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| Beth Summay--An Intrepid Spirit |
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| Beth and her husband Jeff
This SEEDS
interview is more difficult because I haven’t seen this woman in years. She
lives across a vast expanse of water. We have corresponded sporadically over
the years: kept up with each other randomly through Facebook, email and friends
and family. But when I thought about doing the SEEDS vignettes I knew this
woman would be on my list.
When I was a
young mom our family made a life-changing move to another city to work in a fairly
new church plant.
My goal was
to stay home with my two young girls (2 and 3). In order to make this possible
I babysat children in my home.
Eventually I
would keep four children besides my own, but my favorites were two beautiful
little boys named Will and Ben (who are now men grown).
Through them
I came to know their mother. She was very close friends with a mutual friend I went
to college with (another woman I am hoping will be featured here on SEEDS in
the future). We were all involved in this new church.
We were a
strange trio. My memories are fogged by years and perspective, but I distinctly
remember being so awed and intimidated by these two women.
Beth was so
full of verve and life. A free spirit, bound by little convention. She dropped her
boys off in the mornings and as she drove away I experienced this feeling of
being frumpy and dull next to her. She seemed to live this out loud kind of
life. Confidence oozed from her and she handled life and situations with what
seemed like such ease and chill. With years now under my belt I realize that
some things are never quite what they seem.
We were young.
Young mothers. Young wives. Young leaders in church. Young disciples. At that
time I didn’t consider us young, but we were. Very young.
We are no
longer young. We are touching the half century mark.
And yet.
Yet Beth’s
energy still amazes me. Her ability and willingness to embrace situations and
circumstances that were and are far outside her comfort zone remains. Couple
this intrepid-ness with Beth’s sincere compassion for people and you have a very
unique and beautiful combination.
God’s
combination. And He is using this combination to touch lives.
I want you to hear Beth’s story. Beth’s story has many facets. She fought a
fierce battle with breast cancer. Fought hard, and was so achingly beautiful in
the midst of it. She is in a place of daily dependence on the Father for her
health, for her interactions. For language. For direction. I want you to
understand this (or something similar or comparable) could be your
story. If you are willing to move out
of your comfort zone.
The story of how
they arrived in this place just shakes my heart. As I always say these
interviews are long, but please take time to read them because they are so full
of the move and hand of God. These women are filled with wisdom and spiritual
insight.
Every time I read and format these SEED interviews I feel like I have
been to a mini Women’s conference!
Beth and
Jeff have been married for 28 years. They have four children: Rusty-26,
William-24, Ben-23 and Becky-21 and Becky’s husband Tony! According to Beth these
are the greatest kids ever!
Jeff and
Beth are missionaries in Bosnia.
Beth went on a short term mission trip to Bosnia in June
2000. Here’s her account of that trip:
As crazy as it sounds, I knew the moment my feet touched the
tarmac at the airport in Sarajevo, our family was supposed to live in Bosnia at
some point. Knowing one cannot make a
giant, life-changing decision based on feelings, I decided to pray about it and
ask God to show Jeff what His plan was for us.
In the fall of 2000, Jeff went on a short term mission trip
with some men to Bosnia for a work project.
I fully expected God to blow Jeff's mind and rock his world. I really thought Jeff would return and say,
'We are moving!' This did not happen.
Throughout the next two to three months, we visited church
with our parents, went to a Franklin Graham rally as well as small group and
our own church. Each and every sermon
illustration and story was taken from the story of the Rich Young Ruler in Luke
18. Jeff felt much convicted and knew God wanted his obedience in going to the
mission field.
We prayed and visited TeamExpansion (our mission organization in Louisville). Jeff felt there was no way they would have a
need for us since we did not have Bible college degrees and we have four
children. After talking with them, they
shared how Jeff had the exact skill set they were hoping to find for the team
in Bosnia. They very much believed God had
called our entire family to Bosnia, not just Jeff and I.
1. In this current season what would be your
most comforting and your most challenging Scripture verse or passage?
Most Comforting and Most
challenging Scripture passages: One and the same for Beth.
We demolish arguments and every
pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take
captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5
2.
With
the Scriptures a given name two other
books which have contributed to the increase, growth and challenge of your
faith?
Green Leaf in Drought
by Isobel Kuhn. It challenges me to
evaluate myself when all comforts are taken away. When there is suffering, how will I respond?
When I Lay My Isaac Down by Carol Kent. This book reminded me God is faithful, even in the most terrible circumstances. I learned that each day, I have to lay my children before God; they are his. He loves them more than I do and He has a plan for each one. As young adults, they are responsible for their relationship with God and God does not need my interference or help.
3. If you could have a conversation with your
twenty-one year old self what would you tell her?
Find
your identity in Christ and nothing else.
See yourself only through the lens of how you are viewed by God. Seek God deeply and allow Him to fulfill the
desires of your heart. Stop comparing
yourself to perfect ideal you think you should be, whether you have built that
up in your mind or it has been placed there by others or the world (Notice the pattern that is emerging in each
SEED woman’s advice?). Nothing can
separate you from God.
4. What do you think are your two strongest spiritual
gifts and how is God using them to minister to his Body?
Compassion
and Giving. Giving is one thing in which
I think Jeff and I are equally matched.
We both know that all we have is not ours, it is God's and we are just
the stewards. I cannot take a thing with me when I die and if it helps another
person, or furthers the kingdom, then I will give it away.
I
have been told I am a compassionate person.
I hurt when others hurt and, even when I have no idea what to say, or
have no way to practically help out, I will want to just 'be' there. My heart hurts with those who are
hurting.
I
am involved in church planting training with two believers and it is really,
really challenging. God continues to
humble me through speaking a foreign language.
I am spending more and more time meeting with Muslim women in our city
and getting to know them on a deeper level.
I have committed more time to prayer and have been organizing prayer
weekends in our city.
5. What one piece of encouragement would you
offer the women reading this interview?
Find your identity in Christ alone. Don't run away from difficult circumstances, embrace
them. God uses these to grow and build our character and mold us more into the image of
Christ.Allow God to use those difficult times to show you strongholds in your heart. God is
good and He has good things for you.
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