From a young age, Courtney knew her path was guided.

“The night I turned 10 years old, I was going to bed when I heard God say to me that I was going to be a teacher in Africa. It was a very strong word, and I held onto it,” she recalls.

This profound message was further affirmed when a pastor at church interrupted his sermon to tell her, “The Lord’s telling me you’re going to be a teacher in Africa one day.”

These words became a beacon of hope and direction for Courtney through the ups and downs of life. When God calls us to His plans, He makes it clear. Courtney’s experience testifies to this.

“Deep in my soul, I just knew what I was going to end up doing,” she reflects, “so obviously I became a teacher with the end goal of eventually going to Africa.”

Courtney is now preparing to go and will leave soon for Ethiopia. For Cath, who has already left New Zealand to serve overseas, the question of what it looks like for God to call the fishermen of today has been significant for her. For Cath, the question of what it looks like for God to call and equip the unexpected has shaped her journey. Her reflections on personal experiences led her to a calling to be a fisher of the least reached.

“Looking back over the past few years I can see myself in so many ways as one of the ‘surprising ones’ who God has called. It’s also got me thinking who are the ‘unexpected’ people in our midst God wants to use and how can we encourage them in their journeys.”

Short term trips have impacted Cath.

“It was on these trips that I saw how God made a difference in the worst of situations. It truly opened my eyes.”

Cath’s was not alone in discerning God’s call. Through her church, she met someone to talk with.

“She took the time to walk alongside me and figure out what God might be saying. She knew quite a bit about different organizations and encouraged me to begin enquiring,” she explains.

This guidance was crucial in helping her discover the right pathways. One of those pathways, financial support raising, came up with its own misconceptions for Cath.

“I assumed my job would be to solicit everybody I knew, for lack of a better word,” Cath admits.

However, her organization, church, and friends offered a different perspective.

“They guided me to do it quite differently – simply to tell your story and just see what happens. People kept saying it takes as long as it takes. This took the pressure off!”

Looking back, Cath can see the wisdom in this approach.

“I can look back now and see all the other things that were going on behind the scenes. I am so much more prepared now than I would have been had my funds come through even six months ago,” she reflects.

Courtney and Cath’s stories highlight the profound impact of answering God’s call and the importance of support in this journey. Their experiences remind us that when we trust in God’s plan and reach out to those around us, we can truly follow his plan for our lives.

To talk to someone about where God might be leading you or someone else, contact SIM NZ today.