One of my favorite songs in this period of my life is called “Oceans” by Hillsong United. If you don’t know the song you can click on the title to go to youtube and take a listen. Just don't forget to come back!
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith would be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior
This is the kind of radical faith God has been calling me to over the past couple of years. I would like to tell you that I have always been bold and daring. But that’s not true. I spend many years afraid of my shadow, afraid of my own voice. But God has been calling me out “upon the waters”. It didn’t happen overnight. He took me through a lot of baby steps before I took any giant ones.
My first time at the ocean was when I was 29 years old. I remember standing there looking at the immenseness of it. It seemed to never end as far as I could see. One day I waded out into the water. I am a fairly good swimmer and the expanse was calling me. I took a few steps and then a few more. I kept thinking “this is not a big deal” as the waves gently lapped against my skin so I continued walking until I was waist deep. And then it hit me. A wave came and knocked me off my feet and I was pulled under. There was sheer terror in my heart for a few seconds as I was tossed about. But I was able to keep my head about me and swim for the surface. I did not swim back to shore immediately though. I stayed there treading water, enjoying the magnitude of where I was. I was tiny in the vastness of it all. I literally knew in that moment what it meant to be in “the great unknown where feet may fail”. Perhaps God was preparing me even then for what was to come.
Which brings my story back to today. If you have been following my life and/or my blog, you have probably already seen God at work, drawing me out to the deeper water. If not, you can go back and read just a couple to feel like you are “in the loop”. (I would suggest “Who Am I”, “Comfortably Numb”, "Overflowing", and “Trust”.)
I feel like God is calling me to a leap of faith. This time I know how deep the waves are and I am ready to dive from the cliffs. I have been working alongside Proskuneo Ministries for several years. In January of this year, I was asked by the director, Josh Davis, if I would be willing to come on board as a full-time staff member. I would be the director of Proskuneo Worship Institute.
This role would have many facets. Among them would be:
1. Expanding the Worship Institute beyond the summer intensive to a year-round program for worship leaders, artists, etc. preparing them for multi-cultural worship/work. This includes the mentorship piece that I love.
2. Continuing the relationships I have already built within the Clarkston community and finding new ways to connect the community to Proskuneo through PWI and the Proskuneo School of the Arts.
3. Building relationships with church, school, and community leaders to bridge the gap for the troubled and at-risk youth of Clarkston
My heart is also drawn to the countries of Burma and Thailand. I am preparing for ministry there by studying language, culture, and political issues.
Most of this work has already been started in my “spare” time after putting in my hours at the college where I am employed. This invitation to join the Proskuneo Team is an answer to many prayers. I love what I have been doing. I have ideas and dreams for the future. And I am anxious to go a little farther into the ocean.
In order to walk out into these waves I am going to need a lifeline on the shore – not because God is not able, but because I believe He wants His people to work together to bring about His purposes on the earth. I need to raise 100% of my support. I believe in what I am doing. I believe that God is sending me. I would like to invite you to join me on this kingdom journey. If you have read any of my blogs and have been encouraged, I would like to ask you to consider supporting me on this journey. Every monthly gift will put me on a trajectory toward all that God has called me to.
I do not intimately know all of the readers of my blog. I would love to get to know you so if you have questions or would just like to introduce yourself, please feel free to email me and I will answer as best I can. I would also love to hear from you if you are praying for me. That is an encouragement to my heart. My email address is [email protected]
If you are ready to join the journey you can click on the word GIVE to go to the Proskuneo website to make a donation. You will be given the option to arrange for monthly gifts. Make sure that you put “support for Becky Thurman” on the memo line so that your gift will be designated properly.
I am grateful that you took the time to ready this “unordinary” blog.
My passion for His purpose,
Becky
Oceans by Hillsong United