A Life Changing Mission

If you asked me five years ago where I saw myself to be, I would not have said a youth leader or a missionary. I was born with a heart and a passion for both. However, I didn’t realize that until I was older, but when I finally did everything fell into place. I had gotten a vision from the Lord when I was 15 that I was going to be part of a team that would be sent out to foreign fields to minister in hospitals, schools, churches, and neighborhoods. That vision came to pass in July of 2001when 13 youth from Soul Purpose Youth Ministries set out to Chihuahua, Mexico to change the lives of devastated people. What the trip actually brought was total transformation in our own lives. That was the easy part.
One year had past and we were back on another plane but this time I found myself in the Dominican Republic. I knew from the moment I got off that plane that this trip was different and it wasn’t going to be just a walk in the park. My expectation for this mission was for God to use me and to change the way I see and think about life. It was a time of total humility and self-denial. Not only did the Lord open the eyes of my heart, He also showed me the areas of my heart that were causing a hindrance to my ministry. One morning we were having a time of worship and singing, “Search me and know me Lord; search me and know my heart.” Psalm 139:23-24. I began to weep uncontrollably over all the selfishness I had within my life. I would give people the shirt off my back, but spiritually there was a fear of giving out. I hid behind my ministries whether it was mime, working the video camera, or standing back in silence. I quickly repented and asked the Lord to search me and know my heart. I picked up a rock that was on the roof where I prayed every morning and threw it over the side. In essence I was casting down my fear of ministering. After that, I had the most incredible time of ministry I ever had. I was on a street corner doing spontaneous mime to the song, “Open the Eyes of My Heart.” I totally let my self get swept away. When I finally came to, I found myself leading 30 children in spontaneous worship. I began singing songs and dancing with them, not allowing the language barrier to be a crutch for me not to jump in. It was the most radical, life changing experience of my life. I then realized my Soul Purpose- “To do the will of the Father.” What the trip actually brought was total freedom in ministering and confidence in the authority the Lord has given me, even though, my intentions for this trip were to see lives changed. I have found my true self – my faith to move mountains. Now that I have returned to the United States, I have one thing in mind ABSOLUTE VICTORY for this nation and my life.

By Beth Weinowitz