Ripples

In 2011, Pam took a small group of women from Summit Church to Southern California to attend the Women’s Encounter at Shepherd Church in Porter Ranch, CA. That small nucleus of women formed the beginning of a team of servant-leaders that would lead two Women’s Encounters every year for the ensuing six years. The Encounters proved to be one of the most transformational ministries we’ve ever experienced.

The enduring relationships Pam established with her “encounter ladies” was her favorite part of the ministry. Pulling together two Encounters each year was a Herculean task. The “servers” invested an enormous amount of time and effort. And they forged a precious bond-of-faith that continues today these many years later.

This weekend, four of Pam’s “encounter ladies” have come to Costa Rica at their own expense to speak at an ECF-sponsored Women’s Conference. Each woman has a story of great pain and great victory. Each had their speaking and leadership gifts honed as they served with the Women’s Encounter. Each one will be a tremendous blessing to those who attend the one-day conference.

We never know the ripples that follow when we step out in faith. Pam had no idea that her trip to SoCal would lead to years of fruitful ministry in Nevada, and, then, 12 years later, to continue to bear fruit in Costa Rica. The nature of faith is believing that God is at work, stepping out in obedience, and trusting him with the results…both seen and unseen.

I hope you have experienced a spiritual wake from the impact of your steps of faith. One of my favorite stories in the Bible is when Joshua leads the Israelites into the Promise Land. They are standing at the Jordan River at flood stage. The river forms an impassable barrier to cross for the 2+ million Israelites. God tells the priests who are leading that they must step into the water before the river would stop flowing.

Humanly speaking this meant they would look “silly” to the Israelites looking on. (Faith-steps often look foolish to those watching on the sidelines.) The Jordan River was at its highest stage of the year. I’ve seen where this took place. In that era, the water was 30+ feet deep and at least a quarter of a mile wide. For God to stop the water would be a mind-boggling miracle akin to the parting of the Red Sea.  And it wouldn’t happen until AFTER the priests stepped into the water as an act of faith.

Have you ever done that? Have you stepped out in radical, almost crazy-looking faith? Have you done it recently?

When we do, and when God acts according to his great faithfulness, the ripples we make can impact the cause of Christ for years to come. ECF is experiencing it this weekend.

The Women’s Conference is called Living Beyond. Heather Steward, Nicki Miller, Lisa Buchanan, and Annie Hoon will share their personal journey of choosing to walk by faith “living beyond” personal tragedy, pain, illness and heartache. I know each of their stories. It takes my breath away when I see them still standing in Christ, let alone smiling and experiencing joy.  It is a tremendous honor to have them share with us in Costa Rica.

I want my life to make ripples for Christ. I hope you do, too. But we can’t do that by staying safely in the boat. To quote John Ortberg, “If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat.” Pam is doing that. Heather, Nicki, Lisa, and Annie are doing that. 

Are you?