“Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee.”—John Wesley Covenant Prayer
Lisa Ausley thought God had picked her to be put on a shelf for Him. However, looking back over her life, she realized God was using, nurturing and teaching her to serve him, even when she didn’t realize it. She’s homeschooled her three children, works on a church staff, serves on the One Mission Society (OMS) Board of Trustees and Executive Committee, and has mentored more than 40 missionaries.
“I would call my life a follow-your-nose-ministry,” Lisa said. “Whatever God put in front of me, I did it. If that meant being put on a shelf, I struggled with that, but submitted. When you don’t care if anyone notices, or if anyone ever applauds and you just want to serve Him, wow! He will bring opportunity after opportunity.”
Lisa was the first person to be appointed to the permanent order of Deacon in the United Methodist Church, has participated in many mission trips, both short and long term, and co-authored Life Changing Bible Study with her brother, Matt Friedeman. However, Lisa says her calling stems from her whole-hearted yes to Jesus at 14.
“I didn’t know what calling meant, but I became more and more passionate about missions,” Lisa said. “I wanted to become a career missionary, but more than anything, I just wanted to serve God.”