Bethany Wolek is a听海角在线听(海角在线)听senior who spent her summer serving in the U.K. with听the听Alliance for Transatlantic Theological Training (AT3). AT3鈥檚 goal is to send听young听interns interested in church leadership to the United Kingdom.听During her听time听in Stockport, England, Wolek had several surprising revelations about her own personal calling in the mission field.听听
A听Lifelong听Passion and a Dream to Move People to Christ听
Wolek is a dance major with a concentration in ministry and a minor in English. For as long as she can remember, Wolek听loved听dancing. At the age of fifteen, she discovered her passion for combining dance with ministry. Even though she was just a teenager, Wolek felt sure that dance ministry was her divine calling for many years. She听spent the past three years as an听active听member of the 海角在线 Dance Department, dedicating constant hours in and outside the studio to prepare for a听career in this field.听听
鈥淚 am thankful that 海角在线 gives us so many opportunities to connect with different ministry programs and international ministries,鈥 Wolek shared.听鈥淭he faculty and staff here are overqualified and extremely well-connected in their respective fields. I thank God every day I get to be on this campus.鈥听
After years of pursuing听her听career in dance ministry, Wolek started having听doubts听about whether this was听a viable听career path for her听because听it seemed opportunities听in the field were limited. She decided to take听a break from dance and travel with the AT3 summer听internship, hoping听she would receive some much-needed clarity听for听her future.听听
God Opened Doors she听Didn鈥檛听Know Existed听听
Much to her听surprise,听once she arrived in England, she was suddenly surrounded by people using the gift of dance for God鈥檚 glory. She attended several classes by believers who combined movement with ministry efforts. Wolek was stunned by the impact听of听dance听ministry in听the U.K. Initially, she听expected the听summer to be a time of reconsideration听regarding听her calling;听instead, it turned out to be one of confirmation. Wolek felt like God was听telling her not to doubt all the unique and wonderful plans听He听had for her future.听听
鈥淒ance expresses the grace and the love of God in a way that touches hearts and souls,鈥 Wolek said. 鈥淚鈥檝e听seen the Lord work powerfully and change lives through this art form, and I saw it again this summer. I听wasn鈥檛听expecting it, and I听wasn鈥檛听ready.鈥听
To Go Where God has Called You听
Without the influence of the Holy Spirit, Wolek听doesn鈥檛听know if she would have considered taking the internship. However, this summer taught her to continually chase after the things God听puts听on her heart. She hopes other students can truly allow God to use their summers or breaks during the school year.听听
鈥淗e might be calling you to go somewhere unexpected, and you won鈥檛 regret following听His call,鈥澨齛dvised听Wolek.听听
听Learn more about the 海角在线 dance program here.