MINISTRY over the years

"Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age'" Matthew 28:18-20

Missions is the cry of my heart. For people across the globe to hear the gospel is what I long for. These past few years have been a journey of me understanding that I do not have to travel very far to live a life on mission.

Enjoy some pictures from a variety of places around the world; there are precious memories connected to them all :)

The Begining

When I was fifteen I jumped at the opportunity to go to Chicago with my youth group to attend a mission's conference. During these few days, I had what I felt to believe was my first authentic connection with Jesus.

While the lyrics of "Sinking Deep" were sung around the room, my heart felt the safest it has ever been. I knew that there was someone higher, something bigger, and a purpose to live out greater than my own perceptions. This time, I felt it deep within me that it was all very true.

There was a moment when the man leading the conference made an announcement. He said that if any of us felt the call (that tug on your heart that you just can't let go of) to be a missionary, we should write our initials on his arm. And I did just that.

I continued to ride that high of feeling Jesus so close and having so many beautiful moments with him for a few years. I felt like I was seeing color for the first time. I continued to jump into any ministry opportunity that was put in front of me: worship teams, discipling, prayer groups, and a mission trip to Juarez, Mexico.

One thing I neglected to mention: during that time in Chicago, when I felt that wonderful eye-opening call, I also experienced my first anxiety attack. My experience with anxiety is another topic for another day, but it is something that continues to be a part of my life. I mention this to say that with every beautiful thing, you need some stormy rain clouds to help them grow. My relationship with Jesus would not be as real and authentic as it is today if it were not for those uncontrollable moments/seasons of anxiety and panic.

Understanding Missions

Before I continue on with my story I want to share a little about how I see missions. I used to think the only way to follow Jesus 100% was to work in a church (let me tell you that is FAR FAR FAR from any truth). Following Jesus means living out the greatest commandments: to love God and love others (Matt. 22:36-39). It means to go forth in fulfilling the great commission: to go out and make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19).

This can be done overseas for sure, but it is nothing if you are not living it out in the day-to-day wherever you are.

The way of Jesus is an internal movement of the heart that overflows onto the people around you. It is embracing the lowly and brokenhearted with the love of Jesus wherever you are. It means allowing every single person to see their worth through the eyes of Jesus. This means that "missions" should simply be the overflow of Christians spending quality time with Yahweh Elohim "the living God".

Ministry Outside of the Church

At the age of seventeen, I traveled around seven countries in Europe with a band/choir (close to 200 people!). I knew of only one person coming with me, but I was so excited to see the world. My biggest fear was that this was the first trip I would be going on without my youth group leaders. There was no emphasis on sharing the gospel, no worship nights, no pre-trip VBS planning... this was all new. A completely different "travel" experience without the purpose/boundaries I was used to.

Much to my surprise, this trip became one of the greatest moments of growth in my relationship with Jesus. I became close with a few girls that loved Jesus so much and we made so many memories -worshiping in our rooms, talking about life, and praying together when big things were happening back home.

My great-grandma passed away on this trip being the first death in my family to hit me hard. That morning, sitting on our balcony overlooking the Swiss Alps with tears rolling down my cheeks, I felt that overwhelming peace again. The same peace I felt in Chicago that first time. It was so real and authentic. I knew that there was someone higher, something bigger, and a purpose to live out far greater than my own perceptions. God is real and He is close to me. That was the truth my heart needed to be reminded of that day. It continues to be the truth my heart needs to be reminded of today.

This experience was not the typical "ministry work" we tag onto overseas missions, but I saw God's heart around the world through many different types of people. Even when I was not actively looking for it, I saw the hand of God. I learned that being mission-minded does not mean that you have to be within a ministry vocation/organization.

YWAM Brisbane

I graduated high school early and was terrified of college. As I said before, my silly little self thought the only way to be the good little Christian was to work in a church or something of the sort. Along with that, I thought college would be the doom of my relationship with God (I guess no one told me that to be a pastor you also need to go to college...) High school was a strange and confusing time. (Newsflash: you don't have to have your life figured out at 16).

At the end of this incredibly confusing time of my life, I decided that I wanted to get away from my small town and do something that would help me "find myself". The next thing I knew I was on a 14-hour flight to Brisbane, Australia. YWAM gave me a safe place to grow and dive deeper in discipleship. I learned about intercessory prayer and how to listen to the still small voice of God. I got out of my comfort zone and talked to strangers on the street about Jesus. Sometimes that was simply just sitting and listening to their stories, other times it was me giving them letters of encouragement. I learned about so many different cultures and my worldview expanded and flourished. I wrestled with God and pushed through anxiety/panic attacks. I wrote music and learned how to Biblically lead a room of people in worship from the gates of the tabernacle to the Holy of Holies.

The first half of my time in Brisbane gave me a safe place to explore and ask questions and take in a ton of information about what it means to live out a life following Jesus. The second half of my time with YWAM took me to Davao, Philippines with a group of 7 others. While there, I preached my first sermon, listed to many beautiful people's stories, got to encourage young girls and tell them they are beautiful, watch a middle-aged single woman fall in love with Jesus, hold a young girl in my arms as she felt the love of God for the first time and later handed her my personal Bible, held tiny house Bible studies, and so so much more. I was shown how to love people where they are and be the hands and feet of Jesus right where we were.

Coming Home

I have been home (in my childhood house) for about two years now. Over those two years, I have been pressing into scripture more and more. I enrolled in college and I am about to hit the halfway mark as I am working towards a bachelor's in Ministry Leadership.

College has been a catalyst for me to understand scripture, study the meaning of stories I grew up hearing, and explore different vocational ministries.

In the middle of this journey of being home, I look back and I am in awe of how much wisdom and growth has been cultivated in my life. I am studying Ministry Leadership not because it is "the only way to follow Jesus" (because holy no. no. no... not true.) but because I have continued to feel that pressing on my heart. The same one that I felt in Chicago at the age of 15. Now I have more understanding of what that feeling means in my day-to-day life.

I am more attentive to the still small voice of God. Somedays it is louder than others. But I have found that whenever I listen to it, no matter how uncomfortable the idea may be, if I go about it with love and kindness I always walk away with a changed perspective on life.

The Future

Last summer (2021) that still small voice planted an idea in my mind of a semester abroad. Through what I can only describe as the movement of God, all of the pieces have come together and I am incredibly excited to share that I will be doing a semester abroad in Indonesia. I will be working with my friends Caron and Jorge Marquez and their organization called Free and Safe Indonesia. I will share a link to their website so that you can read allllll about what they do over there. Caron and Jorge have a huge heart for people, especially those on the outskirts who may not be receiving the love they need.

I will be continuing my online education as well as helping out wherever I can. They have a transition home of eight boys who have left juvenile detention and are learning new life skills (and some going to college) to be set up for a great future. There are classes for children after school and women to learn new skills like cooking or sewing. They have a food cart, soccer tournaments, a recycling center, a women's team going into the women's jails, and so much more.

I am so incredibly excited to spend time with these amazing people!

Here is a link to their website: https://freeandsafe.co/en/about-us/

I wanted to start up this blog/newsletter again to share more about this semester!

Thank you for reading all the way through! Here is a few more things:

Right now I am raising about $4,000 for my semester and would love to ask for your support financially and prayerfully.

If you would like to know more about my heart behind this, please don't hesitate to email me: averyweldy19@gmail.com

support:

I am selling art and tote bags on Instagram! @art.byaves

or you can send money directly here:

Venmo: Avery-Weldy

Paypal: averyweldy

Thank you so so much!

Much love,

Avery