Hearing a Call
In Zibiah's community, about 95 percent of people professed to be Christian. Zibiah's own family was Christian—a heritage that began when her grandparents and then parents came to know Christ.
Despite the prevalence of Christianity in Zibiah's community, many of the youth and young adults there didn't take their faith seriously; they didn't allow it to impact their daily lives. On the other hand, for three of Zibiah's siblings, following Christ meant dedication and service. One brother was a pastor. One sister served at a Bible college. Another brother studied in a different Bible college to prepare for missionary service.
Zibiah knew that, even though her family and village professed Christ, many people in other regions had never even heard about Him. She wanted to make His love known. Then, in 2023, when Zibiah's pastor encouraged her and the other youth in her church to attend a youth retreat, Zibiah herself was faced with an opportunity to do just that.
At the retreat, GFA missionaries shared that young, single women like Zibiah could receive training to become Sisters of the Cross. These single women missionaries are trained not only to share the Good News but also to show compassion to the neglected and marginalized. Being a Sister of the Cross would mean facing unique challenges for the sake of the Gospel. These women typically work together in small teams, living in simple homes and serving people most others stay away from, such as widows, leprosy patients, abandoned children or slum residents. These women commit to staying single during their service, which is typically three years. Setting aside these years to remain single is often challenging in a culture where many parents desire their daughters to marry young.
This ministry resonated with Zibiah's desire to share Christ with those in great need. It would not be an easy choice, but despite any future challenges that may have visualized in her mind's eye, Zibiah sensed the Lord was drawing her to be trained as a Sister of the Cross.
"Since I wanted to serve the Lord, I wanted to go and share the love of Christ to people, I thought that this was the best time the Lord had given me to go through a training," she explains.
But first, Zibiah had to tell her parents.
Confidence Amidst Confusion
When Zibiah told her parents she wanted to travel to another state to receive missionary training, "they were shocked," Zibiah remembers. "They did not expect me to bring this news to them. They didn't know that I would be taking up ministry in the future. … It was a both pleasant and unpleasant surprise for them."
Their shock softened to mixed feelings. Perhaps, even though they followed Christ, they knew the challenges and sacrifices three of their other children had already begun to experience in ministry. Perhaps Zibiah's parents were concerned about her delaying opportunities for higher education or marriage. Perhaps they were just sad to see another child move far away. Whatever their reasons, Zibiah knew they felt reticent. Part of her doubted: Was she making the right decision? Had she heard the Lord correctly?
"Initially it was quite confusing for me," Zibiah remembers, "because when I told my parents that I want to serve as a [Sister of the Cross], they were initially quite reluctant, not so happy about it. Then I was bit confused and asked the Lord if it was [truly His] call: 'Was this something that You want me to do?' I was a bit confused. But I kept telling myself, 'No, it is the Lord's calling. He wants me to get trained for the poor and the needy.' That passion, that flame, I kept it burning."
Amidst the confusion, she prayed and read Scripture, and the Lord confirmed He was calling her to this opportunity. He cared about the people He was calling Zibiah to share His love with, and He cared about her relationships with her family, too. Eventually, her parents gave full support to her decision. Then Zibiah applied.
But after sending in her application, weeks passed. Would she even be accepted? Though somewhat perplexed by the delayed response, Zibiah kept praying and trusting God to prepare her for her studies. When about a month had passed, she heard back: She was accepted!
Adjusting to a New Home
Not long after receiving the exciting news, Zibiah was on a train with a few other young women from her region, headed to a Bible college hundreds of miles away. There, they were greeted by a lush, green campus lined with towering trees where numerous birds chattered in the branches. The campus held variety not only in the trees, plants and birds but also in the people. Zibiah was welcomed into a community of staff and students from both the local region and from many different parts of Asia. At first, Zibiah felt a little uncomfortable in the new, diverse environment with a different culture from her own.
After a little while, though, she began to feel a warmth, hospitality and love from the other students, teachers and staff.
"I was very much encouraged by the community here. … Everyone here is so helpful," Zibiah says. "They all are like one family. Initially when I came here, I felt, because this is a new place for me, I felt quite strange. I felt myself as left out. But when I started to open and talk to people around me, they were so loving and so kind. During my hard and difficult times, the sisters, the warden and other staff came to me and spoke to me; they comforted me. Their love and care seem to be something like from a family. I was very much happy and encouraged by their love and care. That helped me prepare myself for my future ministry and deepen my relationship with the Lord because of their love and care."
One day, one of the older students noticed Zibiah looked discouraged and went to her with words of encouragement. After the older student prayed for Zibiah and motivated her to trust God through the challenges, Zibiah felt comforted.
"Because of her encouragement, I was so happy and encouraged," Zibiah recalls. "She helped me get back to where I should be. I would say the Lord blessed these sisters to encourage me during such difficult moments."
Though Zibiah had come from a supportive Christian family, she now had found an even larger family in Christ, where she was accepted and valued. The love she experienced in this family could prepare her to extend Christ's love to people—whether leprosy patients, widows or abandoned children—who might not know what acceptance, compassion or family even felt like.
Setting a Firm Foundation
In the context of this community, Zibiah also gained valuable structure and instruction to help lay a foundation for her service to Christ.
In the Bible college, students rise early, spend personal time with the Lord and work together to clean their dormitories before getting ready for the day. Afterward, they worship together in a chapel service and then attend classes.
Through the spiritual disciplines instilled in student life—including corporate worship, hours of prayer, Holy Communion and personal devotions—Zibiah found herself growing closer to Jesus.
"In everything … I have seen the Lord is here, and He is guiding me; He is leading me to a deeper relationship with Him."
In her classes, Zibiah has enjoyed learning about spiritual disciplines, Christian character formation and community development strategies.
Not only have the classes and activities helped Zibiah grow in spiritual disciplines that could help her stay on course in her walk with Christ, but they also have given her practical wisdom for future ministry.
"When we go and share the Gospel … if we are spiritually not disciplined, if we don't know how to behave with people while sharing about Christ to people, then our Gospel will have less impact in their life," she explains. "So, when we talk about Christ, we must show Christlikeness in our life. So, spiritual discipline and character formation are very important in a person.
"Then, another subject I like is Community Analysis and Development Strategies—these things help us understand the communities in future we are going to go to and serve the Lord. The types of communities, how they interact and react, what I must do, all these things are taught in the classes. … I feel these few subjects are very beneficial for all of us."
Through her training, she is growing in skills to help her welcome more people into the family of God.
But ministry wasn't just for the future. During Zibiah's course of study at the Bible college, she gained on-the-ground experience in sharing Christ's love with people. She and other future Sisters of the Cross visited a local hospital every week to spend time with patients, encourage them and pray for them. She gained a heart especially for elderly women and widows, who are often abandoned by their families.
Zibiah completed her Sisters of the Cross training, and now she continues studies at the Bible college, working toward her master's degree in divinity. Through extra theological and practical education, Zibiah will gain more skills that will help her share Christ's love with people who are waiting.
Setting a Firm Foundation
Zibiah chose a difficult path that meant leaving her family. But through her obedience, she has made her family's faith her own and found fellowship in a broader, diverse family of Christ. Through her training, she is growing in skills to help her welcome more people into the family of God.
Many more young men and women are surrendering their lives to know Christ more and make Him known. Their studies in Bible college help lay an important foundation for future ministry. In the context of a loving community, they grow in their faith and in Christ's passion for those still waiting to join His family. You can help these students in this pivotal step of their journey.