Tuesday, September 29, 2009
journey to director
I didn’t consider applying for the position of Director in Ignite until the August retreat, even though the director at the time, Katy, had planted the idea in my head starting months before and had asked me to prayerfully consider it at least 3 times before the retreat. So, it was in the weeks between the retreat and the application deadline that I really set my mind and my prayers toward that decision. Katy had called me a few days after the retreat to hear my thoughts on the decision and to assure me that she would be praying for me. Through my own prayers that week, I knew that God has inclined my heart toward Ignite and has gifted me in the areas of leadership and administration. However, the more I thought about all the ways God is maturing Ignite, the more I was convicted that its new director should be called by God by more than just giftings and abilities. With that thought, I was convinced that I wasn’t supposed to apply. Katy (and God) had a different idea, though. A few days later, Katy and I spoke again and I told her what I had concluded. She accepted my reasoning but over the course of our conversation, she humbly shared some things God had showed her during her own struggle to discern whether God was leading her toward applying for director or not the year before. As someone who I knew could relate exactly to where I was, I treasured the wisdom she shared and determined that I needed to persevere in seeking the Lord because my decision was not yet made. Because the director application deadline was swiftly approaching, I decided to fast one meal every day until I heard a word from the Lord. During those days of prayer and fasting, I realized that there were certain, specific things that I desired so strongly for Ignite’s next director. I recorded those things in my journal on August 27th. I desired that the new director would:
1. Be on their knees consistently and often for Ignite
2. Change the dynamic of the exec body away from a focus on logistics to prayer over logistics
3. Be a visionary for Ignite and its future
4. Set the ultimate example of commitment and dedication to the Lord and to Ignite
5. Be tuned into the Spirit’s guidance
Thus, my questions to the Lord slowly turned from, ‘Have you given me a vision for Ignite?’ and ‘Is it within Your will for me to be director?’ to ‘Am I willing to seriously commit to these 5 things?’ and ‘Could God choose to mold me into the person who embodies these things?’
About 3 days before the application deadline, Katy called during church and left me a voicemail. I didn’t even have to check the voicemail to know what she wanted to talk about. However, I knew I couldn’t call her back until after a post-church coffee date I had scheduled with one of the execs I had worked closely with the year before. This girl is a prayer warrior, if I have ever seen one, and I have always admired her zealous love for the Lord which pours forth in every prayer, conversation, and relationship. Ironically, we were both considering the director position, yet our hearts were united in love for Ignite and excitement over all He was doing in the organization. Interestingly enough, it was that conversation that prompted my realization that God really had given me vision for the next year and it was only exposed through my heartfelt and genuine expressions of affection toward Ignite to someone who shared a similar heart and a similar perspective and experiences.
In short, my newfound vision consisted of prayer as the cornerstone of every need and decision and a new dynamic with the exec body that exemplifies unity of mind and heart, Godly encouragement, and prayer. My heart was full of gratitude to the Lord for revealing the vision He had planted in my heat and for inclining my heart toward the position of director as an appropriate means to execute that vision. I returned Katy’s phone call on my way home from the coffee date. I’ve never heard her speak more urgently and confidently to me before. She told me that she had been praying fervently over the passing of this torch and she was more sure than ever that I was it. She claimed that God had given her a resolute peace about me as her successor and she also told me of some interesting conversations she was a part of that to her, easily confirmed this conclusion. At that point, I updated her on what God had revealed to me and told her I was growing more confident that I was being called to apply. Another strong source of confirmation for me was my status with VLB. Not only had God provided a job offer for me early enough in the year to know that I wouldn’t have to spend any time at all recruiting for a job, but my start date was already set for September, at least half a month after the end of the retreat! God had purposefully and decisively opened the door with regard to my time during the year and my availability to attend the retreat. Even so, I knew I had some lingering questions and concerns and wanted to hear more about her experiences over the year. Wildly enough, some of the very concerns I brought up were things that she had been convicted to address in this particular conversation. It was so bizarre! By the time we hung up, I knew in my heart that God had made His will known to me.
I rested on the word of the Lord as I slowly and prayerfully filled out the director application and attended the interview. The night of the interview is when I received the call that the execs had selected me as the 2009-2010 Ignite Director. I am so thankful for God’s faithfulness in granting me vision and direction for the year, and impressing His own desires on my heart for me to lead Ignite in pursuing. This year, I know there will be many challenges – circumstances I fully expect and others that I would have never seen coming – but I feel ready and eager to face them with the support of my execs, through the power of Jesus.
1. Be on their knees consistently and often for Ignite
2. Change the dynamic of the exec body away from a focus on logistics to prayer over logistics
3. Be a visionary for Ignite and its future
4. Set the ultimate example of commitment and dedication to the Lord and to Ignite
5. Be tuned into the Spirit’s guidance
Thus, my questions to the Lord slowly turned from, ‘Have you given me a vision for Ignite?’ and ‘Is it within Your will for me to be director?’ to ‘Am I willing to seriously commit to these 5 things?’ and ‘Could God choose to mold me into the person who embodies these things?’
About 3 days before the application deadline, Katy called during church and left me a voicemail. I didn’t even have to check the voicemail to know what she wanted to talk about. However, I knew I couldn’t call her back until after a post-church coffee date I had scheduled with one of the execs I had worked closely with the year before. This girl is a prayer warrior, if I have ever seen one, and I have always admired her zealous love for the Lord which pours forth in every prayer, conversation, and relationship. Ironically, we were both considering the director position, yet our hearts were united in love for Ignite and excitement over all He was doing in the organization. Interestingly enough, it was that conversation that prompted my realization that God really had given me vision for the next year and it was only exposed through my heartfelt and genuine expressions of affection toward Ignite to someone who shared a similar heart and a similar perspective and experiences.
In short, my newfound vision consisted of prayer as the cornerstone of every need and decision and a new dynamic with the exec body that exemplifies unity of mind and heart, Godly encouragement, and prayer. My heart was full of gratitude to the Lord for revealing the vision He had planted in my heat and for inclining my heart toward the position of director as an appropriate means to execute that vision. I returned Katy’s phone call on my way home from the coffee date. I’ve never heard her speak more urgently and confidently to me before. She told me that she had been praying fervently over the passing of this torch and she was more sure than ever that I was it. She claimed that God had given her a resolute peace about me as her successor and she also told me of some interesting conversations she was a part of that to her, easily confirmed this conclusion. At that point, I updated her on what God had revealed to me and told her I was growing more confident that I was being called to apply. Another strong source of confirmation for me was my status with VLB. Not only had God provided a job offer for me early enough in the year to know that I wouldn’t have to spend any time at all recruiting for a job, but my start date was already set for September, at least half a month after the end of the retreat! God had purposefully and decisively opened the door with regard to my time during the year and my availability to attend the retreat. Even so, I knew I had some lingering questions and concerns and wanted to hear more about her experiences over the year. Wildly enough, some of the very concerns I brought up were things that she had been convicted to address in this particular conversation. It was so bizarre! By the time we hung up, I knew in my heart that God had made His will known to me.
I rested on the word of the Lord as I slowly and prayerfully filled out the director application and attended the interview. The night of the interview is when I received the call that the execs had selected me as the 2009-2010 Ignite Director. I am so thankful for God’s faithfulness in granting me vision and direction for the year, and impressing His own desires on my heart for me to lead Ignite in pursuing. This year, I know there will be many challenges – circumstances I fully expect and others that I would have never seen coming – but I feel ready and eager to face them with the support of my execs, through the power of Jesus.
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]
