Hello, my name is Phoebe! I recently graduated from U of T's piano performance program, and I'll be starting my first year of internship with Power to Change this coming September!
How has following Jesus impacted your goals and plans this summer?
Following Jesus has been my main goal and priority this summer as I fundraised for my internship with Power to Change. It has been both a stretch and a deep blessing to experience His financial providence during this season.
Why is engaging in missions important to you?
During this summer at one of my meetings in sharing my mission with a friend, he asked me "what is your biggest dream?". In that moment I realized that my dream growing up has changed a lot as I grew up and got to know Jesus deeper and more personally. It used to be playing with an orchestra or sharing my feelings through music, but now my dream is to see others' lives being changed by Christ and get to experience His awesomeness. This is why engaging in missions is important to me, it's my dream to witness those around me to get to experience the goodness of Jesus.
How would you encourage someone looking to get involved or engaged missionally? Any specific resources, tools, or communities to connect with?
Being involved in ministry is such a blessing, because we get to witness God's miraculous power first hand. It could also be a tough journey because there will be lots of spiritual opposition. I would encourage you to pray lots and to have a continual desire to grow closer to Jesus. It's only through our relationship with Jesus that we are able to have the strength, energy, and motivation to keep going in this spiritual battle. It's also important to be vulnerable in our journey with other believers so we can be kept accountable, and also allows us to be encouraged by others.
As Romans 5:3-5 says "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." despite the rough journey, what we gain is eternally greater than the sufferings.
Any other specific stories you'd like to share?
During a coaching session, my fundraising coach challenged me to set a prayer goal of reaching 40% support by the following week. It felt impossible because I couldn't force people to support me financially. But I prayed, trusting that God is a God of miracles who provides. By the 5th day, I felt uncertain because I was still at 33%, so I prayed for help to keep trusting His power to move. On the 6th day, I hit 36%, I was so encouraged and kept praying. On the morning of the 7th day, I reached exactly 40%! It was a direct reminder of His power to provide. To anyone praying for God to move in their life: when it feels like nothing is happening, remember that the wait often allows us to appreciate His power in ways far greater than we could ever imagine.
