From Coca-Cola to the White House, 28 year old Naomi Zacharias has worked many people's dream jobs. Answering God's call, however, brought her back to her father's organization to launch a humanitarian outreach ministry. Director of Wellspring International, Naomi now travels the world to serve women and children at risk. People often ask if it is hard to relate to women who have been trafficked, imprisoned, or abused and from so many different cultures. Her answer? It is where she feels most accepted and at home.
Priceless Pearls: My friend was traveling overseas, looking for jewelry to bring back as a gift for a few of us who have grown close as we stumble through life. She found these unique, black pearl pendants. They were not round, but oval, and not smooth, but a little rough around the edges. She asked the lady behind the counter about them, who smiled and said, "Some people see them as flawed. Others see them as special." I now wear that pendant proudly. For some reason, God sees me as special, even with my flaws. He has drawn me to that "special-ness" in others too. I see His reflection most clearly in the eyes of those whom society wrongly discards. My calling is to honor and serve God by reaching out to those who are broken and hurting.
Sometimes an Empty Throne: My relationship with God is one that has become more raw. Faith for me is not easy. But at its base is an absolute confidence in God that keeps me fighting for what I know to be true. There are moments where I feel, as C.S. Lewis described, that I approach the throne only to find it empty. There are other moments where I am certain He is sitting right there. I connect with him by surrounding myself with real people who help me sift through the masks and the superficial. By reading things that pull me deeper into understanding the complexities of life and accepting His mystery. By involving myself in things that remind me of His beauty, His grace, His healing power. His transcendent beauty is found in the beautiful and non-beautiful parts of life, and I love that.
The Filter: God is the filter in me that everything travels through. It's the voice inside that reminds me of why I can't make one choice, and it's the peace inside that helps me rest in another. His word is not a rulebook, it's more like a survival guide. When I go to Him in my brokenness, I don't forget where I've been. I remember, and suddenly it has a purpose and is beautiful.
Conversations: We have recently had the opportunity to help a family in need from a very different religious background. They have been so gracious, and asked, "Why would you do this for us?" Medical facilities we have worked with for this family want to sit down and understand why we are doing what we are doing. It is an opportunity to live the love of Christ. And it also creates this whole trail of dialogue between all the people involved. We have donors supporting these efforts who are not from a Christian worldview and would not normally be giving to a ministry. But we share a common desire to help someone in need, and suddenly the relationship begins. On all sides, it has opened dialogue and built relationships on what Christ lived.
Learn more about Wellspring International at www.wellspringinternational.org.