Part Two: Larry's Story

I became a believer at a young age.  I remember realizing that I was a sinner, and had a desperate need for the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  I professed Jesus was Lord and committed my life to follow Him.  I felt the presence of God in my life and can see his guidance in many ways growing up.  As time went on, like many believers, I allowed the distractions of this world to hinder my spiritual growth.  I remained a baby Christian for a very long time.  Although some years were better than others, many times it was probably hard to see a difference in the way I was living compared to a non believer.  I was a believer, but I was allowing things of this world to distract me from focusing on my journey with God.  I was passionately driven in sports through high school and college.  Then after college I was passionately driven toward my career.  These things are not bad things, but I was making them my number one focus.  The Bible says, “Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thes. 5:19).  Instead, we should “fan into flame the gift of God” (2 Tim 1:6).  As a believer, the Spirit of God was in me, but the flame inside me was burning the size of a candle.  I was choosing the distractions of this world over the journey that God really intended for me.  I was quenching the Holy Spirit inside of me.  In turn I made some poor decisions that were foolish and harmful.  Praise God that He promises not to ever leave us or forsake us.  He continued to make His presence known in my dark times.  Later God would teach me how to truly fan into flame His gift; a flame that can be a bonfire of His Spirit in the soul. 

Marrying my wife, Megan, was the best decision of my life, apart from trusting Christ as my Savior.  She has challenged and encouraged me in my spiritual journey.  It is such a blessing to spiritually grow together with your spouse.   

A pivotal point in my life occurred about five years ago.  God placed a desire in my heart to study the Word of God.  This began a journey that I could not have imagined.  I knew many scriptures over the years but it wasn’t until I began to really study His Word that I began to grow.  Through this growth I began to see life more clearly.  I also was feeling the presence of God stir in my life more and more. As I grew, God began to show me how I had been living a self-centered life.  Everything I was doing was all about me.  My career, my money, my house, my family, and my future goals were all about me.  I reached a point when that was no longer acceptable.  

My heart for mission work has really evolved over the past few years.  My wife has always had a passion to go to Africa and get involved in missions there.  She has been instrumental in stirring that passion in me as well.  We were both approached with the opportunity to join the Ethiopia mission team at our church three years ago.  Everything in our lives said it was not the right time.  We had small children, it was a lot of money, and I would have to arrange getting time off work.  Even with all the obstacles, we felt like God was telling us to go.  When we committed to the trip, it was amazing to see how God worked out all the things we thought would hinder us.  God used that first trip to Ethiopia to change our lives.  We were able to work with some truly passionate believers who showed us what it really meant to take the Gospel to the nations.  God used the work there to ignite a strong passion for mission work inside my wife and me.  There has not been a day that goes by in the last three years that I don't think about the work there and our Ethiopian brothers and sisters in Christ.

After that first year, my wife and I have been able to stay involved in the mission and return several times.  We have learned some of their language and built close relationships with many believers there.  We have also been able to work alongside a great career missionary who has taught us many things about the mission field.  We have truly been blessed to be able to join God's work in Ethiopia.  The Christian brothers and sisters in Ethiopia have truly been an inspiration to me with their passion and hunger for Christ.  This passion is contagious, and I can see how God is continuing to grow that passion in me.  He is teaching me to bring it back and apply it to my life at home.  I have also had the opportunity to teach a Bible study class at my church.  It has been a tremendous springboard of growth to dive into the Word and study deeper to teach it.  I am very thankful for the leadership and guidance that has been provided throughout my life and my church.  There is no greater fulfillment in life than to have a deeper walk with God. 

Megan and I returned from our last trip to Ethiopia knowing God was speaking to us about our future.  He has aligned our desires to be more and more like His.  We have a passion for God’s mission of spreading the good news of Christ and the glory of God to all nations.  We came home and sold our house, began Seminary, and began to focus on a life of vocational missions.  We don’t know exactly what God has for our future.  He is just revealing this to us a step at a time.  Whatever He has for us, we trust His guidance and provision.  There is a quote I heard once, “If you can’t see very far ahead, go ahead as far as you can see.”  We love the people of Ethiopia and are passionate about the work there.  We have an opportunity this summer to spend three months there in exploration of mission possibilities that could possibly be long term for our family.  We are excited!  To God be the Glory.