33. Following God’s Calling with Dr. Sammy Wanyonyi
Have you ever wondered how God chooses people to do His work? Often, you'll find that the ones He chooses are ordinary people living mundane lives. They are selected precisely for this reason—it allows them to become available to heed the call. Today, we'll hear from a person who answered God’s calling and experienced the touch of the Holy Spirit.
In this episode, Dr. Sammy Wanyonyi joins us for part one of our conversation about discovering his purpose through God. He speaks about the work he does as an evangelist and leader of two ministries. Dr. Sammy shares the miraculous story of how he started speaking perfect English and how this all played into God's calling for him. He talks about the faith that led him on a path of self-discovery to Minnesota and becoming a world evangelist.
Tune in to the episode to learn how you can fulfill God’s calling with unconditional confidence and faith.
Three reasons why you should listen to the full episode:
Discover what it means to listen to God’s calling.
Learn about the underlying reason behind non-believers.
Find out why God uses ordinary people to spread His word.
Resources
● Check out related Who I Became Podcast Episodes!
Episode 34: What Is It Like Being An Immigrant In America with Dr. Sammy Wanyonyi
Episode 27: Discovering How to Find Your Purpose and Owning It with Pastor Brian Suter
● Merge Twin Cities: Website | YouTube
● Connect with Dr. Sammy: LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter
Episode Highlights
[02:58] Listening to God’s Calling: Dr. Sammy’s Ministry Background
● Dr. Sammy started Shine in the World Ministries in 2005.
● After graduating from high school in Africa, he realized God’s calling for him was to become a world evangelist.
● He moved to Minnesota in '98 to study cross-cultural studies. He then went on to get his Master of Divinity and doctorate degrees.
● While in seminary, Dr. Sammy launched Shine as a global missionary enterprise.
● Shine helps spread the good news of Jesus to people worldwide. They also bring tools and pastoral training in areas with scarce resources.
[06:35] Miraculously Speaking Fluent English at 8 Years Old
● Dr. Sammy grew up in a rural village in Kenya in the ‘80s.
● English was not a spoken language in the area. They used the local dialect, as well as Swahili.
● When Dr. Sammy was 8, his oldest sibling came home from his first semester in college. His brother seemed to be transformed through the Holy Spirit.
● He invited their siblings to experience the Holy Spirit as well. While they were praying, Dr. Sammy suddenly began speaking in perfect English.
● From that experience, Dr. Sammy began accompanying his rural evangelist parents in sharing the Gospel.
[10:45] Why the Lord Blessed Him with English
● English is one of the official languages in Kenya.
● In Kenya, you get introduced to the English language once you reach fourth grade. Thus, Dr. Sammy never formally took English lessons at that point.
● He believes that God gave him the ability to speak English because he needed it to fulfill God’s calling.
● While Dr. Sammy didn’t think of his experiences, it was reverential to the people watching.
[13:27] Why Some People Don’t Believe in God’s Calling
● There will always be people that don’t believe.
● In Dr. Sammy's experience, it's not that they don't believe what they're seeing. They don't want to enter a relationship that would call them to sacrifice their lifestyles.
● The majority of people take the realness of God's power and presence for granted.
● Non-believers don’t want to engage with God’s calling.
Dr. Sammy: “Most of the times, when you dig deeper into people's life and into people's journey and reasons for unbelief, you come to realize that, actually, many of the times, it's not so much because they don't want to acknowledge that there is God. They will probably come to that conclusion, but it is because of what the implications of that admittance, of admitting that there is a God.”
● Believing is not just a mental assent; it’s heart, posture, and a practical process.
[15:48] What Dr. Sammy Learned About Himself During that Period
● Dr. Sammy used to believe that being a believer automatically means that you’re a follower of Christ.
● He took it for granted that everybody who comes to God should experience it. He later realized not everybody goes through the same encounters he had.
● Over time, he started to understand that God has a special purpose for his life.
● He stepped back and allowed God’s calling to guide his steps.
Dr. Sammy: “The whole realization that I didn't belong to myself—I belong to God, and allowing him to guide me is probably a priority at any time. And I think it is the priority for all of us.”
[18:03] Getting Called Beyond and Transitioning to America
● Dr. Sammy worked as a catering manager for Air France.
● While there, he tried to discern God's upcoming plans for him. He realized that God's calling involved him going to other nations.
● One day, a friend handed Dr. Sammy a handbook containing a list of names of colleges and schools.
● Listen to the full episode to discover how God’s calling brought Dr. Sammy to Minnesota!
[22:15] What Makes Dr. Sammy Different
● Many pastors in America come from Africa. But they are not doing as well as Dr. Sammy.
● The first question he asked God upon getting called to become a world evangelist is "Why me?"
● In response, God told him that He uses ordinary people because they are available.
● Even though he had nothing, Dr. Sammy went through school and even bought his house because of God's provision.
Dr. Sammy: “God determines our destiny and our process. And so, I've purposely not put too much credit into people. I put my confidence and trust in God.”
About Dr. Sammy
Dr. Sammy Wanyonyi is the founder and lead communicator of Shine in the World Ministries. He is also the founder and lead evangelist of Merge Twin Cities, a nonprofit organization bringing cultures together to foster positive change in Minnesota and beyond.
Dr. Sammy has a degree in cross-cultural studies, a master's degree in divinity, and a doctorate in global and contextual leadership. He is an accomplished world missionary leader with a track record in movement mobilization and evangelism leadership and adept in diplomatic leadership, adult education, curriculum development, volunteer management, and public speaking.
As a keynote speaker, Dr. Sammy has spoken at various gatherings worldwide, from university campuses to stadiums.
If you want to reach out to Dr. Sammy, you can visit his LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. You may also visit Merge Twin Cities and Shine in the World.
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