Last semester flew by! I was so busy with my school work and getting involved in a church here in Greenville! I've absolutely loved moving to Greenville. There is just something about this city that I am drawn to. I can't put my finger on it, but I love it! People, Places, environment? I think its all of it combined. Last semester was my first here at North Greenville, and I must say, it was intense and very busy! I had 6, yes 6, general Ed classes. Needless to say I was reading and taking test and typing papers everyday for almost 5 months! It was a busy time, but I did learn a lot. Not only was (And still am) I busy with school, but I also got involved in a church here in Greenville. When I would come down to visit Evan last year, we would go to a church called Springwell church. He would help out in the youth on Wednesday nights during the week, while I was still at home for school. He started to get plugged into that church by playing his drums. So on Sunday's when I would come down we would go to church together. It was at Springwell, where I really felt God lead me to Greenville when I saw a worship artist perform one Sunday when I came to visit. Once I moved down here to Greenville, I started to go with Evan to youth services. I felt like this was where I was supposed to help out, even though I didn't know any of the kids. I'll explain more about this subject in a while! Throughout my first semester I was very busy and starting to get so wrapped up in school and "Helping" at the church, I was feeling like I was loosing why I came here in the first place, to answer a calling.
Now that I am in my second semester here at NGU, I'm starting to see why I was supposed to come here. The last month before we left for Christmas break I chose to change my major from art to Interdisciplinary Studies. It allows me to combine 2 majors I am interested in and pretty much have a double major with just one major! When I changed my major I chose to have Art and Media Ministry as my concentrations. When I was reading what my options were for my combinations, for some reason Media Ministry just really stuck out to me. When I read the description, it described some job examples you can have with the degree in media ministry. It was exactly what I had pictured and dreamed of doing. So I chose to have that as my secondary component, while art is still my primary.
With this major it requires me to take a sophomore intro class to the major. In this class we talk about the types of people who are considered "interdisciplinarians". I have to say, that I fit into this category perfectly. It describes my personality almost perfectly. It is a person who loves to ask questions, combine things, is a problem solver, right brained, creative in most areas, and has a heart to change the world, and help others by putting themselves last. I'm pretty much the text book definition of this type of person. Needless to say, I've chosen the correct major!
I wasn't really sure why God was calling me to combine art and media ministry at first. The past few weeks and especially today, I think I got my answer. Evan and I have been helping out a lot more in the youth at Springwell this semester. We have become small group leaders as well as part of the Tech team that runs slides, lights, and sound. Its quite a handful of stuff but we love it! I have been helping/teaching the middle and high school girls small group as well as doing design work, and running slides during the service.
To be honest, this is as involved in a church as I have ever been, in the sense of being a volunteer. I went to church almost every time there was an event at my home church, but wasn't as involved in the teaching or volunteering aspect as I am here. I've been seeing why its so much more important for me to be doing that here. The youth that we're helping really need Jesus. They need people to show and teach them about the one created, controls, and Loves them. Some of the youth have grown up in church, so have biblical knowledge while most don't, others haven't gone much of their lives, and others just go because their parents make them.
Its been a real eye opener for to work with them. It makes me realize that not every youth group is like the one I grew up in, close, smart and has a heart for jesus.
Recently, I started helping with the media side of the youth program. I figured I have done graphic design and just a little video editing to be able to help out and give some of my talents.
After helping for a few weeks with the Tech and Media, I was asked what I would think about being the new Media Director.
When I read that I just smiled. I knew right then, thats why God put me here. Even if it meant going into debt and coming to a school that I never had even heard of until dating Evan.
All the pieces were and still are fitting together a lot better now.
I saw Jarred Emerson paint and perform, was called to move and come to NGU, Change my major to one where people tell me all the time that I have no chance of getting a job with, Then leading a Small group 3 weeks after moving here, working in the media team, then being asked to be a Media Director, (which is what I've wanted to do all along), and most and best of all, getting to be Jesus (along with all the other leaders!) for kids who really need it.
I've always heard that sometimes God works in ways that you won't understand until you have to do something life changing in order to see the beautiful thing that he has planned. I just never really experienced it until now.
I'll be honest, through the past year with moving, having to take out way to many loans and going into debt, and having to adjust to a whole new environment, I questioned why I did what I did, and would ask my self and God, " Why am I here, and what am I doing with my life?"
In fact, the first semester I was here, thats what I asked myself almost everyday!
I haven't figured out everything as to why I God put me in Greenville and at NGU, but it's getting to be a lot more clear now!
I don't think words can explain the comfort that I felt today, when I read "What would you think about being the Media Director?" Its like this huge surprise that God had for me, and then just threw it at me today, and I love it!
I think these are my verses of the day!
Matthew 6:30-34 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
