Jacob and Rachel

The story of Rachel meeting Jacob, non-Genesis style:

As the Lord placed on my heart the desire to create the YOYO urban youth group I began quickly seeking volunteers to join the vision. I went to my local church and created a small-group with the church designed specifically to gather leaders. I also reached out to friends and acquaintances from high school, college and my childhood church.

 Days leading up to the launch of Yoyo I was busy responding to emails from various contacts considering joining. Oddly as it may sound, I kept seeing the image of a face of someone I went to college with, but never knew personally. This face kept coming to mind and in fact the night before launching YOYO I couldn’t sleep because it was beginning to bother me. I felt like God was getting a little crazy with me, as I sensed I needed to contact this guy, Jacob. I Facebook stalked him and his profile picture hadn’t been updated in years.

 I decided that Facebook might not be the best way for a speedy response and began sorting through my phone contacts. Believe it or not I found his phone number in my phone. We had a couple of business courses in college; maybe we had a group project at some point? Regardless, I sent him a text bluntly stating that I was starting a program for urban teens in Frogtown and wanted to know if he was interested in joining, and if so, if he could attend the meeting the following evening. It didn’t take much convincing. He remembered who I was and kindly responded stating he would be there.

 During the launch meeting I shared my heart and vision for YOYO (actually God’s heart and vision, with me as the vessel). I had all the potential leaders go around the table and share their experience with youth and explain why they were there. When we got to Jacob, he shared how he had a heart for youth and mentioned previous mission trips, but then he also stated he had remembered just a week ago, he had a dream. In this dream he was talking to a Rachel from Bethel University (the college we both had attended). He said that after talking to this girl, he saw himself driving through the Twin Cities and ended up at a small, older church building, that looked a lot like the building he found himself in as he was sharing right then. He mentioned the dream showed activities outside the church building with the community and prayer and ministries going on inside. He stated boldly that this dream was how he knew he was supposed to be a part of YOYO.

 After that, the entire group was a bit speechless and I ended the evening requesting that everyone would pray for me to find a male co-leader for YOYO. The next day I received a text from Jacob. He said he had prayed about it, and God told him to lead YOYO with me. Being the driver that I am, I didn’t think much of it other than, “Wow God, you’re good. Thanks”.  Shortly after, Jacob and I began meeting outside of the weekly YOYO gathering to network with other local ministries and programs in the area. In this time we learned how alike we were and the goals/desires of our hearts both aligned. It was at this time Jacob shared there was more to the story.

 I discovered the night in which I could not sleep and reached out to invite him to YOYO was a very instrumental night. Jacob had received a phone call from a friend while driving home from work that evening. His friend had called him because as he was praying that evening, God put on his heart to reach out to Jacob and let him know that he shouldn’t go watch the TV show that he was going to watch that night, but rather spend time in worship because God wanted to do something significant. He also had a lot of other words God put on his heart for Jacob, including saying, “I feel like God has a ministry opportunity coming for you...,” and also, “…don’t worry about your wife, I feel like God is going to bring her in the right timing.” Jacob planned to disregard the suggestion, but his friend mentioned it a second time warning him it was important that he didn’t go watch the show, but went and spent time in worship as God wanted to do something significant. Jacob obeyed and went into his room. Ten minutes into prayer and worship he received my text inviting him to the YOYO launch. He knew it was the opportunity his friend referenced God would be bringing to him.

 To summarize where the story goes from here, six weeks into leading YOYO together, Jacob took me on our first date. He began to pursue me with great confidence and kindness. Being the stubborn and guarded girl that I was, God melted my heart drew my curiosity. We began dating and both our families were enthused. In fact, my father had been at the YOYO launch meeting that 1st night and went home knowing I would marry him. He hadn’t told me because he didn’t want to interfere with God’s plan.

 Five months into dating we were engaged. A year after being a couple we got married. We became husband and wife December 21st, 2014. God works in mysterious ways! Had I not been obedient and overcame my fear of starting YOYO, I might not have met my biggest blessing, my husband Jacob! This Rachel found her Jacob by the grace and guidance of God, and thankfully it was in a non-Genesis way.