2 minute read
Alumni Story
24
NEIL & TRISH
Neil and I went from being attenders at River Valley to being quite involved and serving in many areas we felt called to, but we had come to a place where serving in that capacity wasn't enough, and we knew that God had more for us. As we were having a conversation with one of the pastors about where we were at and how God wanted to use us, he said; "There are many people who serve and then go back to their jobs, and that is what they are called to, but you two have a call of vocational ministry on your lives, and God has something more for you. Have you ever thought about RVLI?" That question opened a door for us that we never expected.
The fall season of RVLI had already started, but within a few weeks, we were enrolled in the program. It was a whirlwind process that God had His hand upon. Neil and I were in our forties, married with three kids, had full-time careers, and stepped into this new season of interning together. As crazy as all of that sounds, God's plans don't always make sense to us. We were stepping out in complete faith and trusting the promises of Isaiah 55 that His thoughts are not our thoughts and neither are His ways our ways. Neil and I couldn't see what was ahead, but we trusted God, knowing He knew where it would lead us. RVLI opened the door to full-time ministry for us, gave us greater connections to pastors and leaders who spoke into our lives and helped us grow, filled our tanks by giving us an opportunity to serve at a higher capacity, and affirmed our calling. As we were 100% committed to RVLI, we saw God continually take care of us. Our relationship with God, our kids, and our marriage were all stronger because we were obedient in the season He had called us to.
After a season of interning, God blew us away by opening doors for us to step into vocational ministry at River Valley. Neil was called into ministry at the age of thirteen, and he finally stepped into that calling thirty years later! Although our ministry journey is different from most, we are continually reminded of God's faithfulness to the dreams he puts in our hearts and the callings he has placed on our lives. RVLI was life-changing for us! It offered us a chance to fulfill our calling when it seemed like our time had passed. We are so thankful for RVLI and the people who believed in and championed us. By human standards, Neil and I shouldn't be where we are today…. BUT GOD!
