I want to share some news with you. Since early summer God’s
been asking me this question: “Do you trust Me with your ministry?” I’d reply,
“Sure I do Lord! Of course.” But He kept asking me, over and over again... I
guess I wasn’t giving Him the answer He wanted. Finally, this simple yet deep
question opened up things in my heart that I didn’t know existed. I had always
seen myself (for the past 8 years anyhow) as the director of Infused Arts and
ONLY that. But what God showed me was that my ministry expands, and could
expand even more, beyond Infused Arts. That was rather exciting, yet
freighting to me. Then He started asking me that same question again, “Do you
trust Me with your ministry?” It was very clear this time He was asking me if I
trusted Him with Infused Arts. “Of course I do!” But that question kept coming
so again, He must not have liked my answer. Then He asked me if I trusted Him
enough for me to walk away from Infused Arts. “Uhhhhhhhhh, Lord, don’t ask me
to do that please!!!” He then replied, “But I’ve shown you other gifts you have
that can be applied to building up My Kingdom.” This unsettled and confused me.
But I had peace and came to a place in my heart and said, “Yes, Lord. I do
trust You.”
A few months after these questions and days and days and days of
processing what He was showing and telling me, I get an unexpected job
offer…not in the arts. Strangely I was excited in my spirit about this
position. I wrestled with God daily on this possible job change. Yes, He’d
randomly asked me when I was overcome with anxiety, “Do you trust Me with your
ministry? You said that you do.” Ouch. So with fear and trepidation,
after months of praying and discerning, I decided to step WAY out of my comfort
zone to a place where I HAVE to trust God. And it’s scary exciting. Maybe you
know what I mean…?
God just doesn’t want lip service from us. He bugged me with a
simple question for months. I finally my heart transformed and came to a place
to answer Him the way He wanted. However, that is not enough. He wants more. He
wants action to flow from our words. So, I said YES to that job
offer. With a heavy, yet excited heart, I gave my letter of resignation
to Pastor Brian yesterday. Oh my, the tears* Leaving Infused Arts and LW after
being on staff for SEVENTEEN YEARS!! Oh my! I’m a ball of insane mixed
emotions. I have to buy some waterproof mascara on my way home from work today!
There is so much I want to say to each of you. You’ve enriched
my life in ways I can’t even describe. Seeing God open up your creativity or
encourage it in a bigger way has filled my heart with so much joy! I know I’m
called to be a creative catalyst and to create space for people to connect
deeply with God through their creativity and the arts. That will never change!
That’s who God’s made me to be. However, in this new season, this new position
as Next Steps Director at Praise Community Church in York (ironically LW’s
previous building, where I started), my creativity will be used in a new and different way. This
job will be STRETCHING indeed. Again, positioned to truly need God. And my
spirit is SO excited to be in this place of dependency upon Him.
I’d love to share more with you and spend some time reflecting
on how God moved through Infused Arts, through you, through me over the past 8
years. So, at our next gathering for
The Collective
November 3rd
from 6:30pm to 8:30pm
we’ll do just that. Celebrate all that God has done
in raising up the His Creative Spirit in each of us to make an impact for His
Kingdom’s sake. I hope you can come. We’ll have some appetizer-type foods and it will be
a party atmosphere.
One thing I want to share here is that Pastor Brian will be
attending The Collective as well. He will talk about what will happen with
my role in my absence and the future of Infused Arts at LW. He’ll answer any
questions you have too. I really hope we can pack out the house!
This special gathering of The Collective is for anyone who has
been touched by the art at LW through The Gallery or The Well, The Sacred Path,
and our arts communities: The Studio and The Write Space. I super hope you can
make it this Thursday!
You have blessed me tremendously…
I love you all.
Be in joy –
deAnn
1 comment:
I love you, deAnn ❤ Thank you for sharing your detailed journey to this decision. It reminds me of the story of Jacob wrestling with God and how God blessed him. I pray God's blessings over you as you trust in Him and move into His next step for you. I'll see you Thursday night. I'm going to miss you very much, sister!
Salin
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