I don’t like cats. Some of you may want to stop reading this now, but it’s true. Last year we got new neighbors behind our house, and they had three FLUFFY Persian cats. We live in a townhouse, which means we share side walls with the neighbors on our row, and we share backyard walls with the neighbors beside us and behind us.

Jim and Michelle Telman and their seven children were just living an ordinary life in Tennessee. They were faithful and active in their local church. Then they went to Uganda on a missions trip in 2010, and that was the beginning of an extraordinary change in their lives. This is a lesson for all of us. It teaches us that God uses ordinary faithfulness to accomplish his extraordinary will in our lives.

Manuela and her husband, Manuel, visited deaf church with a friend about 10 years ago. They were both deaf and in their 50s. They had raised two sons and were looking forward to being grandparents. With chin-length black hair, honest eyes, and a pleasant, straight smile, Manuela made me feel at ease.

The local church is vital to God’s plan—in fact, it is His design. Because of its importance, those who pastor God’s people in local congregations are also vital. Indeed, pastors are a gift to God’s church (Ephesians 4:11).

In recent months, our church has been profoundly impacted by the story of a young woman named Ana. She was invited once to church by Jessica, one of our dedicated young adult leaders. Ana attended our services a few times but was hesitant to fully surrender her life to the Lord. Her focus was primarily on her personal interests and her small online shop, which served as her main source of income. 

While we know that no amount of fasting, prayer, or good works will help them attain salvation, we are praying that God would use this time to work in their hearts to seek the truth of the Gospel.

So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?”

Am I capable of doing the task to which God has called me? Am I prepared enough? Do I have the necessary ability? Will I fail in my mission?

Perhaps many of us have asked ourselves these questions as we embark on a new ministry or task in Christian service and/or in the secular work force. We trust God, but doubts enter as to our ability to carry out that which God has given us to do.