Robin Jones Gunn is the author of the Sisterchick novels, contemporary novels that highlight women’s issues and traveling.
I was privileged to meet Gunn at a writers conference in Oregon.
You might not dream of becoming published like I do, but we all have dreams of using our talents and abilities to serve and honor the Lord.
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Robin committed herself to being a missionary at a Bible camp when she was twelve years old. In 1976 at Urbana, Inter Varsity’s Student Mission Convention, she filled out a form with all her special gifts and talents. Information was fed into a computer and the students were matched with mission openings that suited their abilities.
She was matched to the position of Laundry Supervisor in Nairobi, Kenya. It was “not exactly what I had in mind,” but threw herself into praying and readying herself to minister in Africa.
She was rejected.
It was devastating to her faith and she wondered how she could be such an ineffective Christian that she wasn’t even fit to be a laundry supervisor.
Gunn shared this disappointment with her Sunday School girls and one girl raised her hand and told her she should tell stories. Robin didn’t take their urgings seriously until she saw what they were reading on a church outing. The Christy Miller series was born and the rest is history.
Years later, she was at a conference and met a woman from Africa who was thrilled to meet the author of the books she’d been reading to her students. Through these books some kids had trusted Christ as their Savior.
Robin shared the story of her early life disappointment of not even being fit to be a missionary laundry supervisor with her new friend, and sister in the Lord.
She said to Robin, “You didn’t need to come to Nairobi to wash clothes, God sent your books to Nairobi to wash our hearts.”
The early love and desire to serve Africa was answered years later, in a way Robin had never imagined possible.
“I didn’t go to Africa, but those stories did.”
When she finally made it to Africa, her friend let her do her laundry, just for an old dreams’ sake.
“Be prepared to be surprised by God.
He has planted these dreams in your heart long ago.
It is fire in the belly, it won’t go away.
But, maybe you are restricting the way those dreams can go
by being so limited on how it has to happen.
Open your heart…”
When Robin was asked how she keeps her writing fresh, her answer was applicable to anything we’re doing in our lives for the Lord as we minister in our homes, our neighborhoods, and our local fellowships.
“The joy of the Lord is our strength, so drop a bucket into the well of joy, so you keep full in the Lord.”
“Those Dreams,
because they’re His,
were planted in your hearts from the very beginning.”
Robin Jones Gunn
What spiritual dreams are filling your hearts?
Never assume or presume anything, is what someone told me recently. I love to dream with God. I don't ever want to limit him by the grid in which I see Him. I agree with your followers, your writing in such an inspiration to me and so many.
I read that series during my teen years, and was encoureaged many times to make the "right choices." Food for thought today as I'm viewing my spiritual dreams and a bit differntly. I don't ever want to limit God.
Lovely. I'm glad you were able to meet her. Your writing inspires many just as you feel inspired by this lady.