Rebecca grew up in Powder Springs, GA, an active member of First Baptist Church Powder Springs. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Berry College in Rome, GA. While attending college she taught AWANAS, served as the BSU Community Missions Coordinator, and led Bible Studies on campus. After college, she spent five years serving in China, sharing Hope with the people of China as she taught English and studied the Chinese language. In her journey of discovering her identity in Christ, she has recognized her skills and abilities in administration. Combining this with her passion for ministry has led her to the job of Office Manager for New Life Design.
It’s hard to believe I have been back from China for almost 3 years now. I’d like to take this opportunity to catch you up on what’s been going on since my return, and perhaps answer some of your questions. Many of you have been asking the same question that I have been asking God myself, “When are you going back to China?” Only God knows if and when I’ll be back in China. I do know that right now He wants me here in Powder Springs, a plan that I have fought against for two and a half years.
I came back from China exhausted, burnt out, sick, and depressed; yet convinced that God was going to heal me and send me back to China the following year. Obviously, He had a different plan. Looking back now, I can see how He allowed the many medical issues and depression as part of His plan to humble, heal, and redirect me. Through my own counseling experience, God has dug deep inside to heal my heart, teach me who I really am, and show me the life of freedom He gives. Praise God for the work of transformation that He has done and is continuing inside me!
Along with counseling, another tool God used to prune me was a teaching job. It was during this time that I experienced the worst of my depression, and finally gave up trying to fix things myself in my way with my effort. I realized and accepted that it was not God’s plan for me to return to China. This didn’t make any sense to me; I was grieved and confused and lost. Nevertheless, I trusted God and began praying for direction, wondering what He wanted me to do next. All I knew was that teaching was definitely not it. God showed me through the teaching job how I was trying to become someone I’m not. I felt that my skills and abilities were insignificant, so I was trying to be someone else and develop more significant strengths. I was trying to convince myself that I liked teaching as I tried my best to make it work.
It was when I accepted myself the way God created me, with the strengths, skills, and passions He has given me, that God opened the door for me to be a part of New Life Design. Through much prayer, God has confirmed that this is where He wants me to be. I am delighted to be a part of helping others to find answers to some of the same questions I have asked: Why is my life full of conflict and frustration instead of the peace and joy the Bible talks about? How do I overcome fear and anxiety? How can I live in victory instead of defeat? Does God really love me? Is He pleased with me? How do I live above my feelings and circumstances? Why am I so exhausted all the time? Why am I not experiencing the abundant life Jesus promised?
The role God has given me in this ministry is that of Office Manager. I will be taking care of the administrative and accounting needs so that Dana may be able to focus on the life coaching.
