Life - Leadership / Workplace

As an eighteen year old, I joined Youth With A Mission (YWAM), one of the largest short term mission organizations in the world.   The outreach portion of my Discipleship Training School with YWAM was in The Philippines.    There, we partnered with a local church to serve food in what was called “The Dumps” – literally entire villages built on garbage heaps.  We also helped with children’s Bible School’s in those impoverished areas.  Often times these children’s outreaches would attract their parents and several adults in the area to observe.
 
Unbeknownst to me, a woman from the Marcos’ Palace had several occasions to observe our group.  She saw us meeting practical needs as well as heart needs by sharing the gospel and singing about the love of Christ.  Several different times she approached myself and others and asked why we were there.  Eventually she learned that we actually paid our own way to come to their country to share of our Hope in Jesus Christ.
 
Jeans, t-shirts, tennis shoes and a lot of dust/dirt were our daily attire.  We were there to serve, and yet in this service Jesus came shining through.  It turned out that this woman was one of the Marcos’s key Aides and she invited me (alone) to come to the Palace.  While her motives may have been more public-relations motivated, God had other plans.  After she got me all cleaned up, I entered the large compound, and surrendered my Visa at the gate of the government Palace grounds.  Trusting the Lord for this opportunity, I just spoke a silent prayer, “Lord, you arranged this.  This could only be You, have your way here.” 
 
The female Aide clearly had photo opportunities in mind, but because of the unrest going on outside the palace there were much more government/military officials around than there were photographers. 
 
As we entered a very large hall, about 40 well dressed military officers left what looked to be a heated meeting.  The Aide spoke up and explained that I was in the country from America to share hope with the people.  There was a lot of loud chatter in a foreign language.  (I continued to silently pray!)   Five minutes later a piano was brought in, chairs were set up, and I shared a number of songs with these men including “People need the Lord.”  I ended this short mini-concert with a prayer and asked that the Lord would make Himself real to every person there.
 
This was the least of my expectations/motivations in going to this needy nation!  I could never have imagined that God would open doors like this for His name to be glorified, but I do know one thing…it would never have happened had I not said, “Yes” to serving.
 
Mark 10: 43-45 "But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
 
God also calls us to be “…faithful in the small things before you can be trusted with much,” in Luke 16:10.  If you desire to be promoted or if you are being trained for a leadership position today, perhaps you should be focusing on where you can serve others.  Then, let God open doors of promotion for you as you diligently pray for His name to be glorified in doing so.  It could lead you to places that you would have never imagined.
 
How did my day end at the palace you ask?  Each man shook my hand and thanked me, I was given my Visa back, then escorted out of the palace and back into my jeans to continue serving in a practical way.  The Lord knows the work that was done in hearts that day.  I’m grateful for how He moved in my heart!

• Leadership / Workplace

Author

Pam Nelson

Proverbs 31:25 is Pam's life verse, "She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future." As a woman, so often we feel our strength and dignity being robbed from us from the enemy of our souls, but it is precisely at that time that God awakens us to the power that we have from Him to "take those thoughts captive" and dress ourselves again with His beautiful Words of Truth! Pam loves to share these and other Godly principals candidly and walk along side women on the journey. Through teaching, training, and mentoring God is using Pam to release women to be used in their gifts for God's glory! Pam has been speaking/singing in inspirational settings from weekend retreats to one time events since 1992. She has directed and facilitated dozens of woman's Bible studies, served in leadership in Women's Ministries, MOPS, and Moms In Touch, led as a Worship Director for 7 years, and currently is a Mentor Trainer and Certified Life Purpose Coach (R) . Pam also serves on the BTG Board, the Board of Forum of Executive Women, and the Board of Christian Services, Inc. Pam and her husband Jeff began their marriage 25 years ago serving with Youth With A Mission. Thirteen moves later, she and Jeff reside in St. Cloud, MN and just became empty nesters! They are excited to become first time grandparents to Liam who lives with son Andrew and daughter in law Haley Nelson who reside in California while Andrew serves in the Air Force. Pam and Jeff are also excited to welcome Allison Nelson to the family as she married their son Anthony in May. They are currently residing in Colorado Springs, CO. Read more from Pam at her blog at: www.agreeingwithgod.wordpress.com

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