Blessings to you all!
My name is Emma Hustad and I am a college student at the University of North Dakota where I am active in Christian ministry through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as President; Campus Crusade for Christ / Athletes In Action as a bible-study leader; and the World-Wide Student Network reaching international students; Grace Baptist Church and the Fighting Sioux Tennis Team.
Emma Hustad and Rachel Snelen with ICTA Founder, Scott Paschal, celebrating the 63rd Anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France during ICTA Global Mission Trip to 2007 French Open.
But what’s more… I am a summer missionary on court serving hard through the International Christian Tennis Association in Florida. What an amazing few months it’s been!
It’s beyond me- to look back and see how God in his faithfulness brought me here.
Emma and Rachel at a castle Bed & Breakfast near Normandy, France.
Well, why don’t we go back! Summer break was almost here and the dilemma began… How does God want to use Emma this summer? With so many great opportunities I felt challenged discerning through God’s plans for my summer in comparison to my plans and ideas for my summer.
Emma Hustad Training With Scotty
If it were up to me, I would have worked around home… maybe taught some tennis… enjoyed vacation with my friends… and placed God in a neat, little comfort zone box on a 2 week Athlete’s in Action missions trip to Kazakhstan. This all was within my comfort zone.
The whole total-summer-commitment Florida / ICTA thing wasn’t something I felt comfortable doing since it didn't quite fit into Emma's little box.
Dilemma almost solved… right?!
Not Quite! God had other plans.
Rachel Snelen and Emma Hustad Visiting Notre Dame in Beautiful Paris.
In challenging me through His word, He revealed to me a couple of examples that made biblical history. He showed me His will for living life in a way outside of my comfort zone that made less of me and more of Him.
Esther, for example, had a selfless attitude of “If I perish, oh well, I perish!” much like Paul’s sacrificial heart “to live as Christ – dying is gain!”
God really challenged me to lose much of me and my self-security, comfort, control, safety… to gain, thrive, and live abundantly in trusting and depending on His plan.
Emma and ICTA Christian Tennis Academy Students Playing a Board Game in Scott Paschal's House.
So I took a leap of faith being comfortable in my uncomfortable-ness because my comfort was in God! Got that?!
I now find myself in Florida with Scott Paschal and the International Christian Tennis Association seeking, seeing, knowing more of Christ each day through the work- Eternal work, through ICTA missions to professional tennis tournaments in Texas, South Carolina, and Washington DC: people finding Jesus!
To ICTA amazing missions foundational work in Paris and Normandy, France during the 2007 French Open; to eye-opening experiences in Israel yet to come in August-
To daily training with WTA players up to three workouts a day! 2 on 1 tennis training, early morning footwork, strength training! To being daily discipled by ICTA founder, Scott Paschal, in his own home! To attending Student Life in Daytona, Florida as a special guest of David Nasser who speaks to over 700,000 people a year, and having the privilege to sit next to David’s wife.
To meeting people who came to know Christ through ICTA! To learning everything about ICTA and seeing God working faithfully through His servants! God is faithful!
ICTA Women's Pro Tennis Team at Christian Event. Emma (3rd left)
All of which being His plans through the International Christian Tennis Association to make Himself known.
So, in some of the many dilemmas God has in your life right now… as a sister in Christ I’d like to challenge you to lose yourself, your plans –Be weak and be God's!
For when you are weak, then He is strong!
Emma
