Not Alone: What Friends on Mission Gave Me
I’m Stephen, currently serving Jesus as a missionary in the Cotswolds, with a heart to create spaces for connection in a disconnected world.
When the opportunity arose to participate in Friends on Mission I had a few questions. Being in my early(ish) 40s, and coming from a YWAM background, I wondered if Friends on Mission was going to be a good fit for me – was I too old? Were the teaching sessions going to be geared towards me and be of use to me as I continued to pursue God’s calling on my life? I was desperate to be back in missional circles but knew that wasn’t good enough reason to commit to a 9-month programme.
After a chat with Becky about what to expect and whether this was going to be the right thing for me to do, I signed up and I’m so glad I did! God was leading me out of a bit of a valley season – a time of huge discouragement that had left me feeling under-confident in my mission and calling and in desperate need of some reminders of who He’s made me to be, and what He’s calling me to do. The very first session was extraordinary. Jon shared on “the heart of pioneer” and I immediately felt more understood and less isolated than I had done in a very long time.
One thought really carried me forward is that sometimes you won’t have all the answers, but you’ll have a general sense of direction and to keep going even if you feel like you don’t really know what you’re doing. Seeing the fruit of that approach in the thousands of lives that Dignity has now touched was truly inspiring and faith-building. It’s all in God’s strength, not ours!
Whilst the teaching remained really great throughout, the relationships that were built throughout our time together were what have really stuck with me. People who understand. People I can share my joys and frustrations with without having to explain my entire calling first. The opportunity to meet most of the group in person, particularly our time away in The Lake District in January, really solidified these relationships and made me realise what a ridiculously amazing group of (ordinary) people the Dignity lot are and what’s stayed with me is that I know now that I’m not alone in moving towards what Jesus has laid on my heart.
There are people around me who are blessing me and encouraging me, and who continue to check in with me even though Friends on Mission has “officially” ended – I have indeed gained friends on mission!
Still not convinced? What’s your heart telling you? It’s likely that God is speaking – that’s another thing that Jon shared in our very first session, but one thing I would say is that this is a community of people who care and have a track record in following Jesus. They’re good people to learn from, and be inspired by, so if you’re hovering in your decision then I’d just say go for it.