Sonja Genke- For Such a Time As This

When I first saw that the blog was looking for stories

from the women of the SED I was not sure if I fit in.

(Sonja and her husband serve out of the geographic

locationof the SED,as military Chaplains often do) 

I also do not feel like a writer, however, I did decide

to follow the blog.

Today I read the entry "The Shift from My story

to His Story". I absolutely agree, my story

is His story.  God has made His presence known in so

many ways throughout my life.  I pray that I do bring

Him glory by sharing His story.  

When I read the reference to Esther, I knew that God

was nudging me to step out of my comfort zone.

Despite my lack of writing skills, those words are

prompting me once again.

While there are many details I could share, 

this is probably not the time, so I will try to

be brief.  I went through many challenges and transitions

from 2004 to 2009.  During that time

I was part of an amazing Bible study group.

In 2008 I remember telling them that I had strange idea

that I was supposed to do something, I just did not

know what.  They prayed with me and

for me and the conviction did not fade,

but the details were no clearer.

After a few years away from serving as a pastor,

my husband reentered the ministry as an Air Force

chaplain.  His first assignment took us to

Wichita, KS. Once we settled in, 

I realized that God had been preparing me

in so many ways for the new role I was stepping into.

God knew I would need a long time to get ready,

and even still, I resisted.  There were no

Bible studies to join at the base.

Everything kept hinting, or screaming, that I needed

to start a study.  I felt like so many people

in the Bible- that I was not skilled to do the task

I was being called to do. 

Were it not for a phone call with one of my

North Carolina Bible study friends, I am not sure

if I would have acted on God's push. She reminded me

of our study of Esther.  

"And who knows but that you have come to your

position for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14b).  

The first day there was myself, one other woman,

and an amazing God meeting together.  Over the next

few years that study grew and grew. It became two

studies.  I have been so blessed by the women that

joined with me each week.  Many of them are young

and struggling not only with the regular challenges

of marriage and parenting, but with the unique

stresses of deployments and moving that a

military life brings.

We recently moved and I get to start over again.

I pray that God gives me the opportunity to minister

to women again and I thank Him that there is a group

of women still meeting each week in Wichita,

because God prepared another woman-

"For Such A Time As This".


Sonja is married to Capt.Quentin Genke who

serves as a Chaplain at Lackland AFB and they

live in Cibolo, TX (near San Antonio)

We give thanks for Sonja, risking to

step out and share a part of the Big story

that God is weaving among women in the

Southeastern District as His story unfolds

in their lives and those they touch

with His grace.

Do you have a story to share of a time

when you stepped out

of YOUR comfort zone and 

allowed God's Spirit to equip you to serve

in a new way?