The following post was contributed by Sus Schmitt, one of our GraceMissions partners serving God faithfully at Cru International Headquarters.
What Is God Doing?
Mike and I have always been missionaries at Cru’s International Headquarters. We connect people from around the world with the person of Jesus through our support for the work of our field missionaries. Our day-to-day work with computer systems and the Internet enables our staff to positively impact the lives of individuals in 190 countries.
This is my 50th year on the staff of Cru. For the past sixteen years, I’ve been ministering to Cru’s missionary staff through my blog, eQuipping 4 eMinistry (e4e). I have been writing faithfully, occasionally receiving emails thanking me for a blog post. From the early years of the blog, I’ve had a small percentage of readers from all over the world.
God pulled back the curtain for me several times recently. He showed me what He has been doing “behind the scenes.” While I faithfully worked at my computer to help Cru staff use technology in their ministries, God has done something more. Here are three of those stories.
Faithfully Serving in What God Has Called You
The first “peek behind the curtain” was a conversation with a staff couple. Damian and Sofia were in the United States before returning back to Greece to work with Cru’s Family Life ministry. Damian had found my blog and loved it. He was delighted to have an opportunity to meet with me personally. “I’ve been telling everyone I know in Greece about your blog,” he said.
A few months later, Mike and I were sitting next to a staff leader who had been reading my blog. After the prayer meeting ended, we talked with him for a while. His name is Mike R.
Very quickly, he thanked me for the complex spreadsheet I had designed to manage medical reimbursements. Several years ago, I had numerous medical appointments at the same time Cru switched to a different benefits administrator group. To navigate the paperwork, I designed a spreadsheet and other documents, which I made available for free on e4e. I found out from Mike R. that the medical reimbursement spreadsheet is helpful for his work as the Associate National Director for US Staff Care.
Mike told us:
“Sus, with her remarkable ability to bring clarity to complex processes, developed a tracking spreadsheet that has been an absolute game-changer. I not only personally use it, but I also recommend and train others to use it in supporting our staff in medical crises. This spreadsheet enables our people to diligently track the details of their medical bills, identify potential billing errors, and monitor what is owed to them. Sus’ work has provided exponential care and immense relief for our staff, especially during their most vulnerable and overwhelming moments. Her strategic contributions are vital to the mission of Cru, empowering our staff to navigate a complex process with ease and confidence, ultimately allowing them to focus on their ministry and recovery.”
I had no idea this had been going on for years! To God be the glory.
Just this week, I learned about the impact of the seven writers’ meetups I’ve organized since 2011. Deanne told me she attended the 2019 event and spoke with one of the mentors who volunteered for the gathering. Because of that conversation, Deanne followed God’s prompting to write a book. She published her first book in August of 2024. She was grateful for my hard work organizing these support groups and for how God used that first meeting to change her life.
My encouragement to you is to continue to faithfully serve wherever God has placed you. He is working in your workplace and in your Christian service, even when you do not see Him.
Following God’s Lead
God has enriched my connections with neighbors. I’ve met new people during my walks and have had opportunities to minister to them; most of these encounters began about a year ago. Again, I have three stories to share with you.
I met Rita, a devout Catholic who enjoys listening to Bible readings on her phone when she’s out for a walk. I introduced her to Cru’s Her.BIBLE app. I also showed her The Jesus Film Project App, which features many Spanish-language films. I explained that she could listen to the Bible in Spanish and share Spanish videos with her loved ones.
I also met Allan, whose dog, Malcolm, was overjoyed to see me. I stopped to introduce myself. I know Jesus used Malcolm so Allan and I would meet. We spoke three times, six months apart.
In our third conversation, I asked Allan about his planned kitchen remodel. He suddenly shared that it seemed he was going to spend that money on a divorce. As he fought back tears, he began to reveal some details about his situation. We had only spoken twice in the past year, yet he felt comfortable trusting me. I had mentioned God in our previous chats, so I offered to pray for Allan. Right there on the street, I prayed for his needs and for his faith in God.
I continued to pray for him. When we crossed paths again, he beamed with joy, saying he saw signs of Jesus everywhere the day I had prayed for him. Despite his challenges, he found a new job and a new home. His new employer will also cover the cost of a doctorate.
Allan said, “I know I’ve got a lot of soul damage,” and expressed interest in talking to our pastor. He had to go, but I was able to briefly explain the gospel and hand him a tract.
I’m looking forward to hearing when Allan has fully put his faith in Christ.
I’ve had more than twenty conversations with Sarah. We often walk and chat when she’s walking her two dogs. A newlywed, she is selling her home to move out of state and be near family. When I saw her last week, she looked downcast. I asked how she was doing. She shared her frustrations with moving. I was grateful to pray with her at that moment. After my experience with Allan, I’m looking forward to the next time we see each other to see how God responded to her needs.
God has placed you in your community for a purpose, opening doors for you to share your faith in Him. He is working to bring eternity into those moments. Look for Him and follow His lead.
Be Encouraged to Share Your Faith with People
If you’re seeking further inspiration to share your faith, I recommend Sent: Living a Life That Invites Others to Jesus, a book by my friend Heather Holleman.
Let’s embrace our journeys of faith and be open to the ways God is working around us!
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