#SpreadTheGospel

Did you know that there are people younger than me?

I’ve always been the youngest person wherever I’m found.

I’m the youngest of my parents children. When I started going to school, I was the youngest in my respective classes from primary school up till campus. (I don’t remember about nursery😅)

When I joined the corporate world, I was the youngest in the office and even when I moved jobs, I was still the youngest not only in the team but in the whole organization. Actually, when I started my SDG advocacy journey with a focus on climate action and zero hunger, my perspective wasn’t necessarily on youth per se. It became so because of my age.

Now? I’m interacting in spaces where I’m no longer the youngest one. It was shocking at first.

Wait. There’s someone else younger? I’m not sure how I felt about that. I’d actually never thought about growing older. I am forever young.🙂

Also, I look much younger now that I did ten years ago; which is God’s miraculous doing.

I now want to give back. I now have wisdom to share. I have experience. I have networks. I am more mature. I realize that what used to bother me previously, bothers me no more. I am confident.

I now understand why we are told to respect our elders.

On my Dad’s seventieth birthday, I asked him about the things he would like to share. Amongst the wisdom nuggets he shared with me was, “There are some things I was so scared about how they would turn out and realized that I shouldn’t have worried in the first place.”

My Dad is my best friend and though this has always been the case since childhood; I feel closer to him now. Is it because I understand some things better now that I’m older?

He told me about an accident he was involved in when I was very young. I was seated on the co-driver’s seat when the car was hit from the back. I enjoyed riding shot gun with my dad. Sometimes, most times rather, my dad would carry me on his laps as he drove and I would play with the steering wheel and feel as though I too was driving my with him. This only stopped when I couldn’t fit on my Dad’s laps and it was hard for him to drive because with me on his lap, it would be hard for him to reach the steering wheel.

The force thrust me forward and I was lunged against the dashboard. (Clearly I was not in a car seat.) My Dad told me that I hit the dashboard head first and the rest of my body followed. He told me that his heart stopped. He didn’t tell me what happened next because he says it’s a memory he doesn’t want to relive that moment but he summarized it with, “…and here you are today.”

Indeed, here I am today. Writing. Spreading the Word of God. Taking up prominent spaces Internationally. Addressing Heads of States, dignitaries and hobnobbing with notable persons. It is amazing. I thank God that he opens doors for me before kings.

I started writing this article on my graduation day from the Discipleship Masterclass course I undertook last year. The older I get, the more I appreciate how precious my salvation is. Having been to palaces, State House and other lofty places, my best place is in God’s altar. I know you might be thinking, “of course you’ll say that, this is a Christian blog.” But you know what? I really mean it. Serving God is so fulfilling, there’s no way to explain this feeling. When I first led worship on the altar, I was floored. I cannot explain that feeling. Simply put – it feels so good!

I’ve always been in the worship team as a background vocalist but I didn’t fathom that I would be the main lead for both first and second service.

God sure has surprises!

I’ve led a few songs here and there, done solos and duets especially Christmas carols but not lead an entire worship service!😱

It was an exhilarating experience. God gave me favour with the music trainer (I call him Rabbi-to mean teacher) and he held my hand throughout the preparation process. On the week of the service, I got a sore throat. Whew! I told Rabbi to get an alternate lead for worship but he simply responded, “I’ve prayed for you.” Such powerful words.

Being on the altar feels soooo good! There’s a certain “warmth” I feel whenever I’m on the altar and sometimes, a tingling feeling.🙂😊

Let me also take this moment to say that serving God doesn’t always mean that one is called to be in the five fold i.e. pastor, teacher, apostle, prophet, evangelist full time. In fact, my calling is in the corporate world. I serve God with the gifts He gave me. I do serve in church but I know that’s not my full time ministry. My full time ministry is in the corporate world. I’m cut out for it and I love it there; like a child in a candy store so is Amanda in the corporate world.

I know I mentioned that I love serving on the altar; but not everyday. How many times am I in church in a week? Say twice or thrice a week and I do so after office hours in exception of Sunday where I’m in church from dawn.

When people find out that I enrolled to Bible School, they often ask me whether I’m training to be a Pastor. My answer is no. I simply wanted to learn the Word of God more deeply. I want to be a workman shown worthy of her tools.

So that when I dissect the Word of God, I do so correctly. Remember, I write to spread the Gospel so what Gospel am I spreading if I do not know God’s Word?

I’ve been steadily advancing my knowledge in theology. I started with Bible School and now I’m doing the Masterclass. I’ve also done certificates that buttress the theological aspect. I need to run my race.

These tools have also been effective in my work place. This doesn’t mean I teach sermons in the office but I’m fully cognizant that my life is an epistle.

Look at Daniel or Nehemiah; they were Government officials who spread the Gospel through how they worked out their salvation with fear and trembling. Daniel kept the faith even when death was before him. Joseph became a Prime Minister, not a preacher. Luke was a doctor. David was a King, Deborah was a judge and the Bible is filled with God’s servants who were in the corporate, government or civil society of their day. I fall in the Daniel category. I interface with kings and work with them. It’s no coincidence that God takes me to them.

I cannot fulfill purpose without the fear of God. The fear of God doesn’t mean being scared of God; it means that you uphold His Word and obey it.

“Your work doesn’t succeed by what you do; your work succeeds by who you empower.” ~ Craig Groeschel

“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,”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭19‬ ‭CSB‬‬

“Finally, be who God made you to be. People would rather follow a leader who is always real than a leader who is always right.” Craig Groeschel

I hope you have been enlightened.

God loves you.

XO,

That Lady