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I
was a child in northern Michigan when I asked the Father to forgive my
sinfulness and lead my life. From childhood into my mid-30s I remained
an active member of a conservative evangelical denomination that emphasized
holiness and a personal relationship with Jesus. It never occurred to
me that the Father would lead me from this spiritual home to a new one.
My repositioning began, unbeknownst to me, when I met Ken while on assignment for the Kalamazoo Gazette, the Michigan newspaper where I have worked as a copy editor since 1988. I interviewed Ken in 1994 about his six months working with RUN Ministries in Uganda while on sabbatical from the nondenominational church he was pastoring in Kalamazoo. He and I shared an excitement for missions and for Africa; I had recently completed a two-week mission trip in Kenya.
The first time I attended a worship service at Ken's church, in 1995, I experienced culture shock. The worship style was so different from what I had known. Yet I saw how the people's freedom in expressing adoration to the Lord gave the Lord freedom to direct the service. This answered a yearning in my heart to experience the Father's powerful, intimate presence each time believers gathered for worship.
After marrying Ken a few months later, I joined the church's worship team as a flutist. I had been trained in the classical literature and was dependent on reading music. However, the team used chord charts rather than written scores, to foster spontaneity and responsiveness to the Holy Spirit. A tender plea from the Father and patient encouragement from my husband helped release me into Spirit-led improvisation.
I also have served on our local church's prayer team, which provides one-on-one prayer for people as part of services.
In recent years, the Father has placed an intercessory-prayer vision in my heart for all nations to become worshippers of Him. He also has been developing my understanding of being His child-daughter, abiding and resting in Him. Some of my understanding stems from having been the proud "mother" of three kitties: Mischief, left, who was 15 when she died of cholangiohepatitis on Nov. 10, 2004; Melody, center, nearly 18 when she died Feb. 16, 2004; and Mocha, who was 19 years 9 months when he died Nov. 12, 2004.
I have accompanied Ken on ministry trips as my full-time schedule at the Gazette has allowed.
