Today I preached.
I preached my sixth sermon this month. And I feel so grateful.
January has been a month full of ministry! It began with a writing project with Women Speakers Collective, a recording with Paige C. Clark on her 9 to 5 Faith Podcast, and a 3-day youth retreat in Northern Michigan. Then I co-led a mission team to Costa Rica where I preached again, taught a workshop to ministry staff and leaders, and taught a Bible Study to nearly 40 women in the community. I ended with a writing project with Arrabon to finish the month serving in ways God created me to.
I cannot adequately express how incredible of a month it has been. Grateful doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel. To be earning an income writing, preaching, teaching, and traveling is exactly what I believe I was made for. At least in this season of my life, but hopefully for much longer, too!
It was life-giving to me and to others. And it was just plain old fun! I led one spiritual practice in a 9-Square-in-the-Air court one day to teenagers, and then to women in a butterfly-filled chapel on the side of a volcanic mountain in Costa Rica a few days later. I wrote about the weight and power of not seeing the fruit of our labor one day, and then pointed out to ministry leaders of La Viña San Ramón the fruit they bore right in front of them! Then I preached words of hope and truth without denying pain to the students of the Nazarene Northern Michigan District and then again to the community of Bajo Tejares.
Thinking about the ways, places, and people I was graciously invited to serve this month, my confidence is renewed. I don’t often doubt myself or my choices. But it can be confusing to not always have the support I want or expect. I’m not always welcomed into ministry spaces I want to be. Even sometimes to the tables I’m invited to, I’m not really welcomed there. So to have this month full of ministry has renewed me in ways I didn’t know I needed. I even turned to my trip co-leader one day and said, “We really can do this. We’re really good at this.” And it’s true! But why wouldn’t it be?! We’re just doing the work and becoming the people God invites us to. Why would I be surprised to feel joy, peace, and confidence when I’m being obedient to what God is asking me to do?
Today I preached. I preached six sermons this month. Along with writing, podcasting, teaching, and leading, I did exactly what I was created to do.
I am grateful. I am proud.
And I’m ready to preach again.



Book Hannah to preach at https://hannahrowenfry.com/book-hannah.