The editor's account of how she first got involved in publishing SFM
May 10, 2002, I lay in bed, sick. My radio droned on with program after program from a local Christian station. I had time to listen, as I usually did when I was sick; I wasn't planning to do much of anything else that day. One thing I did do that day, however, was think. I thought about some things that had been going on in my life leading up to that day.
God had been working in my life. In October of 2001, something amazing happened to me. One night as I was doing my chores out with our animals, I believe that the Lord spoke to me and asked me to give up something that was very close to me. It seemed that on that rainy evening, the Lord was asking me to make a choice: He was asking me to choose between 1) serving Him, or 2) serving an idol--of sorts--that had consumed my thoughts and feelings for the past few years. Faced with that decision, I chose to give up my idol in order to follow the Lord. Finally, something that had prevented me from following Him was stripped away. I felt as if I were standing on the brink of incredible adventure ahead, and my life was in God's Hands. That night, I think that God opened a door for me to a future beyond my greatest imaginations. In the months following that night, God worked tremendously in my life. Then, in May of the following year, I surrendered my entire life to Christ. My life has changed tremendously.
I gave God my life, and He has done amazing things with it. One of those things, I believe, is involving me in the work of Spoken For Magazine. As editor of this magazine, I share greatly in the joy of seeing what the Lord is doing through this ministry. The work of Spoken For is very exciting to me, personally, and it continually thrills me to know that I get to be involved.
For most of my life, I have wanted to work in some form of Christian youth ministry. I'm not sure exactly when the idea to start a magazine first came to mind, but it wasn't too long after I gave my life to Christ. I remember that around that time I had a dream which really got me thinking about what God was going to do with my life. That dream was one of the most sobering, meaningful dreams I have ever had.
In my dream, I played the role of a young lady who lived in an abusive home. I was able to see events in her life through her eyes and experience what she experienced. I felt her fear as she ran from her own home, seeking to find refuge somewhere, anywhere. I experienced the relief that flooded her when she found the love and safety she needed in a group of Christian teenagers who introduced her to Christ, the ultimate healer of our souls. I identified with the joy she felt as she receive new life in Christ and a real hope for the future. It was incredible.
The group of Christian teens in my dream fascinated me; there was something about them that was very noticeable. They had joy, passion, and fire for the Lord that was unlike anything I'd seen. God was really moving among them. They met together on a regular basis, praying together, working together for the Lord's kingdom, and sharing the gospel with those around them. They knew they were involved in a spiritual war, and they didn't waste time sitting around. Oddly enough, they met in an old warehouse as large as Wal-Mart.
Some of those teens were people I knew personally.
Was the Lord trying to show me something? This group or ministry or whatever it was--did God want me to be involved in it some day?
As that dream faded away into the background, I became very passionate about seeing local Christian teenagers come together to encourage each other in the Lord. I thought about having Christian young people in the area meet together regularly for prayer, worship, and Bible study. We could even have something like a one page newsletter to keep in touch with each other, to write about what God is doing in our lives, or to share with others what God has shown us about living for Him.
When I was fourteen, I think, I approached a friend about the possibility of working together on a local magazine. She suggested the name "Spoken For" for this magazine, and we began working on it. It didn't work out for us to print the magazine at that time, but I kept praying, thinking, planning, and even working on articles that I might include in it. I prayed for future staff members and the work that we'd be doing. Even though it looked like I might have to wait to start the magazine, it was still something I saw for the future. Spoken For Magazine was a great dream of mine, and I prayed that if God ever wanted such a magazine started that He would bring it into being. Praise the Lord! Two years later, the first issue was released. It was a lot of work, and there were many things that God put into place before the first issue was completed. God was faithful, and I knew that very well as I worked.
Today, I look back in awe. God took that first simple, black-and-white issue, and He did wonders with it. What I have seen him do in this ministry has been tremendous.His provision is amazing! Right when we have needed the finances for something, God has provided donations or financial resources of some kind. God has given us favor, and blessed our ministry. When we need articles, he gives them. He plants ideas in our heads. He walks us through every aspect of the ministry. Everything worthwhile about SFM is because of God.
His guidance has been priceless. Decisions, deadlines, and choices--without the Lord, the responsibility of working with this magazine would have been too overwhelming for me, at least, to handle. Having God guide the ministry is wonderful.
Even before I see the people who have been blessed by SFM, I know that God has used this ministry to work in my life. It has been such a part of my spiritual growth. Editing SFM provides a challenge to me to live the life that would be honoring to God, especially when others are watching my life and comparing it with what I have written. Reading what other people write in the magazine inspires and encourages me as I learn how God is shaping the lives of other Christian young people around me, many that I know. Being a part of a ministry that also seeks to evangelize has challenged me to reach out to those around me, relying on God's grace. Finally, the work of the magazine causes me to rely on the Lord in a way that has not always been common in my life. From the start, this was a ministry that would not have worked had God not provided a way. Through even pressures and trials, I become closer to the Lord. I learn to trust Him.
My heart often races with excitement as I work on the magazine because I feel as if I am touching a work that is orchestrated by the Lord Himself. SFM has never been mine to control; it is a work which I hope will always be guided by the Lord's Hand.
I envision expansion of SFM all across Northwest Florida...and even the world, if God wills. I look forward to speaking in churches about the ministry, branching out with middle school and high school versions of the magazine, releasing issues more frequently, doing more interviews with young people, and even planning special events and conferences someday...right now, as God wills, I hope to see the ministry grow on a local level. I want to see Christian young people in my area encourage each other to live for the Lord, not for the world, not for themselves. I want to see young people actively involved in ministry with other young people that they know; it would be awesome to have a generation that is completely dedicated to Christ...and willing to let that be known among their peers.
I don't know exactly what the future holds or what things the Lord will bring to pass, but my dream is to see this magazine be used in thousands of lives to draw people to Christ...and to help believers grow in their faith. Always, that is my vision.
"I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name." Revelation 3:8 KJV