News about My Mom

Many of you have asked for an update on my mom. So, I thought this would be the best way to get the information out. About two weeks ago, my mom had 'irregular cell' activity that showed up on a PET scan. This was alarming to all of us since she is 15 months past her last treatment from breast cancer. In a matter of seven days, we discovered this – and the mass was surgically removed. The growth was the size of a cantaloupe. However, the slice that was taken for initial biopsy and examination came back benign, so we were relieved. On Friday, my mom received a phone call from the doctor saying that the rest of the growth had been sent off for testing, and they had discovered a rare malignancy nestled inside the benign growth. I had never heard of this before. So, on Friday, my mom was diagnosed with leiomyosarcoma. We still don't know much (and we were told not to do research on-line). We do know that this type of cancer has two major characteristics. It is sporadic and aggressive. It is also usually resistant to chemo and radiation. My parents went to the doctor yesterday – and they requested a second opinion. The doctor strongly supported that decision. He recommended the complete sarcoma center at Dana Farber Brigham and Women's Center in Boston, Massachusetts. My parents will travel there together on December 3^rd. If you would like to send my mom a card, please send to Ruthie Fentress, 1221 Stoneridge Rd. Lawrenceburg, KY 40342. If you are in Lawrenceburg, then I am sure my parents will not turn down a meal, a visit, or a favor – although they wouldn't ask for any of the three. Above all and as always, your prayers are appreciated – for my parents, my sister Julie, and me. God has really given me a peace these last few days that I know could have only come from Him. We know that none of this is a surprise to Him. He is faithful and He is able.

Evolution of a Calling

Websters.com defines evolution as “a process of gradual, peaceful, progressive change or development” and “any process of formation or growth; development.” For the past decade, I have been blessed to travel around the world and explain how God began to form my calling at an early age. At the age of 9, I began playing basketball, rode on an airplane for the first time, and became a Christian. The third grade was a big year for me as God was instilling passions inside of me that, eventually, He wanted to use for His glory. For the last ten years, He has given me ISF as an avenue to live out these passions on a daily basis. Sports, traveling, and missions are all still very important to me.

Throughout my time at ISF, God has helped raise awareness of new areas of ministry that excite and energize me. One of these is discipleship throughout the mission process. God is able to use people’s obedience to go and serve internationally to take them to a new level in their spiritual journey. I absolutely love watching and participating in this process for volunteers. For the past three years, God has also grown a desire in me to help take care of and be an advocate for the 143 million orphans around the world. The Bible is so clear that taking care of orphans and widows IS the heart of God.

As the calling that began at the age of 9 continues to evolve, it is with very mixed emotions that I share with you that I will be leaving ISF in December and taking a position working with Samaritan’s Feet in Charlotte, North Carolina. I will be the Director of the Shoes of Hope program which will mobilize people, resources, and shoes to people in need around the globe. God has been stirring and uprooting my life in Georgia for the past year or so, but I was never really sure why. In the last month, He has made that unsettledness more than obvious. I have been amazed at how He has taken care of every detail – even down to bringing my replacement at ISF before I knew this new opportunity at Samaritan’s Feet even existed. He has shown off His faithfulness over and over through this process. When I surrendered to full time ministry at the age of seventeen, I had no idea the journey that was ahead of me. This is not the way I would have written my life story. However, the story that God wants to write for our lives is better than any story that we could ever create on our own.

Scripture tells us in Ephesians that God predestines a plan for His children and works everything out according to His ultimate purpose: to glorify Himself among the nations. In order for His name to be magnified, we as His children have to evolve, grow and mature so that we can be an effective tool for the Kingdom. In reflection of this past decade, I can see the hand of God on my life. He really has worked out everything according to His own plan because there IS a bigger picture that I cannot always see. I am grateful for this process, even though it has been difficult at times. I have learned SO much about mobilization, about communicating well with others, about myself, and most importantly about God’s heart. I have made so many new friends; many of these I am sure will be lifelong relationships. The ISF staff has been an extended family to me. I really cannot put into words how grateful I am for my decade with the International Sports Federation.

God Bless you as you continue to surrender to the story that He wants to write for you – there really is no greater adventure on this side of heaven.