By Chy Kamau

A Life-Changing Decision

I met the Lord for the first time as a high schooler at summer camp through my church. In the summer of 2017, I made the life-changing decision to follow Jesus and surrender my life to Him. After I prayed with my leader, she looked at me and said, “God told me you’re going to lead girls.” At the time, I rejected that promise. How could someone who struggled academically, carried a lot of pain, and did not have identifiable leadership qualities be called on for leadership? 

God said I would.

Turning to God: A Call to Surrender

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. From that summer in 2017, God began transforming my life through the process of discipleship. He positioned me in a church that gave me opportunities to serve, lead in youth ministry, and be part of a family I never knew I needed. Through discipleship, I learned to align my life with God’s plan instead of my own. Surrendering my habits, my dreams, and even my pain into His hands brought me further than I ever could have gone on my own.

Life didn’t magically become easier, but I had a new foundation to stand on. Like the Apostle Paul, I learned to turn to Jesus in every circumstance—in seasons of plenty and in seasons of need.

One of the hardest seasons came in 2022. I was unemployed, discouraged, lonely, and uncertain about my future. Friendships felt distant, and I often felt like I was wrestling alone. Yet even in the silence, God was working. After three months of unemployment, I got a phone call from a director at Seattle’s Union Gospel Mission, asking if I could create a discipleship program from scratch for their women’s facility. I had no experience building a program—just a “yes” in my spirit and the belief that obedience mattered more than my qualifications.

What began as a simple “yes” turned into the Graduate Internship Program (GIP)—a year-long discipleship experience for women coming out of recovery. When the program began, one class was offered each week. Now, programming includes case management, classes, service opportunities, and so much more. Through GIP, women develop deep relationships with Jesus and are equipped to make disciples themselves.

Lessons Learned: Trusting God’s Plan

Looking back, I see how God had been preparing me all along for the path I’m walking now. From the moment I turned 18 and heard the call to lead girls, He was putting every step into place.

Simultaneously, God was growing my heart through youth ministry. I have been leading a group of girls at my church since they were ten years old—walking with them through the highs and lows of life—pointing them to Christ. Being rooted in youth ministry sharpened my ability to disciple women at the Mission. Whether working with teenagers or women overcoming trauma, homelessness, and addiction, God reminds me: each person is a beloved daughter of the King.

Throughout this journey, I’ve been blessed with incredible mentors and friends—women who stood beside me, prayed for me, and continually pointed me back to the Word. Their support has been vital in every season. Though the calling God placed on my life has sometimes felt heavy, I’ve never carried it alone. God always provided the strength, wisdom, and the people I needed.

Saying “Yes” to God

Today, my heart burns to see recovery discipleship programs expand across the country. I dream of more women experiencing the same transformation I’ve witnessed firsthand through the Graduate Internship Program.

His will over mine—always.

Reflection  Questions:

1. Where in your life might God be inviting you to surrender your plans in exchange for His greater purpose?
   
2. How has God used seasons of waiting, struggle, or uncertainty in your life to prepare you for something bigger?
   
3. Who has God placed around you to support and encourage your calling, and how can you lean into that community today?