Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I am writing to you today to ask for your prayers. During this past Holy Week, Fairmont Ministries – a college ministry and coffee shop in Wichita, Kansas – reached out to let me know that they have issued me a Divine Call to serve as their Director of Discipleship and Engagement.

Some of you may be unfamiliar with what that exactly means. A Divine Call, or the Call process as it’s more commonly referred to, is the way our Synod has agreed to help churches and other Lutheran ministries find professional church workers who are trained to serve their particular needs well and lead them spiritually. LCMS churches and organizations receive names of trained workers through their district and often nominations from their members, and through a process of prayer and study, discern who they believe God is calling to serve them. Then they issue a Call to that church worker and ask them to also enter into a period of prayer and discernment to see if the Holy Spirit truly is calling them to serve in a new corner of the kingdom.

Over the next few weeks, I will spend extended time in prayer and Scripture study as I listen for the Lord’s answer to this Call. I have full confidence that whether God intends for me to continue on here at Redeemer serving our middle school and high school youth families, or whether He is calling me to Wichita, Kansas to serve in college and young adult ministry, He will graciously provide for both communities.

I hope that you and your family will pray for me as I wait on the Lord’s answer. If you would like to speak with me more about this, feel free to reach out to me and I would gladly set up a time to talk. I will be gone the weekend of April 7th at our District Youth Gathering with our middle school and high school students. Shortly after, I plan on visiting Fairmont Ministries to learn more about their context and ministry needs. It is my aim to have a final decision regarding this process by April 21st.

Thank you for your love, your support, and your prayers. God bless you this week with His Easter joy!

In Christ,

Hannah Hayden
Director of Youth Ministries