Liz Thill’s Imago Dei Story
Liz Thill’s Imago Dei story.
Imago Dei. The image of God. Whenever I hear those sweet words, I am reminded that God created me on purpose and for a purpose. Some people are called to be pastors, doctors or teachers. The calling I received was to be a missionary.
I was introduced to missions from a very young age. Whenever a missionary would come to a church service, I somehow felt connected to them. When I was finally able to go on my first missions trip, I felt the Lord tell me that I was going to be a missionary. My initial reaction was, “No.” I was scared, unsure and didn’t want to leave everything I knew. In college, after two more trips, God revealed the same thing: I was made to be a missionary. I never felt more myself than when I was on these trips, but I was still scared.
A few years later at church, I felt God stirring. A missionary guest speaker walked on the stage and said, “There is someone in this room who is called to be a missionary, but they are running from this calling. God wants you to trust him and walk in obedience.” That day, I accepted God’s calling, and I felt such joy and peace; I was accepting my role in his missio Dei.
After graduation, I felt God push me to start pursuing overseas missions. In January of 2020, I put in my missionary application. A month later, COVID hit. Borders closed and my future was unknown again. I prayed and asked God to show me what to do. Almost year later, I received an email about a overseas missionary family looking for help. We set up a zoom call, and the minute I saw them, I knew this was God’s answer. Now, I’ve been here three years, and I cannot imagine doing anything else.
God has shown me over and over again that he has a plan—even as a young girl with multiple health issues and doctor visits. At eight years old, I was told I had a rare muscle condition and would likely end up in a wheelchair. But the Lord had other plans! Today, I barely have any symptoms.
I am currently the youth and assistant pastor at a church plant in Austria. I have also been able to learn German enough to preach once a month. I love being able to communicate in the language of the people here! God has opened so many hearts, and we are seeing new people come every week.
Throughout my life and journey of becoming a missionary, I’ve constantly had Proverbs 16:9 in my mind: “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” God used every moment and challenge to shape me into the missionary I am today. My imago Dei is playing a role in the missio Dei for the people of Germany. God has a plan and a calling for all of us and he made us specifically to live out those callings. All it takes for us to embrace our imago Dei is walk in obedience.
I was introduced to missions from a very young age. Whenever a missionary would come to a church service, I somehow felt connected to them. When I was finally able to go on my first missions trip, I felt the Lord tell me that I was going to be a missionary. My initial reaction was, “No.” I was scared, unsure and didn’t want to leave everything I knew. In college, after two more trips, God revealed the same thing: I was made to be a missionary. I never felt more myself than when I was on these trips, but I was still scared.
A few years later at church, I felt God stirring. A missionary guest speaker walked on the stage and said, “There is someone in this room who is called to be a missionary, but they are running from this calling. God wants you to trust him and walk in obedience.” That day, I accepted God’s calling, and I felt such joy and peace; I was accepting my role in his missio Dei.
After graduation, I felt God push me to start pursuing overseas missions. In January of 2020, I put in my missionary application. A month later, COVID hit. Borders closed and my future was unknown again. I prayed and asked God to show me what to do. Almost year later, I received an email about a overseas missionary family looking for help. We set up a zoom call, and the minute I saw them, I knew this was God’s answer. Now, I’ve been here three years, and I cannot imagine doing anything else.
God has shown me over and over again that he has a plan—even as a young girl with multiple health issues and doctor visits. At eight years old, I was told I had a rare muscle condition and would likely end up in a wheelchair. But the Lord had other plans! Today, I barely have any symptoms.
I am currently the youth and assistant pastor at a church plant in Austria. I have also been able to learn German enough to preach once a month. I love being able to communicate in the language of the people here! God has opened so many hearts, and we are seeing new people come every week.
Throughout my life and journey of becoming a missionary, I’ve constantly had Proverbs 16:9 in my mind: “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” God used every moment and challenge to shape me into the missionary I am today. My imago Dei is playing a role in the missio Dei for the people of Germany. God has a plan and a calling for all of us and he made us specifically to live out those callings. All it takes for us to embrace our imago Dei is walk in obedience.
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