Lydia Winter

Hii! My name is Lydia Winter, and I am a senior at a Bible college in Nashville, Tennessee, completing my Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies. I chose to study here because I have a deep desire to know God’s Word in a way that shapes how I serve Him and His people. Missions has long been on my heart, and over the past few years I have felt a growing call to serve communities in East Africa. Beginning next year, I plan to pursue a nursing degree so I can combine physical healthcare with the mental, emotional, and spiritual care that we see Jesus model throughout Scripture.

After serving in Uganda for the past three summers, being involved in youth ministry, pastoral development, and building relationships within the local church—I’ve been given the opportunity to return with an organization called Show Mercy International and serve in a clinic and birthing center. Along with this, I will also get to participate in outreaches to widows and youth in the community. I can't express how grateful and excited I am for this opportunity to both serve and learn from Gods people who are faithfully serving him in EA. My hope is to gain more experience in the medical field while I’m there, with the goal of serving long-term in a medical capacity in the future. I also pray that God will use me to help people find him and draw closer to his presence and grace. Through the past four years of studying the Bible and learning more about God’s Word, as well as seeing firsthand the real needs of His people, I have felt a deep calling to put my faith into action. I am committed to walking out both my conviction and Jesus’ command to care for the vulnerable and help others know their Savior. The Bible reminds us of God’s heart for those in need: “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed” (Psalm 82:3), “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause” (Isaiah 1:17), and “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40). These verses guide and inspire me to serve the sick, care for widows and orphans, and show Christ’s love in tangible ways. My prayer is that through my service, I can bring hope, healing, and the knowledge of God’s faithfulness to the people I meet.

As I get ready for a summer in Uganda, I would love for you to pray that my heart and mind stay soft and open to the Lord’s voice. I’m so excited to go, see old friends, and meet new ones, but my main desire is to follow His leading and be a blessing to the people I meet. Please pray that the Word I’m learning in my classes would take root in my heart and come to mind as I travel and serve. I’d also appreciate prayer that I wouldn’t get caught up in worrying about the details, but could take each day as it comes and trust God’s faithfulness.