Tuesday Testimonies – Rachel Salter

As we travel on our spiritual journey, it’s always encouraging to hear from others how God has worked in their lives. Periodically we’ll share testimonies from our NAOBC Women on how God worked in their life. Today’s testimony is from Rachel Salter.

Rachel has been a member of NAOBC for almost two years. She attends the Singles BFG and serves in the Children’s Ministry in Kid’s Worship. You can read more about her here.

When I think of God’s faithfulness, one of the first things that comes to mind is how I ended up in Louisville attending Southern Seminary. From my teenage years, I felt God leading me to pursue international missionary service. I went on multiple short-term trips with my church and other organizations. When I finished my undergraduate degree, I was expectant that the doors of ministry would fling themselves wide open. However, it was 2 years after graduating before the Lord provided an opportunity that I anticipated to be the first step in continuous overseas service.

I moved to the Horn of Africa in the fall of 2019 to serve as a homeschool teacher for missionary kids and prayerfully sought for a more permanent role.
However, March of 2020 happened, and the world shut down. Within 48 hours I went from sitting in Africa with my team to sitting alone at my parents’ house for a 2 week quarantine. No one knew what would happen next and uncertainty was the only thing that seemed certain. I wrestled heavily during this season with doubt and questions for the Lord. Why had He taken me overseas just to bring me back to the States? Would the world ever get to a place where I could serve overseas again? Why would He call me to missions if He was going to allow the doors to close?

As I prayed, God began to stir my heart towards attending seminary. The need to be better prepared for a future on the mission field became clearer and clearer. The Lord’s faithfulness to provide a season where I couldn’t serve internationally pushed me to a place where I knew I needed to begin seminary classes. Without the pandemic, I likely would have been content to continue on the mission field. I am so grateful to look back and see how God’s Hand truly has worked all things for good (Romans 8:28). What I saw as an inconvenience and frustration to my plans, God ordained as the means to open my eyes to new opportunities.

While my prayers for missionary service overseas have not ceased, I am more willing to consider that God’s plans likely look different than what I expect. My prayer now is that the Lord will shape and mold my desires to be in line with His will and that I will be faithful to follow wherever and whenever He leads.