Ministry Announcement

Hello friends, 

It’s time to share a bit about what’s next regarding life & ministry. Things have been in the works for a bit and I am thrilled to be able to share about the doors God has opened! 

In order to reach an open door one often needs to traverse through a long hallway. Before I share about the specific door God has opened, I’d like to share just that: what transpired in the hallway.

The Hallway

While leaving my position in New Zealand was tough, the decision was easy. 

Sometimes God just gives an unexplainable peace about a decision. The best way I can describe it was a temporal calling. God had put me in that exact position in that season for a reason. His sovereign purposes are always good, and He knew exactly what he was doing putting me there when he did! 

Even though my role as Domestic Manager was not necessarily one I felt gifted in, the Lord was faithful and taught me so much in both the joys and the struggles of that season. However, there came a time to go.

Like Ruth said to Naomi: “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” – Ruth 1:16 Despite uncertainty, Ruth faithfully followed Naomi and submitted to God’s will.

God was clearly calling me on to something else, even if unknown. 

During the short summer months at Tauernhof, I realized that upon going home I would enter a season of “in-between.”  I became fearful of returning home, knowing the transition would be difficult after two years abroad. I was worried about reverse culture shock, feeling isolated after community living and just worried about returning to the mundane nature of daily life. 

A quote that was shared with during that season stuck with me. A friend had seen this quote, framed on a sign in a hallway. It displayed a simple message:

“I’ll praise you in the Hallway”.

This picture of a hallway has really stuck with me. Those who know me personally know that at times I can be a chronic overthinker. I want to make the right decision! With every decision, I repeatedly ask myself questions like:

 “What door should I knock on?”  

“Should I wait for God to open the door?” 

Yet sometimes, it isn’t up to me to ask these questions when God is ultimately the one in control. Sometimes, the calling is to simply praise him in the hallway! To find joy in the waiting.

For me, this looked like going home not being 100% sure what was next. It meant remaining in the beautiful chaos of the in-between. 

The Crack

I was standing in a dim hallway. Only a small crack, a shaft of light leaked through the bottom of a distant door. 

Upon arriving home, I knew I wanted to continue in discipleship ministry. However, I didn’t know what this would look like. Was it full-time, vocational ministry? The mission field? Or maybe simply getting plugged back in with the local church? 

A “crack” in a closed door had appeared. An opportunity to serve in vocational ministry. But the pieces didn’t quite fit together. 

I approached the situation prayerfully, and came away with the conclusion that I didn’t want to force God’s will.  There were several aspects of this opportunity I would have to step back and trust God to sovereignly work out. 

As hard as it was, I knew I had to approach this season with an attitude of surrender. I started my job back home as a nanny – which I have been LOVING! I got plugged in with small group from my church and remained in the hallway.  There were many moments when I doubted God’s plan and struggled not knowing what I should do next. I started reading my Bible cover to cover. I’ve actually spent more time in the word during this season than any season over the past 2 years! 

Just a reminder that God is continually faithful, and he sees us even when we don’t see his purposes!

Double Doors Swing Wide

Then, suddenly the crack disappeared and double doors swung open, flooding the corridor with light. 

It was as if God was waiting patiently to reveal this opportunity in a crystal clear moment, all the while refining me in the in-between. 

God presented me with the opportunity to serve in full full-time vocational ministry! Not only that, this was a position that combines two areas I’m passionate about. 

The first being discipleship ministry. The second being my field of study: my actual vocation. This is something I’ve always dreamed about: using digital marketing/design within a ministry context. 

Every small detail God presented me with fit together. I realized that saying “no” to such an opportunity would be slamming a door God has so clearly orchestrated. 

At the end of the day, we have the choice wether or not to enter a door God has opened. But ultimately, he is the one who orchestrates it. He will open and close doors in my life as he sees fit. 

So, I’m thrilled to announce that Lord willing, I will be pursuing a full-time ministry role within Torchbearers International.

The role will be multifaceted: It will be a marketing role, running the external and internal visual media for the Bible School center. It will also be a discipleship role. I have the opportunity to join the Bible School team and invest in the daily lives of the students. 

Should the Lord see fit to keep the door open, I will be moving to Schladming, Austria in September 2024. I will be serving in a long term role at Tauernhof – where I first did Bible School as a student nearly three years ago. God is so crazy faithful and I can’t even describe it. So ready to see what he has in store!

Prayer Requests

• Pray for my resident card application. Since I am not an EU citizen, this makes working and living in Austria a bit complicated. I am applying for permanent residency, which I will need in order to legally stay in Austria long term. I’m grateful for the support Tauernhof has provided in assisting me with this process! 

• Pray that I can continue to remain present in my daily ministry here at home. That I would remain joyful in my daily life and pursue opportunities to serve others here at home while I remain somewhat in the ‘hallway season’. 

• Finances. God has been so beyond faithful thus far, and I am continuing to trust Him to provide in the future. Since this is a ministry role, I will be raising some support. If you have it on your heart to donate, or just want to learn more about the mission of Torchbearers International, please reach out to me! I am in the process of setting up an online donation link through Torchbearers.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your continued prayers and support.

Joyfully in Christ,

Hannah