Embracing Obedience Over Understanding

Born into Ministry: A Pastor's Daughter's Story

But for that word to make sense, I need to share the backstory of where it all began. Although I'm tempted to start at the very beginning, on the 28th of August 1992, around 20:45 when a 3.02KG baby girl was born to Isaac and Rachel Marumo, I sadly don't remember that far back. However, it feels like ministry has been a part of my life for that long. You see, my mom and dad are pastors themselves, so I was born into a pastoral home. But never would I have imagined that one day, I would be entrusted with the honor of pastoring a church too.

My husband and I are currently in our 3rd year of pastoring Mmuso Church, which is based in Pretoria Hatfield. Believe me when I say, it has been one step of OBEDIENCE after another. We launched in 2020 when the world was in the midst of the COVID pandemic's uncertainty, and all we had to guide us was a clear word from God and an unwavering directive: 'Start NOW,' which had vividly captured our hearts. But let's go back to the year 2010.

In November 2010, after completing my final Grade 12 exams at Suncrest High School, I came to Pretoria to visit my sister, who was already working here. That trip became the turning point that changed my plans and life forever. Upon my arrival, my sister advised me to find a holiday job to earn some money for school in 2011 while staying out of trouble during the festive season. I was successful in my search and landed my very first job with Edcon as a bank manager. Little did I know that this would mark the beginning of my 12-year journey in retail and set me on a path toward fulfilling my destiny.

A Love Story and a Calling: Meeting My Husband and Ministry Partner

My move to Pretoria afforded me a gap year that I used to satisfy my thirst for theology and leadership by enrolling in CCMP. During that time, I also met my now-husband in the church where we both served. It was his love for God's people that drew me to him. The idea that two young aspiring professionals could maintain their full-time careers while passionately serving in the house of God made the future we were creating an exciting prospect.

So, after two years of marriage, when we began discussing the possibility of planting a church, a vision that God had clearly placed on my husband's heart, my world was shaken. I had always dreamed of being a part of a life-giving church, of contributing to one. However, I had never stopped to imagine that I would need to step out in faith and plant one myself, let alone co-lead it with my best friend (husband).

The Obedience Journey: From Doubt to Conviction

The transition from hearing God to actually acting on what He was saying was not an easy one, nor one that I made overnight. I was acutely aware of how much my heart needed a 'revamp' and work. Therefore, I wasn't about to walk into such a life-altering choice with doubts and questions. So, from 2018, when we discussed this as a family for the first time, to the launch of the Church on the 9th of November 2020, OBEDIENCE had to be broken down and taught to me in a way that I can now confidently say has anchored everything about this journey we chose as a family.

We had countless meetings with elders and friends who had been instrumental in speaking into our lives, all while wrestling with this idea. I was determined not to carry my past experiences into something new that God was orchestrating. I found myself struggling with the notion of letting go of my preferred setup, where my husband and I were two professionals contributing to the church without leading it.

While I was convinced that my husband had heard from God, deep down, I felt the need to personally discern if I was part of this plan and if God Himself wanted me to be part of the church plant. This is what He stirred in my heart and forever changed the way I perceive Him.

Divine Encounters in Dubai: Releasing Control and Embracing Obedience

When we found ourselves at the Dubai NXT Move conference, God met me right where I needed Him to. He used a room full of young leaders who were passionately engaged in His great mission of making disciples of all nations to challenge the narrative that had been holding me back from stepping out. These remarkable leaders showed me that ministry could be executed effectively on a global scale if I did it His way.

I left Dubai, dreaming about a great, life-giving Church He was inviting me to be a part of building, the way He wanted us to if we would only dare to open up our ears to His next move and be diligent with just that.

Building God's Bride: A Woman's Role in Ministry

See planting can be deemed as a lot of things, but if you want to do it effectively and according to God's plan, you must focus on understanding His vision for His church, what He is constructing, and channel your energy into aligning with the original intent rather than pursuing your own ambitions.

So to me, being a woman in ministry and planting a church is simply:

• Letting go of your preconceived idea of who He uses when building His bride.
• It is hearing clearly what He is busy with and what part He wants you to play in the body.
• All He is asking for is your obedience more than your understanding, He is the Sovereign and All-knowing One, so be okay with relinquishing that role to Him.

In conclusion

Lastly, as I write this today, I am profoundly thankful for how He has orchestrated this entire journey, as it has progressed at a pace and rhythm far more reliable than any of my clear ideas could have ever set. I am acutely aware of the fact that all He asks of us, especially me, is to be obedient to what He says every step of the way. Ministry has its ups and downs, but when you rest assured that you are being faithful and obedient to the last thing God said to you, you stand and build on a firm and sure foundation.