Jeremiah Hrvatin
Why I decided to do Mission Year
I’m not very good at these kinds of things, such as sharing my life story, but God has been good to me and shown me that through him all things are glorified when we keep faith in him and remain obedient to serve God in every area of our lives. With that in mind, I am more then glad to share what God had done in my life and the plans he has for me in the future (Jeremiah 29:11).
Well it all started at a young age when I accepted Jesus in my life and was baptized. At age 18 I sought out a more mature relationship with Christ, and by many days of reading God’s word and praying, God lead me to go on a mission trip to Brazil with my youth group. Then I spent time as a youth leader – nothing major, just filling in for my youth pastor when he needed a day off, leading fellowship with guys and girls, showing them a role model of what it means to live out our lives for Christ, playing one-on-one games and foosball and stuff just trying to be a big brother.
I then felt a calling of the Lord; I would go to bed at night, then wake up at like 3:00 o’clock in the morning and feel like something was wrong, like I wasn’t supposed to be there. I had felt like I was a tree growing for God by just being faithful, going to church, being a role model, and trying my best to be a good example to those I fellowship with at work. Then I felt like I was dying, asking God where were all the nutrients and good soil I need to grow for You. Then one day God spoke to me though a fiery bush – No, just kidding!! I mean I would love to have God speak to me like he did with Moses or anyone from the Old Testament. That would be sweet! But no, God spoke through a 15-year-old silly girl name Ashly who got my heart’s attention when she said, “You should go to Seneca Hills Bible Camp as a Counselor. I know you’ll love it there; you’re so good with kids and you’re an amazing Christian. You aren’t ashamed of your faith. You’re a great example in my life to live for Christ.” At that moment I wanted to cry, for God had shown me through a little silly girl that I was ready for the Lord’s call to be in the ministry of a Bible camp counselor.
I went to Seneca Hills Bible Camp, and for three months I was blessed to share the love of Christ with campers in preschool though high school, make new friends, and develop a deeper love for God. It was amazing. Before I was in bad soil and wanted to grow stronger in Christ; God knew my heart and through Ashly I was able to go find new soil to help me grow for Christ. Thanks, God. You are so amazing. And thank you for Ashly, who, through her obedience to you, helped me hear Your calling into the ministry of serving as a Bible camp counselor. :) You know I still have a picture of her that I care with me in my wallet. On the back it says “JERRY-MIAH,” which is a nickname she gave me. “JERRY-MIAH, thanks for standing firm in Jesus Christ. You are such a great example to me. I love you, Brother. *Hug * Proverbs 28:25-26.”
Yeah, thanks God for all the encouragement you gave me.
So now the good stuff. I went through three months of being a counselor at Seneca Hills, and then I wanted more of this new found love of God to grow within me and to share this great relationship I have in Christ with others. One day I go crazy for God – I’m outside talking out loud to God about what’s on my heart. My neighbors are looking at me like I’m nuts, but I don’t care because it’s me and my buddy Christ. If David in the Bible could dance like a fool because his heart was deeply in love for God’s heart, I can talk to God looking like a fool. Not caring because my heart was on fire for God, I went before God and said, “Thank you for all You’ve done in my life. Today as I look like a fool, I ask for one thing, Lord. Could You help me become more like Jesus on earth, to be like the Apostles that I read about in Your word who heard Your calling, Lord, and left everything to follow You, Lord, doing radical things in Your name. Help me fill this desire to go eat with the homeless, go fellowship with the poor in heart, go love the adulterers and the rejected, go be a light in the darkness. I want You to fully use me as a missionary to go anywhere you call me, Lord. I want You to be glorified in all that I do.”
So I get an e-mail from this girl that God brought into my life though Bible camp. She also was a counselor at Seneca Hills, and we spent times together just having deep conversation about what heaven is like or what God might be planning in our lives. We both had come wanting to work in the youth ministry or be a missionary.
This e-mail told me about good news she heard from her pastor about Mission Year. We prayed about it, and now here I am just trying to be a humble servant. I so don’t deserve it. I have done things in my life that I regret, and like Moses and Jeremiah in the Bible, I’m very bad with getting people to understand my words. But if God sees that by the acts of my heart I could touch people’s hearts like He touched mine, I have confidence in that I could be used to give Him glory.
So my name is Jeremiah, and I’m just a young man deeply in love with God’s heart. I hope I can get to know you some day, and if not on Earth, I hope in heaven. I look forward to telling you more stories about what God has done with my life. I pray I can give my entire life to bring God glory and make it know through me that Christ is love.
Well, that’s it. So until then, please keep my friends in Mission Year who also have a heart to serve the Lord in prayer and support. I also ask that you would praise God with me as this is truly a blessing in my life to be a part in glorifying God’s name through being obedient and making Him known in this world. Amen.
And here’s a little more about myself:
I like eating pizza, reading, camping or anything to do with the outdoors, hiking, working out, hockey, muddy football games, rugby, cooking, graphic arts, finger painting, deep conversation with others, mission trips, roller staking, snowboarding, poetry, and climbing. If you have any questions about Jesus, or me, feel free to ask – I would love to talk to you.
About Mission Year
Mission Year is a year long urban ministry program focused on Christian service and discipleship. We take teams of young people, place them in an area of need, and help them to serve people and create community. We are committed to the command of Jesus to “love God and love people,” by placing the needs of our neighbors first and developing committed disciples of Christ with a heart for the poor. Learn more about our first year program…
