Andrea’s Story

Randy’s February, 2013 Update:

Meet Andrea:
Andrea is a very gifted woman.  Before we met, she was doing incredible work through a large relief organization trying to help alleviate world hunger.  She worked really hard, but was in a role that was not well suited to her giftedness.  Eventually, burn out set in, and she was left feeling like a failure.

One of the hopes of this ministry is to help young people discover and live out their true identities and redemptive purposes in the world, while experiencing deeper and deeper levels of intimacy with the Lord.  Hopefully by being in the right roles, knowing their identities as beloved sons and daughters of the King, and being intimately connected with the Lord, they won’t experience the burn out and pain that Andrea went through.  If they do, some may never try again.  Thankfully, Andrea is not a quitter.  Here is a bit of her story…

Andrea’s Story:
   “I came to Randy – struggling with some major anxiety and in a lot of pain and hurt from the past season of life.  He created a safe, nonjudgmental space that God has used to bring clarity to so much confusion.  I am so grateful for this clarity which has brought growth, healing and hope.

“Even though I knew I was not Super Woman, I expected myself to be.  Yet no matter how hard I tried to be perfect, I would always fail!  So eventually I got tired and gave up.  I labeled myself a failure and continued to live my life in even greater humiliation and shame, fearful to live the life I desired to live.

“While meeting with Randy, it started to become clear that I needed to replace the core of my identity from one of failure to the truth that I am loved by God, just as I am, broken and imperfect.  I began to open myself up to that truth and started to allow God’s love back into the place I had shut Him out of years prior.

“Along with redefining my identity I realized I needed to redefine what it means to “surrender.” I have operated my whole Christ-following life defining surrender as: I get it done, it’s about MY discipline and will-power that makes things happen (trying to be Super Woman again).  I have come to realize, surrender is not done by self-discipline or human will, but it is a natural result and desire that happens when I give myself over completely to trusting and receiving God’s love.

“I am starting to see this come true in my life; I am starting to want to surrender my compulsions, sins, and pain that I had held so tightly on to.   This redefining has humbled me, decreased anxiety (increased quality of life) and completely helped me see God in a more true way.   I am starting to become the healthy and strong woman I had given up trying to be.

“I am risking again, dreaming about the future, stepping up in leadership at my church, and living with decreased anxiety.

“I am starting to live my life again, instead of giving up on it.” – Andrea Wittig

Andrea’s Illustration:
Along the journey, Andrea drew an illustration of one of her “Aha Moment”.  Her identity is getting more deeply grounded in being a dearly loved child of God.  She is breaking free of the lies that tell her that her identity is based on (equals) what she does well, her weight, her performance, how well she pleases people, what other people think of her, how well she communicates, and whether or not she is seen as a failure.  She is also shattering the lies that tell her that God’s love is conditional and that He doesn’t follow through with His promises.  Everything she does is now flowing more beautifully out of an increasingly more secure identity in Christ, filled with hope.

What’s Andrea Doing Now?
Andrea has a passion for adoption, poor people in Africa, alleviating world hunger, and discipleship/spiritual mentoring.

She currently coaches small group leaders at her church.  A role I think she is well suited for.  I think she is very gifted in discipleship/spiritual mentoring.  I’ve no doubt she is going to make a huge impact on individuals and multiply what she has been given.

Andrea and her husband, Mark, (and their son, Evan) are also in the process of adopting a child from Uganda.  It has been around a 2 1/2 year journey so far, with endless paperwork, but they are finally on the last stage where they are now on an actual waiting list for a boy, possibly a child with special needs.  It is anticipated that within the year they will have a new son.

Andrea may soon be working again for the relief organization she worked for in the past, but this time, she will be in a role that suits her giftedness, a role of leadership and team development, training, and special projects within the organization.

I can’t wait to see and update you on what God is doing in her and through her in the future.  I believe there are going to be many great stories of impact throughout her life.

Thank You:
Thank you so much for your support and prayers.

In His Love,
Randy

Here is a video of Andrea, created by Mission Church in Bloomingdale.  In the video, Andrea shares about her decreasing struggle with body image: