God orchestrates something powerful and unexpected in Estonia

As I celebrate almost six years of serving in Estonia, I am constantly amazed at how God works. He unites people with unique gifts, abilities, passions and life experiences to fulfill his perfect plan. I am especially thankful today, standing in an empty apartment in Tartu, watching a kitchen sink be installed. Allow me to explain.

When I first arrived here to work with Estonian youth, I was excited but unsure what my ministry would look like. From previous visits, I knew that while the youth are open to exploring ideas, it must be done carefully, after building relationships and in non-threatening environments. God quickly orchestrated something powerful and unexpected: a cooking group ministry.

“If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously.” Romans 12:7-8

This ministry was born out of a simple need to learn how to navigate the local grocery store. I invited students to help me, and it soon became a vehicle to share Jesus week by week. We would shop, then gather in my apartment to cook and enjoy meals together.

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Conversations around the table would turn to the Lord as I shared what he meant to me. This was the perfect, non-threatening environment. The group began to grow, bear fruit and multiply, as the youth invited their friends, gave their lives to Christ and sought to host their own groups to share Jesus with others.

However, many lived in dorms, and I could not host groups every night in my apartment. So I felt God begin to stir a vision to purchase a separate apartment in Tartu devoted to expanding this ministry. It would be near the university and grocery stores. It would have a big kitchen, as well as bedrooms to host interns and mission teams.

It seemed unlikely, but the idea kept tugging at me. I felt God give me a goal with this vision to reach more than 2000 youth in five years. That seemed impossible! However, I felt God leading me to share the vision with my Converge teammates and leadership.

Today, I am standing in our new ministry apartment, called The Refuge, watching the finishing touches being put on the kitchen. My ministry partners and I are preparing it to be used for cooking groups and other ministries beyond what we originally imagined. The idea of reaching more than 2000 youth in five years now seems very doable.

Related: Join a Converge International Ministries prayer network

How did it all come together? First, my Converge International Ministries teammates and leaders offered their gifts of encouragement to help me explore and pursue the idea. Next, contacts in the local church used their teaching gifts to guide me in the steps I would need to take. A friend who is a Converge church mobilizer used his gift of leadership to organize a team at my sending church, Arise Church Denver, to support the project. Members used their gifts of service to galvanize prayer efforts and pool helpful knowledge. People with the gift of generosity stepped up through my other sending church, Chapelstreet Church in Geneva, Illinois, to donate funds for the purchase and ongoing maintenance.

Through people willing to use their gifts and talents to further his kingdom, God made what seemed impossible a reality. And for that, I am very grateful. What vision has God given you to pursue? What abilities, passions and life experiences can you offer as a resource today?

If you would like to help reach youth in Estonia, sharing the gospel in one of the spiritually and physically darkest places of this world, you can partner with me financially and sign up for prayer email updates.