Fishing Trip

I have blue hair. 

If you know me, or you've seen me on social media, it's nothing new. There aren't many places I go where someone doesn't stare or mention something about it. WHY I have kept my look for so long is another post for another day; but I say this to drive home that even if you don't know me, I'm hard to miss. Once we finally meet in person, I like to use the catch phrase my husband uses when we introduce ourselves. "I'm Emily Hickey. We leave a lasting impression." So between the visual of my hair/glitter eyebrows and the catch phrase, you may have an easier time remembering me. But that doesn't make me immune to the lies of the enemy when it comes to feelings of being invisible, unseen, unnoticed, forgotten, or that my presence isn't missed. 

I can remember a time in the not-so-distant-past that I, someone who's pretty plugged in at my church and stands out like a sore thumb, felt like I didn't matter, wasn't seen, and should just leave. I knew that was a lie!!! But how I felt... Took some time to shake. It took a lot of communicating on my part to get over those feelings. I of course spent a lot of time talking to God about all of this, but it was the conversations of me convincing God why I didn't actually have to tell anyone else about this that showed me I had to take action. IF I wanted the lies to be completely weeded from the beautiful garden that is my brain. 

I had conversations, confessed fears and sin that were causing me to think this way to people I trusted and who would set me straight with the Bible on their tongue. The correction hurt; but not nearly as much as the enemy's lies were crushing me. 

I knew the people I was approaching and it made me queasy. Some of them for years! And it got me thinking...

I can't imagine what someone who is newer might think if time kept passing and they weren't feeling connected. Would they approach someone then? Not likely... That thought broke my heart. And continued to break over the next few weeks. 

I was talking to a friend and she also brought up this very thing. More specifically those who are newer to faith and getting baptized. We celebrate their new life, and then what?! 

(I want to note that it is a dual responsibility of the individual and the body to connect. It is not up to just one person to take initiative. If you're part of a church, keep your eyes peeled and say hi to someone new; even if they're just "new to you". And if you're new, don't be afraid to say hi and talk to someone! God isn't calling us to sit back and wait.)

Which leads me to my next thought... I kept coming back to Matthew 28:16-20, The Great Commission. 

16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

I get chills thinking about this!! I feel excited, and I get a little- okay, a lot- pumped up about it! I also get butterflies though. Although it is a privilege bestowed upon Christ-followers, it's kind of a weighty responsibility. But, when you apply the old saying "how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.", it becomes a little less daunting. 

I kept thinking about it, and I started to pray about it. My friend was over, and I was telling her I needed to talk to PJ's wife about this to see what could happen. I'd pull her aside and lay out my heart. The opportunity arose and rather than stay quiet, I spoke up. It was a little scary, since it was in front of a group, but a ministry is now in the making. 

We're discipling women who are new believers and people recently baptized!! (That's the plan for now at least.) The women stepping up to help them use 1-1 discipleship so genuine connection can be established. This makes my heart feel so happy. The women who may have been unsure of "where do I go from here?", now have a place to start from, and a woman by their side to guide them!! This serves a dual purpose! Of course we want the women to grow closer to God and strengthen their faith!! It also ensures that, if these woman miss a service, or an event, or even if they look troubled AT one of the services/events, there's a woman or two who can reach out because:

🤎They do notice 🤎They do care 🤎They do see them 🤎They do love them 🤎They are a part of this body of believers

I got so excited that the problem of people falling through the cracks is now solved.

Did you catch that? I said solved. If the world's problems could be solved that quickly with a 1-1 Discipleship ministry, I think there'd be a lot more popping up. I think the better word is "lessened". The problem of people falling through the cracks is now lessened. 

I do wish that there would be zero women falling through the cracks at churches across the country, but that isn't reality. Some women have so many lies from the enemy playing in their head, they won't even sign up for something like this. The ministry simply can't reach everyone...

But God!

I can't help but think of my ministry as a fishing trip... Matthew 4:19 NIV “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 

I love this verse so much; especially in this instance. We're helping women become more confident in their faith and who God is!! But what if we only "catch" 2 people??

Matthew 14:17-21

17“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.18  “Bring them here to me,”he said. 19And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Even if only 2 sign up, God will multiply the reach so greatly, our minds can't even begin to comprehend it. 

Friend, whatever "fishing trip" you're on, God just wants you to be obedient. Don't get caught up in the nets of who you'll catch, or how many. Instead, trust that if you step out in obedience, He'll take care of the rest. If you don't know where your next "trip" is supposed to be, just ask. Ask God to show you where HE wants you. Ask Him to break your heart for what breaks His. Or, just stop thinking about it and start praying about it. 

YOU are the 1 He left the 99 for. Get in. We're going fishing.