My husband and I often say we want to see where God is going.... and go there. When we recognize that the Lord is moving, we want to be part of it. That desire has only grown stronger as we have followed His breadcrumbs to the church plant we are now part of in Hugo, Minnesota. Looking back, the orchestration of events was undeniably divine, supernatural in a way no human plan could have predicted or arranged.
Jesus speaks directly to this kind of surrendered discipleship in John 12:25–26:
“Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.”
This passage has become deeply personal for me.
After living as a single woman for many years—and owning my own home—I wasn’t exactly thrilled about giving everything up when I got married. I married at age 44, and just five months later (on my birthday!), I became a pastor’s wife when my husband was ordained. As we prayed about buying a home together, he shared that he believed we were being called to join a church plant that was already underway.
My response? “No! I don’t want to leave my church family!”
But as has often been the case, he was right, guided by his gift of discernment and the Holy Spirit’s leading. I loved my life in St. Paul. I loved my home. It had been my safe place, my sanctuary in a world that can feel overwhelming at times. Yet I knew that if I wanted to live as the disciple—and now pastor’s wife—that the Lord was calling me to be, I needed to be willing to let go.
The first house we bid on fell through, and thankfully so. Shortly after, Ebenezer Acres became available. By what can only be described as God’s divine provision, the property became ours. It had everything we had been praying for in a ministry home: space between neighbors, an open layout for Bible studies, a basement to host missionaries, and a location that felt rural enough for my husband while still being close enough to the city for me.
Then, another unexpected chapter unfolded.
A missionary family from Mississippi arrived at our sending church. They had been called to plant a church in White Bear Lake, a neighboring suburb to Hugo. In God’s providence, the missionary husband was assigned a mentor.... who happened to be the senior pastor of our sending church. Today, that same man is the senior pastor of the church we now call home, Faith Fellowship Church, which gathers weekly in our living room.
Leaving what was familiar in order to be servants who go where Jesus is has stretched and strengthened my faith in ways I could not have imagined. It has made me more attentive to the movement of God and more willing to ask, “Lord, where are You working, and how can I join You there?”
Jesus offers us both comfort and promise in John 14:1–3:
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home… When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”
Though we reside today on God’s property here on earth, I look forward to the day when I will reside fully in the house of my Lord, the place He is preparing for me and for all who follow Him as disciples.
Jesus echoes this longing in His prayer to the Father:
“Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began.” (John 17:24)
As our Savior, Lord, and brother, it brings me great joy to know that Jesus wants us with Him. He desires to share the glory given to Him by the Father and to invite us into the same love He has always known.
Scripture reminds us:
“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Romans 8:17)
Though we will face trials, suffering, and moments where we are asked to release things we deeply love, we are promised something far greater: to be with Jesus where He is, both now and for eternity.
In my humble opinion, there is no greater place to be.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
Where do you see God moving in or around your life right now?
When is a time you went where Jesus was leading—and what was your experience?
How has surrendering something you loved made room for Kingdom work or deeper discipleship in your life?
Overlooking Ebenezer Acres in Fall of 2025.