Christian Living

Answering the call to serve Part 2

by Janice S Ramkissoon 
03/25/22
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In 1985, I said 'Yes' to following Christ. I began my journey, cruising through life. Life was good!  I've not known a time I didn't believe that God existed but that's when I became a Christian (having made the decision to follow the ways of Christ and publicly declaring my faith through baptism--full emersion). Nevertheless, I had little understanding of what 'following Christ' meant.

As a new babe in Christ I had grown somewhat but later on, I could best be described as 'saved and satisfied'. I thought I was a 'good girl' so I didn't need to do anything different, now that I am a Christian. I'm now shaking my head, looking back at my immature self. So, in 1997, after regaining consciousness from a car accident, I rededicated my life to Christ, in my own private time with Him, while in recovery. I had a willingness to grow but there hadn't been much evidence of growth in my life. That was my university years and I was not connected to a church or accountable to anyone who could help me on the journey.

Again, in 2003, I said, "Yes, Lord!" That was approximately 1 year after attending that church and about three months after becoming members at this church. I was in a prayer and fasting session, seeking direction for the newly formed women’s fellowship. At the time, we were singing:

"I say yes, Lord, yes!
To Your will and to Your way.
I say, yes, Lord, yes!
I will trust You and obey.

When Your Spirit speaks to me;
With my whole heart, I'll agree
And my answer, will be yes, Lord yes!"

God's Spirit spoke to me that day and for the first time I responded audible to what I heard in my spirit.

I was responding to the call to serve.

I just didn't know where He was calling me to serve.

I thought it was youthwork, since I was already serving the youth but what happened was a move I didn't anticipate. We relocated, leaving behind, the place I had just started getting comfortable with calling my home. My little family and I packed up and left London behind along with the community of support we had grown attached to, for the unknown.

I had already done that once before and was grieving the loss without understanding what was happening. The next decade would find me serving at home and in my local church while grieving without acknowledgement (lacking understanding) and therefore no opportunity to deal with the pain.

Now in a new place of residence, I remember saying, "Use me Lord." During that time we were not under the guidance of a pastor. We were still searching. Shortly after that we took up membership at a church where our new pastor had just remarried after the loss of his previous wife through a divorce. He also confessed he wasn't the best person to give advice on children; the two main areas we would be needing support in. That was the first sign to where God was calling us to serve, we just couldn’t see it then.

Prior to becoming members at that church, we had hit a very difficult patch on our journey, maritally. We found it difficult to address. We’ve since been part of two other churches and within each fellowship, we felt like we had permission to only be silent in the ‘church’ when it came to marital and parental struggles. So we remained silent, until I realised we were dying spiritually and that was a sure way of the enemy gaining access to begin the work of destroying our marriage and our family unit. So, we cried for help.

Continues in part 3>>> Answering the call to serve 3