The Fruit of Walking in Obedience

Jackie Molden got involved in FCA as a high school student. She attended several camps as a camper and then as a huddle leader. Today she is on staff with North Dakota FCA and serves as a huddle leader coordinator for FCA Northland’s Leadership Camp. Her job is to recruit and help train huddle leaders before camp begins. At camp, she is there as a resource and support for huddle leaders but also has a significant amount of down time where she can get other work done, fellowship with other staff, and rest – usually.

This year when Jackie arrived at camp, she was informed that a huddle leader had to drop out at the last minute and she would need to step in. At first, she was frustrated. She thought to herself, “I don’t want to do this. I know the energy that is required. You have to be present and all-in, and I was not wanting to do that.” But God reminds us of Proverbs 16:9, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” Like the Israelites, we sometimes want to pretend we know better. But Jackie knew God was calling her to this. She simply needed her heart to respond.

Jackie knew what she needed to do. She said, “I texted four people and told them what was happening and asked for people to pray for me, that God would humble me and that I would serve joyfully in this new role and not be pouty.” That was Thursday morning, and the campers started arriving late afternoon. Jackie said, “By the time I met the campers, it was all God. He had done a complete transformation of my heart and attitude. Especially by Friday morning I was praising God and was so glad I was a huddle leader!”

She and her huddle went on to have a great time at camp. Once God had moved in her heart, she never looked back. The girls in her huddle saw a joy-filled leader serving them, and she was able to use what God was doing in her heart at that moment to minister to her huddle leaders. One of the girls, Emily, said, “She told us that everything that happens is part of God’s plan. She was always excited, said a lot of things that helped us, and related well to us.” 

Another girl, Amanda, said, “She was really free with encouragement, and she fit in with our group. I texted her a couple weeks ago for help with something and she helped me.” Finally, Renae, who had been in Jackie’s huddle a couple years ago and was excited to have her as a huddle leader again, said, “She was kind and open about her experiences in life and relationships. She was also understanding.”

Not only were her huddle members drawn into closer relationship with the Lord because of her joyful obedience, Jackie learned a lot through the experience. She said, “I grew to recognize my great need to depend on God in everything. Instead of viewing my circumstances (like the change in My plans and how I will do it MYSELF), I learned to take a moment to remember that this is not outside of God’s plan and He will walk me through it.” She also learned the importance of reaching out to others when she knows something is bigger than her. It not only blessed her, but it blessed those four people who saw God move in Jackie’s heart and life at camp.

Like the Israelites, Jackie could have missed out on tremendous blessings if she had refused to serve or served without joy. But she wanted to walk in obedience. She wanted her huddle members to have an amazing experience at camp. She believed God could change her heart, and He did! We are so grateful for Jackie’s obedience and the way God worked through her to touch the lives of her huddle members throughout camp.