Speaking of a year of many firsts… Here is another one. Today, I’m heading to Jeju, South Korea to a Leadership Training School for the FIRST time …. Here is WHY!
REFLECTING GOD’S HEART
If someone asked you, "What breaks the heart of God, and what are you doing about it?" How would you respond? This question resonated deeply with our team during a visit this past October from Giacomo, a YWAM elder in Costa Rica. At the same time as his visit, we also dove into our God’s Story Training week, where we were reminded of the Creation story that reveals God's design for relationships. God’s desire for us to experience rich relationships with himself and others is a glorious plan, yet, for most Deaf people worldwide, these relationships can feel impossible because of communication access. We recognize as a team that THIS breaks the heart of God and continually stirs us to action on behalf of our Deaf brothers and sisters.
“GOD SEES YOU”
By the end of the week, Giacomo shared another powerful message with us, "God sees you. YWAM sees you. Deaf people are included at the table & invited into the larger family of YWAM." He said, “Remember, our greatest weakness can become the catalyst for our greatest revelation of who God is.” For a people group that often feels rejected, isolated, or forgotten, they have the opportunity to experience God as the God who SEES and cares for them and then to bring that good news to those around them. Furthermore, Lynn, the God’s Story DTS director said, "The Deaf world carries an expression of God that no one else has. We need the Deaf in the body of Christ." Over the past four years living among Deaf brothers and sisters in Christ, I have experienced this truth first-hand.
TAKING THE NEXT STEP…
Not only did Giacomo share this message with us, but he has invited 12 Deaf World leaders from around the world to take action with the global YWAM family this summer in South Korea for a 2.5 month Leadership Training School (LTS). I am honored to be able to go along with my teammates, Caleb, Kenroy, and Peta-Gay. LTS is an intensive YWAM school held every two years for selected leaders. During the LTS, we will receive leadership training from YWAM elders, seek God’s vision and strategy for reaching the Deaf community with the good news of Jesus, and make a 5 year plan on how we can grow in the multiplication of Deaf disciples and missionaries. This will be the first LTS to include Deaf leaders and to offer interpretation in ASL! I am absolutely thrilled that I get to be a part of it with my Deaf teammates. I believe that this is exactly where I need to be to continue to stay rooted in the vision God has given me for reaching the Deaf community across the nations. Our prayer is that the LTS would propel our team forward from recognizing how the isolation felt by Deaf people breaks the heart of God to strategically joining Him on His mission to welcome the Deaf community around the world into the family of God for His glory!
JOIN US IN PRAYER
Please join us in prayer as we go to South Korea from June 1st- August 15th! Pray for wisdom and clarity for our team as we seek God’s blueprint for the next 5 years. I will then be coming home to Illinois for one month to connect with family and friends before heading back to Jamaica for the rest of the year. I will be sending out an update after my time in South Korea about upcoming plans and ways to partner with us in the future.
Love,
Ellie
