God’s Kindness in a Yes

By Deacon Tuttle

Picture this: You’re sitting, wondering, and asking earnestly for God to give you direction and a specific calling. Seconds later, God meets you with an answer and a call to action. This is precisely how the Lord made Matthew’s next chapter known to him.

Although he was initially pursuing a career path in engineering, God brought Matthew to a calling in vocational ministry. As graduation approached in the spring of 2024, Matthew began praying about staying in Pullman, Washington, or moving to Chico, California, alongside the rest of the church planting team.

“Time was running short on decision-making. I was asking God, ‘I need an answer on Chico, ’” Matthew says. At that exact time, Carson, the pastor of Resonate Chico, called Matthew and asked him to meet in person. He informed Matthew that Pullman's hiring process was closed, but an extension was made for him to join as a campus intern with the Chico team. Matthew said, “It was God answering my prayer in that moment.” There was a need for more staff to be sent out, and Matthew was able to fill that role. 

Even though he received immediate clarity, the decision wasn’t without difficulties that soon followed. Matthew had a few moments thinking, “What am I doing? I’m moving to a different state. Moving from family and from all the people that I know.” This had him rethinking often. After much processing, he could discern that fear was getting in the way of his direct ministry — Fears of financial provision and of leaving those he was closest to. Matthew said that as he wrestled with those thoughts, it became clear that the devil was trying to break him down. 

Carson and others around Matthew were able to give him space and encouragement as he geared up to begin his journey in officially joining the staff.

After a week of wrestling and sharing his fears with the Lord, he was firm in his decision. “I returned to Carson and told him, I’m committed.'

One person who made moving to Chico meaningful to Matthew is his friend Alejandro. He was the first person who came from death to life, that they were able to celebrate at their new church plant. Alejandro had grown up Catholic but had not heard the Gospel. Before he and Matthew met, Alejandro had purchased a Bible and was connected to other local Christian ministries. God presented an opportunity for Matthew to follow up on the previously planted seeds. 

As they lunched together one day last October, Matthew asked Alejandro where he was in his relationship with Jesus. Alejandro was blunt and aware, “Honestly, He’s not the Lord of my life.” Matthew appreciated such honesty. Following this interaction, they began to read Scripture together regularly. One day, before they met for a Bible study, God prompted Alejandro to pray. Alejandro told Matthew what had happened and said, “I spent time in the car praying and confessing sin in my life. I repented of it. And I think I'm all in.” 

Matthew says that's when he declared his faith in Jesus, coming from death to life. He has seen Alejandro desire a relationship with God, and since then, he’s wanted to learn more and join in the mission of reaching the lost at Chico. 

God is using Matthew’s “yes” to vocational ministry and church planting to impact college students as he shares Jesus with non-believers. Throughout the uncertainty, the worry, and the fear, God has been faithful in delivering Matthew exactly where he is needed at Chico.

“In the initial step of faith, God had already known the day that Matthew and Alejandro would meet and the steps that would be made toward Alejandro surrendering his life to Jesus’s Lordship. ”

Ask yourself: “How is God moving in my life now and preparing me for the future?” We have a limited scope and often cannot imagine where we are being led. Thankfully, our God is sovereign and in control. When we give Him the desires of our hearts and follow Him, He will provide direction and protection. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand”. Along our journey, God will use our efforts and convictions for His glory and the good of those in our sphere.