Fall at Wellspring

Hi, everyone! First of all, thank you so much for being here and for caring about this ministry. It is a joy to get to share it with you. With that being said, I would like to update you on the progress made during the first two months of my internship at Wellspring!

As I reflect on the last two months, the words that come to mind are change and transformation. There has been a significant amount of change in my life in a relatively short period of time. I am a student for the first time in seven years, and that has come with its challenges and learning curves. I forgot what it was like to have homework! The first month was definitely an adjustment period, but I have since incorporated rhythms and routines into my life that have helped me balance a full course load with the internship.

My favorite thing that I have learned in school so far is the history of the Israelites, as described in the Old Testament. Most of my first course was studying the geography and history of the time and place that God chose as the Promised Land. The location was no accident, as the Fertile Crescent served as a land bridge between major ancient empires. The location He chose was strategic, allowing His message to be seen and spread throughout the world. He is an intentional God who does not do things by accident. How much more reason do we have to trust Him when we realize He has already planned and written the entire story? Most of our “job” is to slow ourselves down enough to be able to listen to his divine plan and purpose for our lives.

I have been blessed to have the opportunity to study while learning directly from the leaders at Wellspring. These leaders are genuine; they are filled with the Spirit, and serving alongside them is an absolute pleasure and honor. There are many moments that stand out to me, especially the direct ministry I have been able to participate in, where I discern and listen to His voice on behalf of others. There is actually nothing better than watching someone experience freedom right before your eyes. When we make the decision to obey, He does all of the work. I am learning that doing ministry with Him is a lot like a dance. He’s leading; I just follow the steps that He wants me to take.

This semester, our internship is with the prayer team, and I have had the opportunity to spend time with our prayer team leaders at Wellspring, Kimetra, and Brett. They have blessed me with their time, wisdom, and passion for the work to which they have been called. They genuinely care about me and are always there to support me throughout this journey. There was a moment a few weeks ago when Kimetra and I got to pray for a woman who was seated in the church; she hadn’t gone up for prayer, but there was a sense that she needed people to come to her. We got to pray for her, the Lord moved, and she experienced freedom. The woman said to me, “Thank you for coming over to me. I needed prayer, but I was too scared to go to the front to ask for it.” This truth broke my heart and opened my eyes. My heart broke for those who are afraid to take that step of vulnerability to ask for prayer. I feel that the Lord is calling me to intercede on behalf of the church throughout the entire service. There is a spiritual battle happening, and there is no room for fear when we are in his presence.

One of the best moments of this fall semester was our Draw Near Conference. Every year, Wellspring hosts a conference where people can come and draw near to Him. We believe that when we draw near to Him, He draws near to us. And my goodness, He drew near. I personally received so much from the Lord during the conference that I felt like there was a constant flow of the Spirit; He was continually pouring Himself out onto us. He spoke to me about my calling, but it was mostly a fresh outpouring of His love. It was from that place of receiving that we were able to minister to others. It was truly beautiful to be part of the team and contribute to the conference's organization process. Lea and I got to pray over the guests, and each guest received a personal prayer card with what the team sensed the Lord was saying. It was a weekend of overflow, and I left knowing that I am exactly where I’m supposed to be.

Thank you, God, for your presence. Thank you for your love. Thank you that you are constantly pouring out onto us. Thank you for your generosity. We are not worthy, Lord, but I thank you that I get to partner with you in this ministry. Thank you for the leaders and mentors you have placed around me, from whom I constantly glean wisdom. You are so kind, Jesus. May you have all the glory.

Thank you for reading this update and for being a part of my journey. It is a marathon, not a sprint. I ask for sustained momentum, energy, and rest when necessary. I ask that my eyes would continue to be fixed on Him, and that He would be the source that I receive from before I attempt to pour out onto others.

Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for what’s to come!

Blessings,

Sydney