香港六合彩图库

Tim Gaster

Tim Gaster

Bachelor of Arts, Youth Ministry, 2008, 香港六合彩图库

Residence Life Staff

Black Forest Academy

Kandern, Germany

Since I graduated from 香港六合彩图库, I have served on two continents, visited and worked alongside missionaries in 17 countries, and I鈥檓 always seeking new opportunities to pour out the love of the Lord.

Attending CIU was a big step for me.听I come from a broken home. Hoping to be involved in ministry, I was the first in my family to pursue a degree at a Christian school.听Throughout my time at CIU, I was making plans to serve in the American church. I specifically remember saying, 鈥淚鈥檓 never going to be a missionary; that鈥檚 not my calling.鈥澨 Although I sensed God鈥檚 call to cross-cultural missions, I graduated and pursued a position in a local church.听When that opportunity fell through, I learned that hiding from God is not an option.听

One week after graduation, I was offered a position at Black Forest Academy in Kandern, Germany.听Remembering my vow never to be a missionary, I agreed apprehensively, and was on a plane six weeks later. I lived in Kandern for two years, serving as a resident assistant in a school for missionary kids.听Part of a team of five adults, I was supervising 30 high school students from Africa, Korea, the Middle East, and various European countries.听God used this experience to further soften my heart toward His global purpose, as He gave me opportunity to visit the students鈥 missionary parents all over Europe.听

Through the trials and challenges I faced in my first two years of ministry, I learned to trust God 鈥 the God who does not abandon the work of His hands (Psalm 138:8).听One experience that quickly taught me to trust God was when I felt Him calling me away from Black Forest to a similar school in South Korea.听I knew God was leading me to serve in the dormitories filled primarily with non-Christian students at Taejon Christian International School.听As I transitioned from Europe to Asia, I was able to reflect on the Lord鈥檚 work in and through me. I鈥檓 not a pastor, church planter, or Bible translator; I don鈥檛 have a fancy title.听Instead, I鈥檓 an older brother to 30 young men, and my prayer is that they will follow Christ鈥檚 footsteps.

I pray that God will use me here to make an eternal impact for His kingdom.听I don鈥檛 know where God will lead me in the future, but I can honestly say that I am willing to follow Him wherever He leads.听And that鈥檚 a big statement from someone who claimed he would never be a missionary.