God Called Me, Connecting Me to Worldwide Network Through the Summit

Before I attended The Global Leadership Summit, I spent two years looking for a ministry to get involved in. The more I prayed, the more friends recommended the Summit, but I didn’t want to have to attend a conference to get my new calling. It was also a very bad year for the mortgage business, and I was on a tight budget.

One Sunday, a week away from the Summit, I walked in to get ready for the service to begin when I felt God telling me once again to sign up to attend. I said, out loud to God, why should I pay to go to a seminar when I am ready to serve you right now?! If you want me to go you are going to have to pay for it!

Just as I was lowering myself into my seat, a man on stage ran to the microphone and stopped the band to say, it has been brought to one of our member’s attention that there is a person here right now that would appreciate financial aid to attend the Summit this week. Would that person please go to guest central now?

I like to think I am helping change the world one sentence and one blanket at a time.

Humbled and embarrassed that I had demanded God to pay my way, I rushed to guest central in tears. I was given my ticket, lunch included!

I found my place

During one of the breaks at my first Summit, I ran into the ESL booth where they were recruiting volunteer teachers. I also saw a booth for Loving Covers where they were recruiting quilters to sew blankets for those in need. I was immediately sure this was what God wanted me to do, even though I couldn’t sew and had never taught English! I have come to expect God to give me these kinds of assignments because I love how He equips and guides me when I follow His prompting. Now I’m a full-time volunteer teaching English and sewing quilts–I like to think I am helping change the world one sentence and one blanket at a time.

No matter what one does, what one learns at the Summit empowers even the simplest of people to speak to the issues of life with a greater candor.

I have gone to every Summit event since!

The Summit is a source of hope for me. It comforts me to know that there are good leaders doing good things in the world and that I can invest in them as they invest in others. The Summit opens my heart to be a bigger person. It gives me ideas and purposes I can share with others. It broadens my ability to give good counsel. It shows me what God is doing in the lives of others to make our world a better place, especially when leadership and diplomacy are in such high demand. I am an influencer, sharing—per God’s whisper—everything I can. No matter what one does, what one learns at the Summit empowers even the simplest of people to speak to the issues of life with a greater candor. It elevates everyone’s general education and sometimes even illuminates a profound truth that one never knew before.

The Summit connected me to a global network of people that have touched my life eternally.

I met a pastor named Ravi from India. This started an email friendship between us. Pastor Ravi’s stories about his daily life are of triumph over adversity, of God working His perfect will despite great difficulties. It is nice to put our heads together, pray for each other and see God answer.

Pastor Ravi’s Church

Over the last two years I was able to give a small donation to help Ravi, first with last year’s Christmas program to the poor in his church and this year with a donation to his building fund. When he asked me if there was a Summit event near him, I connected him to the Global Leadership Network, and they were able to sponsor his ticket!

Pastor Ravi’s new church being built

To receive his joyful response to what happened at the Summit, and what happened the following weekend—four new people in Christ getting baptized—was just amazing! It makes me happy to help him. I only wish I had more than prayers to give, but God has been faithful and done so much already! Ravi and his wife Swarma were blown away and inspired so much by the Summit. They are practicing what they learned even as I write this. The fact that I was even a small part of all this has just showed me how small the world is and how close we all are despite the thousands of miles between us.

The fact that I was even a small part of all this has just showed me how small the world is and how close we all are despite the thousands of miles between us.

I can come to the GLN when something beyond my reach comes up. The GLN has created a universal network of Christians who want to help other Christians and non-Christians who are less fortunate than themselves, even if prayer is all they can afford. Because we have relationships all over the world, if I come across a Pastor Ravi or someone in need of advice, I am not limited to my own resources and knowledge. I can ask others if they know anyone who can help.

The Summit has taught me anyone can ask. And if you ask not, you have not. So, I ask. The reality is, I am networking my resources with others who are committed to Christ. Zig Zigler said, if you help enough people get what they need, you will never need for anything!

Four people get baptized after GLS 2019 in India

I am just one of zillions of devoted followers of Christ that want to feel His presence, walk in his ways and love others the way He loves us. To me, the Summit is God’s news showing us His army of workers all over the world, wiping away cynicism and resignation—the two biggest destroyers of dreams. Everyone should go to the Summit to expand their knowledge in leadership and communication. The Summit creates a spark for Christ within us.