Turning Faith into Action
After participating in Concordia’s Red Letter Challenge in the winter of 2022, Lyn Willerton walked away with a feeling she couldn’t ignore: God was calling her to live out her faith in a deeper and more intentional way.
“When we finished it, I remember having an overwhelming need that I should be living my faith in a different way than I was currently doing,” Lyn shared.
Not long after, something unusual kept happening. Advertisements for an organization called CASA repeatedly appeared in her Facebook feed. CASA, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate, trains volunteers to advocate for children in foster care.
At first, Lyn dismissed the idea.
“I had never heard of CASA before,” she said. “And I must admit, I thought it was far beyond my abilities to do.”
But the timing of those ads appearing consistently during the Red Letter Challenge felt too significant to ignore. Lyn began to wonder if God was nudging her toward something outside her comfort zone.
“I decided that if I was going to do it, it would be a God thing,” she said.
Today, Lyn serves as a CASA volunteer, advocating for a foster child who needs stability, encouragement, and someone consistently in his corner. In a system where children often experience constant change and uncertainty, Lyn says one of the most important parts of her role is simply being a dependable presence.
“Frequently, you’re the last man standing as part of the team that’s caring for them,” she explained.
For the child she advocates for, Lyn wants him to know he is not alone.
“I’ve told him that I’m his friend,” she said. “If he wants to talk, I will be his voice.”
More than anything, Lyn hopes the relationship reminds him that God is present even in difficult circumstances.
“I want him to understand that despite all these things going on in his life, he doesn’t have to face them by himself — that God is with him.”
Looking back, Lyn believes God prepared her for this season of service. At this stage in her life, she has both the time and the compassion to step into the needs of others in a meaningful way.
“I think God gave me a gift of compassion,” she shared. “I care about these people, and if there’s something I can do to make things better, I would like to.”
She also recognizes that serving in this role would have been much harder during earlier seasons of life while balancing work, parenting, and school. Now, she says, she feels grateful for the opportunity to use her time and gifts in service to others and to God’s kingdom.
Lyn’s journey is a powerful reminder that God often calls people beyond what feels comfortable or familiar. The invitation to serve can feel intimidating at first, but faith grows when people are willing to take small steps of trust.
“I would encourage anyone who’s hesitant to simply stretch your boundaries,” Lyn said. “You don’t know what you can do especially since you’re not doing it alone. You’re doing it with God at your side, directing you and helping you each step of the way.”
For Lyn, the rewards of stepping out in faith have far outweighed the discomfort.
“The benefits so outweigh any of the risks or discomfort in expanding your horizons,” she said.
Her story serves as an encouragement to anyone sensing God’s call to serve: sometimes the greatest impact begins with a simple willingness to say yes.