Kyria Talks to Margaret Feinberg
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[0 Comment]Margaret Feinberg didn't set out to become a Christian communicator. At age 18 she wanted to go to Georgetown University and study pre-law and public relations, but she didn't get in. Instead she attended Wake Forest University in North Carolina, the first of many God-driven course corrections in Margaret's life.
Margaret embarked on a journey that led her to graduate with a religion major, try missionary work, discover a gift for writing, and marry Leif, her husband of six years. Today, she's the author of more than a dozen books, including The Sacred Echo and Scouting the Divine (to be released in October), a popular speaker at conferences such as Catalyst, and an "emerging voice" that many believe will help lead the church in the next decade.
A foundation of that leadership is Margaret's deep desire to know God, be attentive to his direction in her life, and to help others fall in love with God and his Word. Recently TCW chatted with Margaret about her faith journey, hearing God's voice, and following it.
You went through a season in college that you describe tongue-in-cheek as "partying like a rock star. " What made you turn your life around?
After my freshman year, I went to a Christian conference and had an encounter with God that changed everything. God kept drawing me back to Isaiah 43:1: "I have called you by name; you are mine" (NLT). I felt it wasn't just Isaiah God was speaking to; he was speaking to me, saying, "You're mine. I love you. You're precious in my sight. "
How did that knowledge affect you?
I realized how much God was pursuing a relationship with me, and I just couldn't resist. And after I graduated from college I took a missions trip to Honduras.
So God was calling you to be a missionary?
I wasn't sure if that was God's calling, but since so many people served God in that way, I thought I'd try.
What happened?
The first week was amazing, and I thought, Maybe I should stay. Maybe this is what God has for me. Then everything began to unravel. I got sick. My Spanish was terrible. And on one of my trips to serve, I was robbed; literally everything was taken.
That's awful!
I know. But I kept telling myself,This is a Third World country. It's supposed to be difficult. But then I talked to some long-time missionaries who listened to my story. I asked them, "Is this normal?" They said "no" and advised me to go home. That's when I did what most college grads do when they have no idea what they want to do with their life—I moved back in with Mom and Dad.
Looking back now, do you feel there were ways God was telling you not to go?
Honestly, I don't think he was telling me to go or not to go. I learned a lot about myself on the trip—including the fact that I wasn't meant to be a missionary!I've heard many people say, "The last thing I ever wanted to do was live in the desert or go overseas, and that's where God sent me. But now I love it. " Unfortunately, sometimes there's a mentality among Christians that says: Don't say you could never do that because God will call you to it.
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