Serving Spotlight – Emily Windsor
Meet Emily Windsor!
I enjoy serving because _______,
- It humbles me. It is a continual reminder that this life I am living isn’t about me. The things that I do and the accomplishments that I achieve aren’t for my glory, but for God’s. I love seeing the impact that I can make by simply showing up.
I got to serve and see this impact on ________
- There are so many stories that I could share. A fond, impactful memory I have is when my team traveled to Haiti in 2016 to spend our spring break with orphaned girls at the House of Hope. We stayed there for a little under a week and got to share the love of Jesus Christ through storytelling, craft making, wall painting, and quality time. That week was very memorable for all of us and on the final day, when we were leaving the orphanage, I remember looking back at the kids, who were ever so sad to see us go. Seeing their eager waves goodbye and the smiles on their faces is when I knew, just by showing up, Christ’s love is revealed to others.
Serving has impacted me through, by ________
- Sometimes in life, we don’t feel like we have the energy to serve others. As an introvert, I get this feeling more often than I wish. However, every time I do serve, especially if it’s with the right heart, I feel refreshed and renewed. I feel closer to Christ and am reminded of the many blessings I have and the opportunities that are right before me. Through serving, I am humbled and get to see things from a new perspective.
Where did/do you serve?
- My passion is serving internationally! I have served in other areas of the church, such as in the nursery for many many years, but currently my passion is missions. For the past couple of years, I have heard God’s calling in my life toward international missions. It has only grown stronger after my return from Lebanon in 2022. I’ve been seeking out other avenues/locations to see what the Lord is doing and have trips planned to Nicaragua, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Middle East, and hopefully more!
What is your favorite thing about serving?
- Growing Christ’s kingdom. To see more and more knees bow to the Lord. To see a lost person open up the Holy Bible and read about this man named Jesus. To be able to answer questions, to guide, and to be a friend. To experience other cultures and see how they praise the Lord. To be humbled.
What did/do you do while serving?
- Every experience is different and I never assume what I will come across! The Lord has a way of showing you things you would’ve never thought you could do. I’ve loved on the little kiddos who come to Harvester, I’ve gone on service trips, such as the one mentioned earlier to Haiti, I’ve also done evangelistic trips and more. Personally, I love the trips where I get to share the gospel! I’m always taken back to the story of the woman at the well in John 4. This Samaritan woman, who only had a short encounter with Jesus and immediately went to tell the people about Him makes me wonder, where is our boldness and courage as Christians?! I have been prayerfully asking God to give me just that and He has! I can feel the Holy Spirit inside me as I write this, excited to be able to share my passion for the lost. There are so many people in this world, in our communities, and in our own homes who need to hear about Jesus Christ. It is my encouragement to you to be that woman at the well and go! Share about this man who knows you so personally that He can name your 5 husbands (John 4:18) and doesn’t condemn you but chooses to love you!
How has serving helped you grow in your relationship with God?
- When I don’t serve, when I am dormant, I feel distant from God. I get stuck with my thoughts and that’s where the devil likes to attack. He likes to find us when we are focused on ourselves and then feeds us lies. I felt this way when I was in early high school. I was lost. I didn’t understand what my life was for and it wasn’t until I started serving with the right heart that I began to see that this life isn’t for me, it’s for God! I was put here on this earth to serve Him and to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20) Whenever I serve, I am reminded of what Jesus spoke here and feel close to Him.
How has serving helped you or others find and follow Jesus?
- I will share a specific story from my month in Lebanon. There is a student, I’ll call him Mohammed, who is of the Muslim faith. He drew a liking to the group of Americans on his campus and began to tag along with us wherever we went. To the coffee shops, to the mall, on our excursions, everywhere and anywhere! He quickly became one of our closest friends. Every Sunday, our group attended church and every Sunday, Mohammed was invited but never came. Fast forward to our final Sunday there. It was routine
- I didn’t expect to see any of our Lebanese friends come, but here he comes, walking down the aisle to sit with our group! My heart was overwhelmed with happiness, pure joy! This student, our friend, who was very devoted to the Muslim faith was sitting in a Christian church service! He got to hear how the Lord loves him in a way that was so foreign to him. He got to see our hearts pour out to a God who sees our sins and forgives us. It is my prayer that Mohammed has continued to wrestle with who Jesus Christ is. That the Lord is revealing Himself every day and that Mohammed can one day truly find and follow Jesus! Through serving, I get to share in these experiences and walk hand in hand with someone as they discover Jesus for themselves.
How has serving helped you unleash hope into our community?
- My passion for international serving has fueled me while I am stateside! I get to share my experiences with coworkers, bosses, guests (I’m a server), friends, and family! It has been so special getting to share about what God is doing out of our borders with strangers. Every person who gets sat at my table, I try and strike up a conversation. I’ve lost count of how many people I’ve been able to share my faith with while at work. It always brings a smile to their faces and many ask where I go to church. Being able to have a job opportunity like this is a way I can serve right here in our community. It provides me with countless open doors to share the gospel and I know the Lord is using it to make a difference.
How did you get involved and start serving?
- I grew up in the church. For as long as I can remember I’ve been serving in some capacity. As far as international serving goes, the first trip I took was in 2016 to Haiti. This trip really sparked my interest in overseas missions. After that, I followed what society tells a young girl to do. I went to college, got married, and got a “big girl job” (as I like to call it). All of that changed in 2021 when I found out that my husband was having an affair and wasn’t willing to repair what was broken. Now, still going through a divorce, with a different job, and with only an Associate’s Degree I see that what society says is the right path isn’t always so. I am blessed to be where I am today and know that the path the Lord made was so much more beautiful than my own. Christ rekindled the flame in me toward missions and I am doing my best to be faithful to this calling!
What leads you to serve?
- The joy that it brings me! Knowing that I am giving someone the hope of Jesus will never be a waste of time.
We would love to hear your testimony .
- Hi, my name is Emily Windsor and I am 24 years old. I grew up going to church, reading Bible stories, and learning about who Jesus was. It wasn’t until I was in middle school, however, that I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Before then, I always knew He loved me, but I didn’t understand just how deeply. I didn’t grasp that I was a sinner in need of a Savior. But one Sunday, I remember the Pastor speaking about how we are full of sin and don’t deserve forgiveness or grace, but God gives it to us regardless. All we must do is believe in Him, believe in His son and what He did for us on that cross, and ask for forgiveness. I remember praying at that very moment for the Holy Spirit to enter my life.
- Fast forward a few years, I was in college and thoroughly enjoyed every Sunday. Going to church and spending time with fellow believers is something I cherish. One such person I met, I fell in love with and we got married shortly thereafter. Sorrowfully, after just shy of a couple of years of marriage, I discovered that my husband was having an affair. I will spare you the full details and state that, if it wasn’t for Christ, I wouldn’t be where I am today. He was with me every step of the way. He showed me that, even though He may have orchestrated our marriage, the devil is powerful, sin is powerful and it led my husband to do some awful things. Now, today, I can say that I have forgiven my husband for what he did. Being a follower of Christ doesn’t mean that I will live a cushy life with no pain. But it does guarantee that I have Him to run to for refuge, for comfort.
- After the separation from my husband, I rediscovered my love for mission work. My experience gave me a new perspective on how I had been living and what was driving my day-to-day life. I wasn’t living for God’s glory, but my own. I’m not saying I’m perfect today, far from it in fact, but I can say that it has made me realize that life is too short here on this earth to not share my faith. I yearn for everyone to have that rock to lean on and that steady hand to guide them in difficult times.
- Since then, I have been out of the country twice and have loved every single moment! From the Middle East to Europe, I yearn for God’s ultimate calling on my life. I continue to seek opportunities and am asking for prayer as I go through this journey. I pray that I can be an encourager to those in my community and to those around the world. My hope and prayer for you, dear reader, is that you find the calling the Lord is placing on your heart. But remember, in all things, go and make disciples!