Angola #1: An Unexpected Message

Steven Lake Posted on Posted in Life Well-Lived

My life changed forever in the last four months of 2003. I never saw it coming.

It was 6:00 a.m., September 5, 2003, as I sat drinking coffee at a McDonald’s. On the table were my Bible, journal, and a pen. I was reading Luke 5:27-32 about the call of Levi (Matthew).

Jesus saw Levi sitting at his tax booth and said, “Follow Me.” Immediately Levi got up, left everything, and followed Jesus. Then Levi hosted a great banquet for Jesus attended by his fellow tax collectors. When the Pharisees criticized Jesus for eating with “sinners,” He witnessed to the group.

Whenever I read my Bible I look for spiritual principles. I wrote in my journal that Levi:
• Obeyed when Jesus called
• Took a step of faith
• Surrendered everything
• Sacrificed everything
• Had his life change
• Celebrated Jesus in community
• Saw the Gospel shared

I have no explanation for what happened next. My hand was moving, but it wasn’t me writing; words were being written, but they weren’t my words. This was the message:

“Steve, I’m calling you to obey Me by taking a step of faith. Surrender everything to Me; sacrifice everything for Me; and I will change your life. You will celebrate Me in community, and you will be My witness.”

What I didn’t know then that I know now is that every word of that message would come true.

About

Dr. Steve Lake is a retired educator with over 30 years experience in the American public schools. He has served in a variety of position, including teacher, elementary school principal, junior high principal, Associate Superintendent, retired from public education as Superintendent of Schools in Lincolnwood, IL. He has his Bachelors, Masters and Doctor of Education degrees from Northern Illinois University. For the past 25 years Steve has attended and been a member of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington and Northfield, IL. At Willow Creek Steve has taught adult classes on spiritual gifts, life purpose, and spiritual disciplines. He has ministered overseas in Angola, Zambia, Honduras, Germany, and Russia. Steve is co-founder of Designed to Serve, a ministry that equips Christians to live out their unique God-given calling. Steve is married and has two adult children who are married.