Normalize God’s Voice. (How Reach Initiative Started)
Is God trying to make us look crazy?
God told Noah to build an ark. He told Abraham to sacrifice his son. He told David to stand up to a giant. There are countless stories in history of God giving people a specific task.
Have you read about what he told Phillip to do?
Acts 8:29 The Holy Spirit told Phillip to “go and stand by the chariot.”
If God told you to go stand by a car, would you? Would you even know it was God’s voice?
How on earth did these people know God was telling them to do very specific things?
How did they persevere when the whole world was against them?
You may think a man building a boat is crazy, then it floods. You may think going up a mountain to sacrifice your son is evil, then his life is spared, and your generations are blessed. The man who is standing by the chariot seems like a creep, then the Gospel of Jesus spreads throughout Africa because of his obedience.
Although they appear crazy, it seems to me like Gods people are the ones making decisions with a sound mind, and everyone else is crazy.
We need to normalize God’s voice.
God still speaks to us today, and if we obey, he always comes through. If we have truly surrendered our lives to him, then we would be willing to look insane as we walk in obedience. As followers of Jesus the wisest thing we can do is listen to God’s voice. In order to listen to Gods voice, we must be familiar with it, and in order to be familiar with it we must spend time with him.
A few years ago, God put something specific on my heart that completely changed the course of my life. I am dedicating my life to it, even if the world thinks I am crazy.
In 2018 God told me to start a non-profit with a mission to wake up people’s hearts, bring unity into the church, and go above and beyond for all people. I had no idea what it meant. I had no idea what it would look like, or how I would make this happen. I did know, that if I was obedient, he would come through. God always comes through.
I started by making a list of names for the organization. God put it on my heart to call the organization “Reach”. I created a Facebook page and began offering free services to my local community (San Angelo, TX). I didn’t want to offer anything too specific, or advertise to a specific people group, this was a ministry for all people. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I had a sense of urgency in my heart. Reach was very successful in Texas, I was able to help people with getting plugged into church, groceries for a week, mowing lawns etc. People were offering donations as well, which was a huge blessing. As this was happening, I was planning a big move across the country to the Asheville area of North Carolina. I was worried that after all this hard work Reach would come to an end. God had other plans, and 2 friends of mine offered to keep Reach going after I moved. At this point Reach was still not a non-profit, just a team that loves Jesus and loves people.
In 2019 I moved just outside of Asheville, to Black Mountain, North Carolina. I loved it there, but after spending the past 2 years traveling the world as a missionary, then moving across the country, I needed some time to recover. Reach was still doing well in Texas, but my friends were about to move out of the state too. I began to worry again that Reach was coming to an end. Deep down I knew this couldn’t be it, I knew God had big plans for Reach. I had to remind myself…God always comes through.
I think we all know what happened at the beginning of 2020. It was odd that a worldwide pandemic, a collapsing nation, and more social hate than I’ve seen in my lifetime, sparked my soul back to life. My focus shifted from overseas missions, to having a deep love for the hurting people in America. I had a fire within me, and I was ready to give it my all. Teams of young adult missionaries were sent home from the mission field to our small community in Black Mountain. God was showing off by giving me everything I needed for Reach on a silver platter. He always comes through.
I was given the opportunity to lead these young adults in hearing God’s voice and going out into the streets of Asheville to share Jesus with people. During this time, God told me to bring water to a homeless man and share the Gospel with him. I ended up spending the next few months building a friendship with him. I was able to get him new clothes, warm meals, good conversation, prayer, an iPhone and even an opportunity to have a place to stay. I could not have done this on my own, I was simply following God’s voice.
Five months later I got married and moved across the state to Charlotte, North Carolina. Once again, I was living in a new place, wondering if this non-profit was ever going to happen. I had to remind myself…God always comes through.
2021 got off to a great start. I started a new job with an amazing company and found out I was going to be a dad! Reach was still engraved into my heart but was starting to feel more like a memory than a future. I felt as if I was living the suburban dream, and it was killing my soul. I desperately needed God to come through again.
One night I was scrolling social media and came across something a friend posted. I don’t remember the specifics, but it jumpstarted my soul back into action. I felt like God was telling me to message my friend about the post. The post was something along the lines of pursuing your dreams. That conversation was a divine appointment. Shortly after, God miraculously provided all the funds needed, and a trusted attorney to make Reach an official 501c3 non-profit organization. In December 2021 Reach Initiative was established.
I wish I could say that Reach has been thriving ever since, and give this story a beautiful fairy tale ending, but that’s not how ministry works. We have an enemy, and that enemy does not want people living out God’s will.
I can’t fully explain what happened once Reach became a non-profit, but it was a spiritual battle. I became extremely discouraged, insecure, and afraid. Although I was not alone at all, I felt so alone and discouraged. I had to remind myself…God always comes through.
In 2022 we made minimal progress with Reach.
My spirit was crushed by lies from the enemy, I was trying to learn how to be a dad, a husband, and now president of a non-profit. My wife and I spent the year building the website, and I wrote out multiple plans for the future of Reach. I opened the bank account and hosted the first board meeting. As the year came to an end, I found myself feeling inadequate, and having to remind myself again… God always comes through.
It is now 2023 and I have a refreshing hope as I look back and see how God was always working. Reach Initiative belongs to him, I am simply a vessel who loves God and his people. I know God has big plans for Reach, and I am willing to look insane as I walk in obedience every step of the way. We are finally a non-profit and making more progress than ever. I am thrilled to say that God has come through and we are ready to change the world.
I can’t help but think about God telling Noah to build the ark. How long did that take? Surely, he felt alone, discouraged and inadequate.
I think about Abraham going to sacrifice his son, he must have questioned God’s voice.
I think about David standing up to a giant. He was small but God used him. Lastly, I think about Phillip, he must have felt silly going to stand next to that chariot.
What if they would’ve let people talk them out of obedience? What if they stayed on the path of least resistance? What if they didn’t listen to God’s voice?
I think about how many times they had to say to themselves…God always comes through.
-Ryan Tovias