By Brittany Doss, soon-to-be graduate of the University of Michigan
My faith has grown tremendously during my college years, especially due to my involvement in Campus Crusade for Christ. I had the opportunity to go on a summer mission trip with Cru to San Diego in 2012 and during that time I grew a lot in confidence when it comes to sharing my faith.
I came back from the trip feeling much more equipped to tell people about Jesus, and my excitement to be a part of God’s mission in sharing the Gospel has made me desire to see where God is leading me in the future.
Cru has modeled to me what ministry looks like in a college setting well, but being a part of ULC for the past four years has challenged me to seek ways of sharing my faith in every other area of my life. I’ve really enjoyed being a part of the St. Luke network that shows God’s love through service to the students and also the community. I’ve been able to serve with the rotating homeless shelter a few times, for example, and being able to see God working outside of a college ministry has shown me what it looks like to share my faith after graduation.
Being a part of ULC for the past four years has challenged me to seek ways of sharing my faith in every other area of my life.
I’ve been studying Spanish, German and Comparative Literature during my years at U of M, and God has really put it on my heart to use my knowledge of Spanish in a mission trip through Operation Mobilization for three months this summer. I’ll join with OM missionaries as well as local Spaniards to help with a recent church plant in Narón, a small town in the northwestern part of Spain.
We’ll be sharing the story of Jesus in Narón and other nearby towns, serving the new church, and ministering to youth. I’m also excited for the opportunity to serve in English classes since I’m hoping to become a teacher in the future.
Sharing my faith was something that had always made me nervous, being a shy person, but now talking about Jesus in another language will be even more challenging. Through talking with college students, I’ve learned so much already that God is putting it on His children’s hearts to desire a relationship with Him, and I learned through my last mission trip that God is completely in control whenever I take the initiative to share my faith. I know this will be the case in a different country as well, and I can’t wait to see God working in the hearts of the people I will meet abroad, as well as myself.
I know God will use this trip to prepare me for a future of ministry and learning to depend upon God for all my needs. Even now I’m learning to trust in God when it comes to being prepared for this trip, which is where I would definitely appreciate the prayers of the St. Luke community around me.
God is completely in control whenever I take the initiative to share my faith.
If God is putting it upon your heart, please be praying for me as I prepare to leave and also while I’m abroad. I’ll be excited to share what God is doing in Spain with the Lutheran community around me that has modeled such great faith to me, but for now I’m happy to enjoy my last few weeks at ULC, which has been my home away from home!
Brittany needs to raise $2,391 by the end of March, plus any extra support would greatly help towards airfare. The easiest way to give is searching “Doss” at https://my.omusa.org/OM-Missionary-Search or checks payable to “OM USA” can be sent to “OM USA Finance Dept., PO BOX 444, Tyrone, GA 30290-0444” along with “Brittany Doss” and her missionary code (1000337309) written in the memo.
