Discerning My Ministry

Twenty-four years ago, I wondered what role women had in Church, beginning a lifelong journey of questioning, serving, and then questioning some more. All while simply being available to where God would have me.

My questioning stemmed from having been raised as a missionary kid (MK) in France with exposure to various theological perspectives from multiple denominations. Because there were so few evangelical Christians in France, our local church was composed of a Mennonite family on one end of the evangelical spectrum to a Pentecostal family on the other end. At one time there were 17 different nationalities represented in our congregation of just over 100 people. As an elder-led congregation, each member of the board taught when we were in-between pastors. Different male and female worship leaders led the congregation in a time of worship, Scripture reading, and prayer before the sermon. So, I was accustomed to experiencing the Bible from various denominations, geographical influences, and social economic brackets. In various denominations, women served at various levels of leadership. I grew up accustomed to these differences and witnessed people from different backgrounds come together to form a unity that can only be found in Christ.

When speaking with my parents about how unity was achieved, they shared that it was hard work to come to a consensus with some give and take. But here is the lesson I learned: study Scripture, listen to others, pray with them, be respectful of other people’s point of view and above all else, love them where they are. Serve people because that is what Christ did and what we should continue to do. It may mean setting up chairs on Sunday morning, vacuuming the building, serving with the babies, teaching Sunday School, caulking tile in the bathrooms, mixing concrete for the building construction, serving meals to volunteers, translating for visiting pastors, etc…Women simply served according to their giftedness and expertise.

When I went back to the states for college, I asked my mom: “What am I, Mom? Where do I fit in? I don’t understand all these different denominations.” There were so many Christians, so many different types of worship services, formal and casual, traditional and contemporary, so many different opinions on the role of women. All very confusing for this MK.

At the Christian college I attended, I was spiritually fed constantly and by my second year, I felt stuffed with Scripture, Bible studies in our hall, chapel twice a week, plus Sunday services. I needed an outlet to serve and apply what I was learning, so I plugged into a church and served with the kids’ ministry and various other campus ministries. I served there faithfully until I graduated, but I knew the help I provided was not my calling within the body of believers.

After I graduated and entered the professional world of engineering, I met adults who were new to the faith and learned how awkward they felt when confronted with those who had attended church their entire lives. They had found Jesus and loved him, but they felt unable to contribute to biblical discussions because they knew so little and didn’t understand the code of conduct and vocabulary. My mission became very clear to me – help brand new “baby” adult Christians grow their faith of Christ through studying the Bible, resulting in their firm foundation of faith and ability to share the good news with others. This was my role to play.

The key to serving Christ is grounded in prayer and studying Scripture. When we know, really know, who we are in Christ, then we can listen to others, be available for their questions, and be comfortable if their culture is different from ours. We can serve them as Christ served you and me. He listens, he considers our needs as greater than his, and he walks alongside us on our journey (Phil. 2).

My husband and I, along with our children, now serve as missionaries with my parents in Corrèze, France. We arrived amid upheaval within the small Christian community here. A lot of people were hurt, tired, and needed healing. Wisely, my dad knew healing would be within the community. Since I was equipped for the job, he asked me to organise our gatherings, which led to women’s Bible studies and church services. This was now my role to play. We again have 9 families from 7 different nationalities and differing Christ-centred backgrounds. Each family in our congregation takes turns leading and teaching our services with a family and child-friendly study. Although it is very different from what many consider church, it is exactly what this diverse group needs to begin growing in their love for each other and Jesus.

After the 2020 shutdowns, I was invited to become a part of a new ministry geared toward women in ministry Stateside, yet another opportunity to serve, via blog posts and a Zoom teaching session. I also had the opportunity to take a class from Cynthia Hester called the Theology of Women Academy, and I found more answers from Scripture and gained a better understanding of where my theological ideas came from. It was eye-opening and encouraging.

Then this year, my mentor in the States asked me if I would consider participating in a Fuller Spiritual Formation Cohort with NEWIM (Network of Evangelical Women in Ministry). I felt this tug to participate but was also very wary of new ways of “doing” my Christian life. I had never done a “silent retreat,” and I was quite scared of it to tell the truth. I was leery of all the things that I “fail” at: daily dedicated quiet time, a prayer closet, all things I thought would be required of me.

How wrong I was…

Surprisingly, this cohort has helped me to further discern my role in ministry. During our first silent retreat in August of 2023, I met some incredible women who encourage me in so many ways: as a woman, as a wife, as a mother, as a daughter, friend, and as a ministry leader. I discovered REST, true rest in the Lord, listening to him through the deafening silence of an 11 PM prayer time with the creator of the Universe (different time zone from California): “Be with Me, present in the present. I will take care of tomorrow.” Coming “face to face” with my God took self-examination: “what baggage do you bring with you to this retreat?” Only to find out I was bringing a lot of anger to this meeting. Being able to drop this load at the feet of my Savior changed my experience from “doing” to “being”, from “thinking” I was illegitimate in my ministry to “knowing” he had called me to the works he had prepared for me. Our monthly assignments were not what I was expecting, in a good way… They encouraged me to stay “being” with God, to trust him fully with who he created me to be and to do.

In November, during the California Springs Retreat, I experienced my first in-person silent retreat with the women I had met via Zoom. The tears of joy at being able to hug my small group flowed freely (most of the week). Connecting with them in real life was only overshadowed by being able to hear God clearly in a safe space devoid of other responsibilities. Disconnecting from electronics, knowing that each time I have traveled to the States without my family some medical emergency seemed to happen, took trusting that God was really taking care of my family, his ministry, and his disciples. It was good; it was necessary; it was life-giving. With the jetlag, I seemed to get little sleep, but I felt so rested in the Lord.

Listening to the Lord through different exercises in spiritual disciplines helped confirm God’s calling on my life. I will always have questions about my role in ministry because that seems to be the way the Holy Spirit prompts me to seek him and what he would have me do. However, I will also always know that the God who created me for his good works will be with me every step of the way and guide me, when I stop and listen.

Kristin Isaac, her husband and their four children are full time missionaries currently residing in central France. As a family they enjoy reading, hiking, and watching TV. They’ve even had the opportunity to hike the Alps together!

Kristin has a Bachelor of Engineering Degree from JBU and has translated many Bible Studies and books for various individuals, ministries, and pastors. From teaching children and adult Sunday school to being involved with and starting student ministries, choirs, and women’s Bible studies, Kristin has served and led in just about every area of the church!

Discovering NEWIM last year with the Fuller Cohort has deepened her trust in how God is operating in her life and the “good works” He has called her to do.  The spiritual disciplines and meeting with other women in ministry have really encouraged her to persevere in her calling and knowing she is not alone.