Jared Yoder admits that he doesn’t really enjoy talking in front of a group of people. The Liberty University aviation undergraduate prefers one-on-one conversation.
So imagine this young man plopped down in the middle of a university in Central Asia, asked to lead a group of about 10 Muslim students in a conversation about religion.
“I was nervous about that,” he said. “ But it turned out the students were actively seeking to know what I believe and to know about Christ. It wasn't really hard.”
One of four people from Blue Ridge to go on a mission trip to Central Asia, Yoder said he had no idea what to expect when he signed up. But he knew he had to say, “Yes” when God called him.
“God used the opportunity for me to share my faith. It wasn't something I did out of my own strength,” Jared said. “God took me out of my comfort zone.”
Along with the four Americans, there were two people from England, two from New Zealand and one from Germany on the team.
“It was incredible how in two weeks, the number of people we met, the number of relationships we built. It was totally a God thing.”
Jared said his recent interest in missions in general is also a God thing.
“The biggest thing I want to tell people from this trip is to go! A lot of people miss out on missions or don't see the importance of it,” Jared said. “God calls some to go and some to send. But He calls all people to do something. I’d encourage you to take risk —wherever that is.”