GOD CALLED ME BY NAME

My name is Levi and this is my story of how God called me by name to do missions.

I was working as a pizza deliverer and struggling with my sense of purpose in life as a twenty-year-old college graduate. My mom’s advice was to look into a missions program called The World Race. It’s a mission trip to 11 countries during an 11 month timeframe. When I had first heard about it years ago, I dismissed the idea of going because it cost too much money. Yet now, here I was, seeking newness and purpose in my mundane, day-to-day grind. So I applied to the program.

Ironically, the week that I got the exciting news that I was accepted to participate in this life-changing missions experience was the same week that I received the unfortunate news that my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Suddenly, I didn’t know what to do. Was the right choice to travel abroad and serve others while sharing Jesus with them? Or was the better choice to stay home and be with my family?

Trying to find guidance, I opened up my Bible to a random page and began reading. My eyes landed on Mark 2:14. It said, “‘Follow me,’ Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him.” Levi got up and followed him. Well, if that wasn’t God directly speaking to me, I don’t know what is.

So I decided to get up and follow Jesus around the world. For the next 11 months, I met so many amazing people in various countries, preached the Gospel, shared my testimony, served with churches in different nations, and witnessed multiple salvations and baptisms. Also, praise God, my mother is now cancer free!

Even after the World Race mission trip ended, my pursuit to bring God’s Kingdom to all nations did not finish. I’m currently attending a Christian leadership and discipleship training program. I hope to keep getting up and following Jesus wherever He leads me next. The Lord wants to use and bless our obedience to Him. We just have to say yes!