Category Archives: Spiritual Connection

Two Paths, One Savior: Conversations with Glory / Journey and Calling, Week 3 by Patti Greene

Welcome to my NEW Blog Series: Two Paths, One Savior: Conversations with Glory / Journey and Calling

If you are receiving this blog via email, clicking the post title will show the best version.

About This Series:  This new series shares the story of my friendship with Glory. She is Nigerian, and I am from the United States, yet God tied our hearts together in a beautiful way. We met at a Bible study in Lagos, Nigeria, and her love for Jesus was clear from the very first day.

Glory later moved to Canada, and during a recent visit, I interviewed her about her life and faith. I’ll be sharing one topic each week:

Glory and Patti, Calgary, 2022

Week 1 – Our Connection and Story: greenepastures.org/two-paths-one-savior-week-1/

Week 2 – Early Life and Faith: greenepastures.org/two-paths-one-savior-conversations-with-glory-early-life-and-faithweek-2/

Week 3 – Journey and Calling – This blog
Week 4 – Singleness and Ministry – Being Single in Ministry
Week 5 – Writing and Ministry Together – Be Inspired
Week 6 – Reflection and Encouragement – Be Encouraged: You’re Not Walking Alone
Week 7 – Friendship and Connection – Enjoy Christ-Centered Friendships

GLORY’S JOURNEY AND CALLING, Week 3

Q. When did you first feel called into ministry?

A. From the time I gave my life to Jesus and through my friendship with Jonathan, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life serving God, so I knew ministry would be my life and my life would be ministry.

Q. What moments or experiences confirmed that calling for you?

A. In those early days of faith after I gave my life to Jesus, I was deeply in love with God and His Word. I was eager to share His Word and His love with everyone I met. I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life serving Him. God also gave us—God and me—the gift of healing. I would pray for people, and He would heal them. I remember friends comparing me to a well-known Christian evangelist at the time. As a new believer, I did not know much about her, but I knew she served the Lord and had a ministry marked by bold acts of faith. So yes, I looked forward to serving God for the rest of my life as a full-time minister.

Life is a Journey

Q. How has God surprised you along the way?

A. Even though I was studying engineering at the time, my dream was to serve God in full-time ministry. How God has surprised me along the way is that He made clear then that He wanted me to continue in my field as an engineer, to continue in my work while serving Him with all that I am and all that I have. It is totally different from what I had thought because I wanted to go to Bible school and go into full-time ministry, but God held me back from going to Bible school. He did not want me to go. He wanted to teach me on the path of walking with Him and how He wanted me to serve Him in the way He wanted me to serve, in the places He wanted me to serve Him. What He’s done is provide opportunities for me to serve Him through my job. My job has provided opportunities for me to travel to different parts of the world where I go to work, and I am serving God outside of the church or with people that typically will not go to church. I have been blessed with opportunities to take people who have never been to church to church for the first time. I’ve been blessed with opportunities to lead people to Christ in huddle rooms, in corporate offices. I have joined people in holy matrimony and done all kinds of things for God at work, in places where God is not typically preached. And that is not by hitting everybody on the head with the Bible, but by walking with Jesus and letting people see my walk with God and reach out to me to be a part of their life and their journey. Those are ways I have been able to serve God. Also, my work has provided me with the means to do the things God wanted me to do, like publishing my books, going on mission trips, among others, and paying for things that people typically look for others to support them with. I have been able to support myself and pay for those things without having to look for external support.

Fact:

While Glory worked full-time as an engineer, I could never describe her as someone in part-time ministry. Knowing Glory, I have seen that ministry is not something she turns on and off depending on the setting; it is woven into who she is. She carries the presence of the Lord with her into her workplace, into conversations, into ordinary routines, and even into her weekends. Her faith is not reserved for church walls. God is on her mind throughout the day, and because of that, He has used her in places where some people may never have had the opportunity, interest, or courage to attend a church service or Christian gathering. Glory’s life reminds me that ministry can happen in conference rooms, offices, work trips, casual conversations, and quiet acts of obedience. She is well respected, sincere, dependable, and hardworking, but what stands out most is her genuine love for God and her desire to let others see Him through the way she lives.

Bible Verse: 

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry (1 Timothy 1:12 NKJV).

Next Week: Singleness and Ministry

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GreenePastures.org

#ChristianMinistry #Ministry #Nigerian #SecularWork #ChristianJourney #ServingGod #Engineering

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Books by Patti Greene

Coming Soon: Luke 2: The Christmas Story: Discover the Birth of Jesus in Scripture

Unstoppable: Go the Distance with God ISBN: 979-8284335017 

Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer ISBN 978-1512760453

Bible Word Search Puzzles: The Gospels ISBN 979-8218070465

Bible Word Search Puzzles: Acts and Epistles ISBN 979-8218092696

Bible Word Search Puzzles: Epistles and Revelation ISBN 979-8363612046

Christian Caregiving: Practical Advice for a Happy Ending ISBN 978-0692115381

Awaken Me: A Devotional Prayer Journal ISBN 978-1490893181

Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Prayer and Bible Study ISBN 978-1490893174

Two Paths, One Savior: Conversations with Glory / Our Connection and Story, Week 1 by Patti Greene

Welcome to my NEW Blog Series Two Paths, One Savior: Conversations with Glory

If you are receiving this blog via email, clicking the post title will show the best version.

OUR CONNECTION AND STORY,  Week 1

This new series shares the story of my friendship with Glory. She is Nigerian, and I am from the United States, yet God tied our hearts together in a beautiful way. We met at a Bible study in Lagos, Nigeria, and her love for Jesus was clear from the very first day.

Glory later moved to Canada, and during a recent visit, I interviewed her about her life and faith. I’ll be sharing one topic each week:

• Week 1 – Our Connection and Story
• Week 2 – Early Life and Faith
• Week 3 – Journey and Calling
• Week 4 – Singleness and Ministry
• Week 5 – Writing and Ministry Together
• Week 6 – Reflection and Encouragement
• Week 7 – Friendship and Connection

Over time, our bond grew so sweet that she now calls me “Mum.” I pray her words bless your heart as much as hers have blessed mine.

How do you think the Lord knit our hearts together back in Lagos? 
I think it was at that Bible study after the introduction. They mentioned you had written a book, and being an author, I was curious and wanted to chat about your writing.
What stood out to you in those first conversations that made our bond feel so natural?
I think there was a spiritual connection. Sometimes, when I meet people, I can sense that God has something in store for this person in the long term. I may not be able to tell exactly what it is. I think I felt that with you the first time we connected. As we talked, your love for God and His Word became obvious, and both influenced our writing. Our works were mostly linked to the word of God and to experiences from our walk with God.
How would you describe the “mum-daughter” friendship God gave us?
I see the mum-daughter friendship God gave us as a very precious and special gift because it came at a time when I didn’t realize I needed that. I had just lost my mum, wasn’t talking about it, and was actually pushing away any idea of additional relationships as far as I was concerned; I had enough friends and didn’t need more. I wasn’t looking for another mother, but the way God worked it out was unique, so the least I could do was just enjoy the experience of the relationship. 
What does spiritual connection mean to you, and how do you recognize it when it happens?
I see spiritual connection as a gift from God. As I said earlier, there are people you meet, and you can sense there’s a deeper connection, not just a physical or emotional thing. It’s a deep knowing. I have sensed that a number of times, and each of those relationships God has allowed to thrive, and like the Bible says, we sharpen each other like iron – that’s how I see spiritual connections. It’s God’s gift to us, and it’s not hard for me to recognize because I’ve noticed that’s how God works with me. Whenever I sense that connection with someone, I keep my heart open to how God makes it work out, because I typically don’t have to make it happen, nor does the other person. God works it out for us as we trust and obey Him. He provides opportunities, opens doors for connections, and allows the relationship to go where and how it needs to. We just fall in line, walking in obedience as He perfects what He started.
Fact:

Our friendship began by being at the right place at the right time, which was totally a God thing, because at the time, Lagos’ population was 22 million.

Lagos, Nigeria Market
Bible Verse: 
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Proverbs 17:17
Next Week: Follow the Journey
Two Paths, One Savior: Conversations with Glory / Early Life and Faith, Week 2
 
 

Feel free to repost, forward, or save. And please subscribe to GreenePastures.org to receive blogs by Patti Greene.

#Friendship #Nigeria #Lagos #SpiritualConnection

Books by Patti Greene

Coming Soon: Luke 2: The Christmas Story: Discover the Birth of Jesus in Scripture

Unstoppable: Go the Distance with God
ISBN: 979-8284335017 
 
Answer Me: Developing a Heart for Prayer
ISBN 978-1512760453
 
Bible Word Search Puzzles: The Gospels
ISBN 979-8218070465
 
Bible Word Search Puzzles: Acts and Epistles
ISBN 979-8218092696
 
Bible Word Search Puzzles: Epistles and Revelation
ISBN 979-8363612046
 
Christian Caregiving: Practical Advice for a Happy Ending
ISBN 978-0692115381
 
Awaken Me: A Devotional Prayer Journal by Patti Greene
ISBN 978-1490893181
 
Anchor Me: Laying a Foundation in Prayer and Bible Study
ISBN 978-1490893174