Feature

NOT MY WILL

BY TAMARA MICHALENKO TERRY

When Jesus prayed to His Father, “not My will, but Yours, be done,” in Luke 22:42, He conveyed the anguish of the situation. Spiritual journeys in both biblical times and today are not without challenges. Michell Medellin, a Richardson Seventh-day Adventist Church member in Dallas, knows that all too well.

Before she was even born, her parents became acquainted with Lillian Gonzalez in Brownsville, Texas. Gonzalez, a Seventh-day Adventist Bible worker, assisted the BIESDA Language Program for people to learn English. Hearing about a Hispanic evangelistic series at the time, Michell’s parents attended and started studying the Bible with Lillian. After believing what Lillian shared, they visited the Brownsville Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church. Brownsville church members welcomed the family with open arms and offered support as Michell’s mom became pregnant with her. Eventually, Michell’s parents, five siblings, and Michell were baptized.

It wasn’t until high school, though, that school events challenged her Sabbath observance, seen by Seventhday Adventists as Friday night to Saturday night. “This was a source of contention for my mom and I,” said Michell. “I did not really understand the importance of Sabbath. Since I attended the local public school, there were many activities and sporting events held during Sabbath hours. Stubbornly wanting to attend them, I was relentless about attending them until my mother stopped bugging me. Then, Saturday became just another day for me.”

Following her high school graduation, she decided to follow a friend to Dallas to pursue a few job opportunities. Being an adventurous spirit, she was excited about trying something new. “From 2003 to 2005, I was working and living life for myself with no direction or purpose,” said Michell. “I was surviving, but not living. I attended a Methodist church on occasion with a friend, but something seemed like it was missing.” Life changed when Michell started attending college in January 2005. God miraculously positioned her to work for a Jewish property manager who wanted to see her succeed and helped pay her tuition. They connected when she had shared with him that she grew up observing the Sabbath as a Seventh-day Adventist. “Knowing what a dark place I was in prior to this, it was incredible to see God leading all along,” said Michell. God continued to lead her life when, two years later, she had to change jobs. Thankfully, she found another organization that offered tuition reimbursement.

It was around this time that Michell started searching for a church to attend regularly. “I found myself needing God and wanting to go back to my faith,” said Michell. “I missed being a part of a church and having a relationship with God. The nearby North Dallas Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church in Carrollton embraced her. Rededicating her life to Christ, she was baptized about a year later. A mere two years later, however, Michell found herself in another valley of her spiritual journey. What should have been a wonderful time as she neared her college graduation turned out to be a challenge for her both personally and spiritually.

Focused on work, Michell was driven to be the top salesperson at her organization. Within 13 months of employment, she surpassed many experienced sales/admissions representatives to be number one out of 45. That eventually required her to work an occasional Saturday.

In 2012, she started attending the Richardson Seventh-day Adventist Church with friends when she was not working. It was during that time that Richardson was focused on getting everyone involved in at least one group with three leaders (upreach, inreach, outreach) and one church board mentor. Michell enjoyed the small groups and started to feel convicted that she should reserve her Sabbaths for worship. Being the top salesperson in the company, she thought it would be no problem getting Saturdays off. She was wrong. Her friend suggested she talk to the Richardson pastor, Dan Serns, about a letter of accommodation requesting the day off.

“Michell was obviously upset about the situation when she phoned me,” said Dan. “Wanting to calm her, I asked about her family and upbringing.” She proceeded to tell him about her Brownsville experience. Not able to see his smile, Dan said, “My wife and I prayed for you before you were even born.” Confused, Dan

proceeded to tell her how he started the BEISDA Language Program in Brownsville and worked with Lillian since he was the Brownsville Seventhday Adventist Church pastor at the time. “Isn’t it amazing how the Lord orchestrated all of this, so that we could have this conversation today?” he told her. Dan connected her with the Texas Conference Religious Liberty and Public Affairs Director at the time. “I am forever thankful to him for his help,” said Michell.

As it is for each one of us, Michell’s spiritual journey isn’t over. The words she shared following her religious liberty experience are a good daily reminder: “Not once had God forsaken me, even at my worst when I had been away from church - so why would He now?” He wouldn’t.

God’s waiting to walk with you on your own journey if you’ll let Him. Invite Him into your heart today and watch Him take you places you’ve never dreamt of before.