Brittany shares her journey to start a ministry serving youth in Ohio
You hear of people who had bold faith. Who forsook all the world had to offer and willingly gave their lives to God. Whose hearts burned for God and stopped at nothing to make Him known. People like Abraham, Peter, and Mary. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand, and Jim and Elisabeth Eliot.
Not all their stories appear in the Bible, but we know them. God’s light seemed to shine brighter in them, and they never allowed the enemy to extinguish it.
Then there are those who quake at the thought of following God down the unbeaten path and embarking into the unknown. People like Gideon and people like me.
Yep, I’m a Gideon, nice to meet you.
No, not a Gideon who hands out copies of the New Testament, but Gideon, the man from “the weakest clan in Manasseh” and the least in his father’s house. The man who hid in a winepress. That Gideon.
Then Gideon said to God, “...If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You have said.” And it was so.
For two years God called me to leave my job and enter the mission field. It was confusing at the time, but now I remember it fondly.
Alone in my car, the sun still sleeping, Route 36 is nearly bare. A Christian radio station whispers in the background. For once I’m not stressing about my job. Instead, I’m praying my friend Tina and her husband will accept Jesus. That’s when I sensed God saying:
“Quit your job.”
Um…what? That was…random. Was that me or was that You, God?
At this point in my career (as the Communications & Volunteer Coordinator at a board of developmental disabilities), I didn’t necessarily dislike my job, but I wasn’t happy either. So when God told me to leave, I was excited, to say the least.
Finally! I’ve been praying about this for months! Thank you, Jesus!
But, wait. Is this really You, God?
It can’t be. Why would You say this and why now? This isn’t responsible, I just started in October and I don’t have a plan. You led me to this job, why do You want me to quit already?
As an Enneagram One, my mind resembles a caffeinated hamster on its wheel, but at that moment? It was more like a squirrel living off triple espressos and Honey Smacks.
I prayed, questioned, imagined, prayed some more. But each time…
Silence. And more silence. And more silence. Two years of silence. Or at least it felt like silence.
In reality, God was speaking but rather than speaking audibly, my path forward was piecing together a puzzle in God’s design. I didn’t know what the outcome would be, but I trusted God to put together all the seemingly random pieces of this journey.
Little did I know, this journey from a full-time career to a Christian youth ministry start-up would take two years.
Did I make the right choice?
Piece by piece, God showed me something new. The picture didn’t make sense, the pieces didn’t always connect, nor was it what I imagined.
Yes, God answered my prayer; He showed me the puzzle, but He hand-selected which pieces to show. However, rather than thank Him for answering my prayer and waiting patiently for the next piece, I began to doubt.
Perhaps God didn’t tell me to quit. It was me. I want out of this job, this was just my mind convincing me it’s okay.
The enemy’s fiery darts continued, and just like Gideon, I asked God for a sign. God, please cover my fleece with dew and leave the ground around it dry.
He did, but I asked Him to do it again. God, this time please leave the fleece dry and cover the ground with dew.
Once again, He did, and again, I asked for another sign. I couldn’t see how the random pieces fit together, and I wasn’t exactly patient. I mean, two years? What puzzle takes two years?
But sure enough, while I danced with the fleece and dew, God slowly put together the border. He knew what needed to happen before He showed me the next piece, and He never left my side.
Ultimately, this was a journey of healing and of stepping into my original design.
In those two years after quitting my job, God helped me address my anxiety, panic attacks, and past traumas.
At the same time, He provided me with connections to missionaries to support me as I started a new ministry. He increased my hunger for His Word and I was baptized! Finally, Revelation Wellness Instructor Training equipped me to lead and love the people God called me to serve.
By God’s grace, this would not be a journey I would have to do alone.
An Army of Encouragment
While talking with a veteran missionary, Steve, about my calling to reach young adults in Darke County, Ohio, Steve said, “Well, Brittany, now you need an army.”
After our conversation, I left to volunteer with Youth for Christ at the local fair. I flipped on the car radio, and Lauren Daigle’s song, “Rescue,” was playing.
Yes, the song with the lyrics, “I will send out an army to find you. In the middle of the darkest night. It’s true, I will rescue you.” Upon leaving the fair, I returned to my car and turned on the radio. The song playing? Lauren Daigle’s “Rescue.”
The next day I was on the elliptical, listening to a Revelation Wellness Podcast, “Reving the Word” episode, and Alisa referenced Platoon 24, my platoon.
Wait, my platoon. My platoon! My army!
A puzzle piece from God.
Has He shown me all the pieces yet? Nope. The picture? Nope. Do I get discouraged or impatient? Yep. Do I regret leaving my job and starting the Jesus Connection? In the words of the Apostle Paul, “By no means!”
God called me to equip 20-somethings in Darke County to be disciples and make disciples. I usually have no idea what I’m doing, but God does. Oftentimes I wonder why He chose me, but He knows. Will this end up as I dream? No.
It’ll be better.
In the meantime, I’ll soldier on. Until Jesus calls me home and we finally embrace, I’m answering His call.
“Suit up, Gideon, we’ve got people to save!”
Brittany Ulman (Platoon 24) is the founder of the Jesus Connection, a ministry with a mission to equip 20-somethings to be disciples. She is also a group fitness instructor and personal trainer at Snap Fitness in Greenville, Ohio, and a substitute multi-tasking ninja (a.k.a. teacher). Some of her favorite things include Jesus, her family and church, Pittsburgh Penguins hockey, Crowder, carrots, and of course, puzzles. For more about the Jesus Connection on our website or check it out on Facebook and Instagram.
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