weight of guilt or the echo of condemnation but with the resounding declaration of John 3:16, a verse that captures the essence of our faith – the sacrificial love of our Creator.
When reflecting on that kind of love, my mind takes me back to the day God put a call on my heart to go into ministry. I was entering my second year as a youth intern at Ardmore First. It was our first camp of the summer, Disciple 2019. I had felt a stirring in my heart for months, but I did not know what it was exactly. I was terrified of my future as I was entering my senior year as a sports management major at Oklahoma State. There, during worship at a middle school camp, I found myself surrounded by individuals united by one purpose: to love others as Christ has loved them first. These were people who selflessly prioritized the needs of others, loving Jesus with unwavering devotion.
The speaker began his sermon on the story of Jonah. I sat there, surrounded by middle school students, bawling my eyes out. I realized all along that I had been running from God’s calling on my life. That stirring on my heart was God pushing me. I had feared I could not live up to this calling, but all the fear melted away at that moment. All I could feel was the pure sacrificial love of our Savior. In that moment, I knew God was calling me to youth ministry.
Eight months later, COVID swept across our country. I was graduating as a sports management major, and sports activities came to a halt. In hindsight, I can see God’s protection and love strongly at work in my life during that challenging time. Despite the uncertainty, God had already guided me towards the decision to finish school and head on a path as a youth director. His protection shielded me from potential heartbreak and revealed that His love was enough for all my needs. It became a reminder that He had a plan for me all along.
As we journey toward Easter, let God’s sacrificial love guide us. In my own journey, I see the threads of God’s love woven into every moment, leading me to a calling that I initially feared led to a job here at St. Luke’s serving students and a church that I love wholeheartedly. I pray we will surrender to God’s love so he can fulfill His purpose for our lives.
Schuyler Henderson, Edmond Campus Youth Director
