By Kate Sperry
Communications Intern
Kate Sperry (pictured above) will be a junior at Grace College. She is an intern this summer on the Communications Team. She is specializing in writing, social media and missions advocacy.
When I arrived for the first day of my summer internship with OneWay, we started with worship.
The first thing you see when you walk into the ministry center is a wide open space with a grand piano in the center of it all. Thinking of it now, I can see how the large piano in the middle of the OneWay space seems to be a physical representation of how worship, also, is in the center of all that this ministry does.
I anxiously settled into my seat, but not for long. Michael Thompson, OneWay’s president, was seated at the piano, his hands effortlessly lifting up praise to God through the instrument’s strings. He called us out of our spots, where we were safely seated next to new friends, to gather around the piano. “Get close,” he told us.
I was uncomfortable.
I was used to praising God from my seat in church or in my car, but never face-to-face with others. As we shuffled around the piano, out of the shadows, I noticed a few other interns casting nervous glances. But as he started to play, all nerves fled.
Everyone lifted their voices in praise, and the sound we made was indescribable. Many were brought to tears because of this beauty that overshadowed the uneasiness that had once filled the room.
I don’t think we have stopped worshiping since that point. Whether it’s at the piano in the OneWay Ministries’ building or in a cabin in the middle of Wisconsin or in the garage of one of the three intern houses.
I began asking myself, “Why does OneWay put such an emphasis on worship?”
Well, the Lord answered.
As I was reading 2 Chronicles 20, I read a story about Jehoshaphat, who was the king of Judah at the time. He was in great distress because an opposing army was coming to attack his kingdom. He cried out to the Lord in despair, not knowing what to do.
The Lord responded through Jahaziel, a prophet, and told him this in verse seventeen: “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem.”
Jehoshaphat trusted in these words and ordered his men to worship instead of fight. They went out singing, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His love endures forever.”
As they did this, the Lord set up attacks of His own to defeat the enemy. As Jehoshaphat’s army marched over the hill, they saw that the battle had already been won. God delivered them from their enemies because of their praise. They knew the battle wasn’t theirs and trusted it in the hands of the Lord.
Worship is powerful.
It is a beautiful way of surrendering everything and praising our wonderful, capable Creator. It is evident OneWay recognizes this and responds to the questions and trials of running a non-profit organization with praise.
They give credit where credit is due.
And I am very thankful to be a part of it.
Help activate even more young adults into Kingdom-building work! We are expanding our internship program this summer and beyond. Learn how you can help:
