Earlier this year, my husband Polycarp and I answered the call to serve as church leaders for the Natural State Church in Little Rock, Arkansas. The job position was open for a year after their previous leaders had returned to Europe. The small group of under 30 disciples were faithful and hopeful to find the perfect fit for their congregation.
Polycarp and I previously served on staff for almost 10 years in the youth and family ministry in Charlotte, North Carolina. We left our careers in social science and food science to enter the ministry in 2014 as a newly married couple. After a few years, we had our first son and then three years later welcomed two new babies, identical twin boys. With a growing family it was harder to support the needs of our family and our extended family in Nigeria. After much prayer and consideration, we stepped out of the ministry with the lingering thought, “Is this the end of full-time ministry for us?”
God opened a door for me to land a lucrative position within a market research company while Polycarp was able to stay home with our three boys. Before even considering another ministry job, Polycarp had two goals to accomplish: First, to see his mom in Nigeria and secondly, to complete the second phase of building his mom’s house. On our own effort, this would have taken two to three years to accomplish. However, due to an unforeseen family event, the second phase of the house was completed by December 2023 and in January 2024, Polycarp flew home to Nigeria to see his mom. His goals were achieved in six months.
Around this time, God altered our plans. I was let go from my job and we had a decision to make. Should we invest in our previous careers or start applying for ministry positions? We knew the latter would require uprooting our young family from our recently purchased home, withdrawing from prestigious schools, and rebuilding our network of friendships. But we knew that God’s plan is always better than our own, so we cast the net into ministry opportunities.
Polycarp’s dream has been to lead a small church. He didn’t know where or when but trusted God to lead the way. In a six-month time span, we sent nine applications, had four interviews, and two job offers. The faith building journey felt like a roller coaster of emotions most days. With every step the decision became more and more clear. The people whom we had been prepared for, the church to love and lead, was The Natural State Church. Through many answered prayers, God directed our steps to Little Rock.
We are amazed day by day at the love and service of the disciples in Little Rock. This strong, faithful group of disciples loves God wholeheartedly, is generous, gives to the poor, reaches out to the lost, and holds each other up. We are honored and overjoyed to serve such a wonderful group. Praise be to God for directing our steps.
“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.”
Psalm 9:1-2
