God always has a purpose and special call for us. Prior to moving to the US in 2015, I was a banker in one of biggest banks in Indonesia. In Indonesia, I had a good life with a very good job, great salary, and excellent benefits. I also enjoyed serving in my church as a youth pastor and worship leader. I thought that I could be a businesswoman while doing ministry in the church. However, God had a different plan for my life.
One day, as I was riding my motorcycle to church to lead youth group, God spoke to me. It was raining very hard, and it was hard to drive. During that difficult moment, I felt God asking me, “Lia, do you love me?”
I said, “Yes, Lord.”
And God said, “Feed my sheep.”
I replied, “I do. I am serving in the ministry as youth pastor. I believe that our youth are your sheep.”
Then God asked me again with the same question, “Do you love me?” I replied, “Show me your will, oh Lord. I don’t understand what I need to do.”
God continued to speak to me and confirmed my calling to serve God through the word of prophecies that I received from several pastors and preachers. In responding and preparing for the calling of God, I began looking for a seminary or Bible School in Jakarta where I was working. I was planning to continue my work at the bank while attending seminary classes in the evenings. Those plans didn’t work as I had planned.
However, God had some extraordinary plans for my life and future. One day, my senior pastor introduced me to a young pastor from the US who eventually became my husband. After we got married, I resigned from my bank job. I left everything behind in Indonesia to serve Jesus full time and move to the US to support my husband’s ministry.
I began taking courses at Missio Seminary in Hatfield, PA. While I was taking seminary courses, God kept reminding me of the calling to serve Him. I believe that this is the way God prepared me to enter His calling.
To be honest, it was hard for me to adjust to a new place, ministry, and culture. It was difficult because I took seminary classes while caring for our home, my husband, and our six-month-old daughter. I was also doing ministry in the church on the weekends. I was so stressed, and I cried a lot. I was ready to give up and go back to Indonesia.
God helped me through that process. Praise God! God gave me a good support system through my family who cared for us so much. Finally, I graduated from Missio Seminary, in June 2020, with a Master of Arts degree.
Pastor Marta Castillo, my mentor from Mosaic Conference, said that I should give thanks to God for the talents He gave me. She also said that God had already prepared me to be a minister through the seminary courses and encouraged me to take the next step to be a licensed pastor.
I cried when I heard Pastor Marta’s words of encouragement because I felt that she spoke with authority from God, reminding me of His calling in my life. After spending a lot of time to pray, think, and discern, I finally decided to say, “Yes,” to the calling of God and surrendered my life totally to Him to be His servant.
The opinions expressed in articles posted on Mosaic’s website are those of the author and may not reflect the official policy of Mosaic Conference. Mosaic is a large conference, crossing ethnicities, geographies, generations, theologies, and politics. Each person can only speak for themselves; no one can represent “the conference.” May God give us the grace to hear what the Spirit is speaking to us through people with whom we disagree and the humility and courage to love one another even when those disagreements can’t be bridged.