In The Story – Part 1, I briefly touched on my calling to the mission field. I told you that I felt called to missions overseas, and then I kind of left it like that. Here is where I would like to go into detail about my calling. It all started when I was very young, maybe eight years old. I attended Faith Christian Assembly in Middletown, CT with my family. Every few years, they’d invite a prophet to come and minister to the church. His name was Bill Johnson. He would usually arrive on a Friday night and teach. Then he’d have a Saturday night full-on service where he would prophesy. On Sunday he would preach and then prophesy some more at the end of the sermon. I started receiving prophesies about my calling during Bill Johnson’s visits. I received many prophesies over the years, and my mom took the time to listen to the tapes (everything was recorded) and write down each of my prophesies verbatim. To this day, I have one prophesy that made it with me. I must’ve lost the others (sad day).
My prophesies were very specific while also covering a broad range of topics, but I’ll focus on one. I was told that I’d do missions overseas. That is the word to note: overseas. Many people tell me that I can do missions in my backyard. And to that I say of course! And I HAVE. But everyone’s calling is different. Some people are called to missions in their backyard. But I knew that while my calling would naturally start there, it would eventually lead to moving overseas. Another part of my prophesy said that I would influence children, namely orphaned children. This is something that’s right up my alley and always on my heart: the orphaned. I love kids, and they have always been drawn to me from a young age. One last detail I’d like to include is I was told that I wouldn’t go on an actual missions trip until I was much older. In fact, Bill Johnson said that by the time I’d go on my first missions trip, I’d be like “FINALLY!”. Growing up, so many of my friends went on missions trips. But guess who’s never been on one? This girl.
Throughout my childhood and growing into adulthood, the topic of missions and my calling has always been on the back of my mind. I always wondered how my calling would play out and I always tried to find ways to get the ball rolling. At our last church, Aldersgate United Methodist Church, I was finally able to dabble in missions. They asked me to be the Chair of the Missions Committee. I agreed to it and honestly, I learned so much from that role about missions. I now have missionary connections in the real world. Hearing their stories inspires me daily, as I still receive email updates from them.
This brings me to New Zealand. Remember Jazzi, my friend I mentioned in the Story post? Well, she also immigrated to New Zealand for the purpose of missions. Like me, she didn’t arrive to New Zealand already connected to a missions organization (the usual for people traveling for missions). Instead, she’s creating her own missions organization called Jazz Fusion Studios (JFS). JFS will be a studio that will bring the local community together by offering primarily dance classes and include hobby clubs for locals in the community to join. All membership fees will go towards projects that will reach and benefit the local homeless population. It’s a pretty great idea! Right now, I’m helping her by editing JFS magazine. It’s the perfect role for me, because I had been the assistant editor for Beautiful & Dauntless magazine for my friend Karissa. I have to say, I’m happy to be involved in missions again, even if it’s remotely right now.
One of the most frequent questions I’ve been asked is: What mission work are you going to do in New Zealand and are you going to work with a missions organization? My answer is: I hope to work with JFS in person, but we weren’t placed on the same island as our friends (trust me, we tried hard!). For now, I will help Jazzii by editing. But I do hope to get involved with a missions organization some way, somehow. I’m not sure what God has in store, as He hasn’t revealed this piece of the puzzle to us just yet. But I do trust in Him and His perfect timing. I know He will lead me/us (because Matt’s in this with me of course!) to the right opportunity. He’s lead us this far, I am sure He will not let us down!
The Cullums Immigrate 