Out of Your Comfort Zone

Sometimes, ministry can cause you to get out of your comfort zone. Abraham in Genesis is an example of this. God called Abraham to go to a place He would show him (Genesis 12:1). Where was Abraham to go? To a place. It would be natural for Abraham to question God’s sense of direction because God did not give him any details. Still, Abraham had to get out of his comfort zone and obey God.

In June 2019, I knew where I was going, but I still had to get out of my comfort zone. In less than three years, God opened an opportunity for Know Ministries to provide Bibles outside of the United States. A church in Yazoo City, Mississippi, requested Bibles for their Puerto Rico mission trip. A few weeks later, I learned a spot opened for me to join the team. It did not take long to know I had to join.

Our trip to Puerto Rico began at 5 am with a look of confused faces. We woke up confused as to why the alarm did not go off. Thankfully, one team member naturally wakes up early. However, it was not early enough as our flight was set to depart from the New Orleans, LA, airport in forty minutes. Although we rushed to the airport, it became apparent we would miss our flight. The airline booked us for the next flight out, and a few hours later, we landed in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

For the next seven days, we partnered with another church from the United States to host vacation Bible school events in the San Juan community. Little did I know, my living conditions for the next week were not what I expected. I did not think I would be staying in a five-star resort, being that I was on a mission trip. But the conditions were unique, and I still enjoy telling the story years later. One of my favorite photos from this mission trip is still on my phone.

Above is a picture of five shower heads on a wall. That picture shows the shower conditions for the males that week. Explaining that process to family and friends was something.

Regardless of the shower conditions, the week in Puerto Rico was incredible. Both our team and the other church connected well,. Each day was hot and long, but everything was worth it when we could tell the children were happy. The children enjoyed the water balloons, crafts, basketballs, and more.

Above, you see the smiles and joy on these children’s faces. They were eager to receive their new Bibles. We landed in Puerto Rico on a Friday, and I could not wait until the following Wednesday to see the hard work it took to provide Bibles in Puerto Rico pay off. Know Ministries began in December 2016. It took less than three years for us to provide Bibles outside of the United States.

Sometimes, God calls us to ministry that will make us uncomfortable. Whether it is a week of uncomfortable living conditions or an uncomfortable conversation, we are called to obey where God has called us to go. You may not feel confident about your destination or have many questions. We must remember to obey and trust God will lead us along the way.

Five years later, we have an opportunity in a new country. Through a partnership with Growing Beyond, I am proud and excited that one hundred Know Bibles are going to children and communities in Belize who have little to no access to the Bible. We can continue to provide Bibles because of a faithful God, prayer warriors, and generous supporters. Our partners from Growing Beyond say that the communities in Belize that will receive Know Bibles have little access to Christian resources. We are excited to work with organizations and churches in the area to ensure children know God’s love.

As you are called to missions, remember to get out of your comfort zone and into the comfort of God’s calling.