Planting Seeds for Ministry

Joshua A. Fabina

As a young child, my mom always took me and my brother to church (Pleasant Hill). Both of my parents are big influences in my life as Godly parents, however, the reason that I give more credit to my mom is because she made sure we attended both Sunday school and worship.  At the time, my dad wasn’t faithfully going to church. He was brought up in the Catholic faith, and as he got older, he didn’t attend church at all. I can’t imagine the hassle my mom went through to get two boys to go to church, while at the time they were watching their dad stay home and just relax in the morning. I certainly remember my brother and I giving my mom a hard time every Sunday about going to church. And by the grace of God, He instilled in her patience and determination to keep us on the right track even though we didn’t know it at the time (Proverbs 22:6).

Somewhere along the line through countless prayers that my mom would say for my dad, he would accept Jesus as his savior and become one of the strongest Christians I know today. These are things that I’ve only just begun to think about recently. “Planting a seed” is important to salvation and ministry. I also get goosebumps thinking about how great our God is. He can take a rebellious sinner and turn him into an unlikely messenger of the Gospel.

To make a long story short, in my early 20’s when I was completely on my own making decisions in life, I slowly fell away from the standards that my mom had worked so hard to teach me and began to backslide. I always questioned:  did I simply backslide or was I ever truly born again? My wife and I were in a bad place in our lives and not many people knew it. We hid it well. At the time I worked at the Conemaugh Power plant. One day in my company truck was a little red New Testament Bible (To this day, I don’t know whose it was). I would make myself read at least two chapters a day. One day when I was very low in my mental state, I prayed like I never did before, and I repented all that I had done. And, with Godly sorrow, I repented about living my life on my own terms. I slowly began to understand why my current situation was the way that it had been (Romans 2:8). Through this time the Lord had brought the right individuals into my path at the right time. People like Pastor Rob Wolf helped me grow in Christ the way I should.

Through the years, my wife and I have grown deeper and deeper into our faith. I can look back and see how far God has led me, but I can also see how far I need to go. I realize that none of us are finished products. We are constantly being molded by the hands of a loving God. I still have a tough time being up front to preach because of stage fright. When I’m asked why I chose this calling, I always say “I didn’t choose it, God did”. My flesh is still uncomfortable with preaching.  However, through the glory of God, He helps me through it, I have a soft spot for kids and the lost. I would like to give all I’ve got so many can choose Jesus as their Lord and Savior. My strength is through scriptures and constant prayer. I am also doing ministry training in the ACTS program through the Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center. I can honestly say that it’s not always easy, but I’m so blessed, and I hope to share the gospel with as many as I can.

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

3 John 1:4

Joshua Fabina is employed as a service worker at Penn Highlands Community College. He attends and serves at Pleasant Hill Church of the Brethren as a youth director and deacon. Josh is currently an ACTS student through SVMC as he completes his ministry training.  His favorite hobbies include any outdoor activity--especially fishing and camping.