Mission Focus Testimony: Ashton Yoder
“I decided to focus more on the work God was doing here in KC”
I was very excited for mission focus this year. I always enjoy the pre-retreat/conference excitement and the anticipation that it brings of what God will show me. I can easily say this year I was very ready to hear from the Lord. Most of the time I go into retreats and conferences somewhat ready, but the biggest reason I was prepared to hear was because recently, God had given me a calling on my life. God showed me a lot through Mission Focus this year, but before I get into it, I want to back up a little bit to give some context.
I grew up in a Christian household my whole life, but I did not get saved until 7th grade. After accepting Christ, my life was totally changed. I was ready to grow and know the Lord more, be involved in ministry, etc. However, several years had passed and I was beginning to backslide in sin. Although I lived rebelliously for a while, God was constantly trying to get ahold of my heart. There were several events that transpired in my life over time that caused me to turn to God again, but never fully surrender. The Spirit was grieved, but God finally got a hold of my heart. Fast forward to 2020. I was in physical therapy school, and for my clinical internships I had the opportunity to travel to Tampa, Florida, staying there for about 5 months to get hands-on experience in the clinic. I was able to stay with my family, the Schaffer’s, during the duration of time I was there. I was very excited for what I was going to learn educationally, but I knew little of what God had in store for me spiritually. Over my time there, my life changed. I’m going to be honest, my heart was hardened at first, but God used his Word to cut me deep (Heb. 4:12), and through the Word, my faith was made more real. I repented from my backsliding, and had immediate peace knowing I was doing what was right in re-surrendering my life to the Lord. I re-dedicated my life to Christ when I was in Tampa, and God led me back to Midtown to start getting equipped and grow.
When I was in Tampa though, as my heart was changing, I started having a love for Tampa. It went deep; God used His Word to change my life there, the LFT church became my family, and I gained lots of opportunities to minister to students and international students that went to the University of Southern Florida, as well as my coworkers in the clinic. I saw that the harvest was great, but the laborers were few (Luke 10:2). As I left Tampa, my heart began to grow heavier. To be honest, I was full of zeal upon returning, and I wanted to return to Tampa very quickly (literally less than a year). God shut that down pretty quickly through my leadership (so thankful for that). Afterwards, I decided to focus more on the work God was doing here in KC. I continued to grow in discipleship, and God continued to open my eyes to things in His Word. My life was continuing to be changed, and my faith was increasing (Romans 10:17). Over time, I realized at that point I was not called at that time to Tampa. God had to continue to show me what He wanted for my life, because a love for a place (even while seeing a need), didn’t automatically mean I was called there. Pastor Brandon’s message about proofs of God’s leading definitely helped me through that. As I was continuing to grow, I continued to visit Florida periodically. Every time I returned there, God used one specific passage in His Word to convict me about me being there. The passage He used was 1 Corinthians 1:26-27.
1 Corinthians 1:26-27 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
He used this verse through messages, devotionals, quiet time, LFBI, and other people every single time I was in Tampa.
“God uses unfit, unqualified people to bring Him the glory He deserves”
God uses unfit, unqualified people to bring Him the glory He deserves. I’ll be a fool for God’s glory. I often let my lack of faith, struggles, and my flesh get in the way of the work God has for me to do-especially if that means moving to a city I never really knew, or a place I never called home. I realized that I was called to salvation, then chosen to do a work. It was never about my struggles, lack of faith, or excuses of not being “good enough” to do that work God has called me to, whether it was Tampa at the time or Kansas City. God wants to use me because He knows if he uses a weak thing like me, it can bring a greater contrast in terms of his ability versus the world’s. No matter location, time, season; I have to yield to his power and believe His promises. It’s all for His glory! (Psalms 29:2).
In March of 2022, I got to go to Tampa again for a second internship. I was there for two months, but it was totally different. It was a time of refinement. I already went through discipleship, growing, and taking next steps, but I was also learning how to apply everything during this time. During this season, I was reading through Joshua when I was there. God used it mightily when I was there to mature me and challenge me more in my faith.
That was quite a big background, but I thought I’d be better to give context of my journey to the calling of my life; during Mission Focus God used His Word to remind me what He showed me the second time I was in Tampa last year.
During Mission Focus this year, I knew right off the bat that God was beginning to work. When Pastor Mike Reneau and Andrew Ong said they would be in the book of Joshua, I got excited. I already knew God used Joshua to teach me in Tampa, so I wanted to see what the Lord had for me. The first night was pretty crazy. Pastor Mike was preaching on Joshua 4 and building a legacy of faith. He spoke on how we need to pause and reflect on what God has done. This is exactly what God had shown me in Tampa: to simply remember and reflect on what He has done, not because I am good or because I am the one doing it, but recognize that it is Him alone and His mighty hand (Joshua 4:24). It was also a good reminder that I can’t just make the work “work” and forget or struggle to pass down how the work is done to future generations! Remembrance was the first big thing, and the second was obedience (Pastor Mike also preached about this in another sermon — the Holy Spirit just knows how to orchestrate). His main point in this sermon was this: “The dynamics of church planting/ missions require that you count the cost-and then obey God anyway.”
Joshua 1:16 And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.
“All I want at the end of my life is to know I gave everything I had to the Lord”
The truth is that during my second time in Florida, I didn’t want to be there. It sounds silly, but it was true. During this time, it was hard. My internship was difficult, I had to study for a big test that I had to take when I returned home, and ministry was getting busier in Tampa. I was tired all the time while also trying to stay involved in the work that was there. I missed home, my family, Midtown, and comfort. God was stretching me. If I knew there was a cost, I was definitely counting the cost this second time around. God really showed me there would be a cost to moving there if He called me, but my preference and heart was not there at the time. But the truth is, my preference does not matter, nor does how I feel, or where I found myself more “comfortable.” The truth is, when God had actually called me half a year later, I just had to obey.
Counting the cost means counting everything — location, preference, family, friends, pursuing someone, job, comfort, or the “what if’s.” Literally everything. I had to gain the understanding of counting the cost that God showed me the second time around in Tampa, so that when God did call me, I would be ready to simply obey and say “yes.” Pastor Mike’s message confirmed that for me. Going along these lines, there was one other thing that convicted me during Mission Focus. When Pastor Jeff Bartel preached on Thursday night, he talked about being alone in the mission field. He stated that when he was called to Albania, he was single, with no debt, and ready to be used of the Lord (same as me, but there’s debt I’m still working on). He said something that reminded me of counting the cost and surrendering to God regarding my calling. At the end of his sermon, he talked about how Jacob was wresting with God (Genesis 32:24-32). The verse that convicted me was verse 31: “And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.” Pastor Jeff made this point: when we surrender to do whatever the Lord has called us to do, our walk will never be the same.
I can testify that even ever since Florida the first time (when I fully surrendered my life again to Christ) and when I finally surrendered my calling to the Lord to go to Tampa, my walk has never been the same. All I want at the end of my life is to know I gave everything I had to the Lord. If that includes surrendering to my calling, and being obedient to everything He wants, count me in. It’s all for Him.
John 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
Ashton Yoder is a member of Midtown Baptist Temple and is a part of C&YA. He is a part of a men’s Bible study at Rockhurst University.
