We’ve been attending GRC for 4 years now. We were at another PCA church before where we loved the pastor and community, until one day we decided to transfer to GRC. We weren’t quite sure why we were moving churches, but felt that the church was too far and the kids needed a church closer to home. It seemed like a logical reason but after 8 years I still didn’t quite feel like it was the right reason but we left anyway.
When we first started to attend GRC, we attended worship and a few ACE classes but still didn’t feel we had quite acclimated ourselves to the church. Then covid hit and my world completely turned upside down. My work environment was very spiritually challenging, resulting in me being forced to quit. Covid and the social and political instability that came with BLM, Asian hate, Christian hate, etc. made me feel as if the world was falling apart. All I could do was cry out to God for answers. “Lord, why was this happening? Has the end of time truly come?”
The Lord did not answer immediately but I was led to the GRC Psalm morning devotionals. One of the verses that was truly comforting was Psalm 23:4, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” I was truly in the darkest valley with disappointment in the world. What lifted me up was the fact that God was with me always. The devotionals helped me overcome the uncertainties that the pandemic era brought, but it also led me to learn more about GRC and what it had to offer.
As I was engaging with fellow church-goers virtually, I was approached by Sharon Ausburger, a long time member of GRC whom I barely knew for coffee. “Hmmmm… I wonder what she wants to talk about?” Being a curious person and always interested in meeting new people, I accepted the invitation. We shared a little about our lives and then she asked me if I wanted to serve on the women’s ministry leadership committee. I was quite surprised by her request. I’d only been with GRC a couple of years and half of it during covid. I had never led a bible study, I felt I wasn’t equipped. I am not one to shy away from saying no, but for some reason, I felt compelled to say yes. For this time I felt that God was asking me to submit in faith and trust that he would provide.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” -Proverbs 3:5-6
So without feeling equipped and knowing how this commitment would be with work, family and kids, I quietly obeyed His command. Two years later, I can confidently say that accepting that calling was a blessing to me like no other. I was able to meet a group of wonderful and wise Christian sisters that knew and guided me through the scripture. They prayed for me like a true sister would as I went through pain and suffering of family illnesses, death and everyday struggles. If I hadn’t accepted Sharon’s request, I would have never experienced these relationships, which have helped me to become a student of Christ.
When I left my old church, I wasn’t sure why we had made the decision to leave, but fast forward to the present, I know that it was all in God’s plans to lead us to GRC and to help in my journey to grow in my faith. As Proverbs 3:5 states, we must “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” Only then will we be able to see the light he shines in our lives to make our paths straight.
Amy Kim serves on the Women’s Ministry Leadership Committee at GRC.