Taking the Small Steps

I fell in love with urban ministry when I was 13. My parents let me go to Los Angeles on a mission’s trip that went to Watts, South Central, Skid Row, etc. for one week in the summer of 2003 and that one week changed my life. This trip became a life source for me that would get me through the school year and give me something to look forward to. While on this trip in 2008, the summer I graduated from high school, I heard about SUM Bible College, which at the time was based in Oakland, CA. This school combined the urban ministry element that I had fallen in love with for years prior with Bible College education and at that time in my life nothing seemed to make more sense. I applied, got in, and 6 weeks later moved to Oakland.

The last 13 years of my life have been shaped by one small decision I made to raise money for a trip. That small step turned into me getting a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies, starting a Children’s ministry in Oakland, becoming the executive director of a non-profit organization in Oakland, getting my Masters of Divinity, becoming the liaison between SUM Bible College and the Northern California and Nevada Assemblies of God district, and getting Ordained with the Assemblies of God. All of that would have sounded very scary when I was younger. I wasn’t the smartest student at my high school, I wasn’t the leader of anything, and I for sure never thought that I would be in the circles I am today because I have always struggled with feeling like I am enough.

When I think about my life I think about those small steps of obedience along the way and how each one was my step to the next thing God was calling me to. The yeses always led to the learning process I needed for the next level God was taking me to and it helped me to discover the unearthed gifts God had placed within me. If I knew the whole plan when I was younger, I don’t think I would have felt qualified. But God was never asking for me to be where I am today when I was 13. All He wanted was my obedience; for me to show up where I was and knew I needed to be and to make decisions that honored Him. Those small steps of obedience, doing what I was supposed to do, where I am supposed to do it, when I am supposed to it, meant that I was ready for the next thing. You aren’t asked to know the whole plan right now; actually, it is better that you don’t. Just be obedient to where you are serving and who you are serving. The plan will unfold. Your job is to be ready. Be obedient and grow where you are. One of the outcomes of walking in obedience is the joy of finding what you’re good at and getting the privilege of using your gifts to bring glory to God.

Krislyn Cox
SUM Hub Director the Northern California Nevada AG & SUM Main Campus Pastor
SUM Bible College & Theological Seminary