09/17/2026
š©·āØ Testimony Spotlight from Jennifer Panknin
She writes:
WHEN GODāS CALLING COMES FULL CIRCLE
A Journey of Surrender, Zambia, and the Faithfulness of God
About five years ago, the Lord spoke to me about being in ministry with my cousin, Angela Morgan. At the time, I hadnāt seen Angela in almost 15 years. Although we had always stayed in communication with one another, the idea of actually serving together in ministry didnāt seem like a real-life possibility.
But little did I know what the Lord was doing behind the scenesāor what He was preparing, not only for me, but for Angela as well.
Then it happened.
Three years ago, my heart landed in Zambia.
I had never been on a mission trip before.
I knew absolutely nothing about foreign missions, and I truly didnāt know what to expect.
But that was okayābecause Jesus knew.
He knew exactly what my heart needed then, and He continues to know what it needs today.
Since that first trip, part of my heart has remained in Zambia. When I was given the opportunity to return the following year, it was such a blessing. I fell even more deeply in love with the country, its people, and especially the beautiful women and children the Lord allowed us to serve.
Then another opportunity came this year.
At first, I wasnāt sure whether I was supposed to go. But then, seemingly out of nowhere, the Lord made a way.
And this trip changed everything.
Heaven Came Down
There was something different about this trip. The entire experience, the women, the children, the worship, the relationships placed within me an even deeper love and a burning desire for this country and its people.
Every time I have traveled to Zambia, I have known that the Father was right there with us. But before we left this time, the Lord showed me a vision of His presence being tangibly presentā a supernatural tangibility.
So I went expecting.
I went in faith, believing He would manifest His presence in a way that we had never experienced before.
And He did.
He truly brought Heaven down.
To see and hear what sounded like Heaven pouring out through the women left me speechless. Even now, I struggle to find words adequate enough to describe what we experienced.
God answered prayers. He revealed Himself. And He reminded both our Zambian sisters and those of us who traveled from America that the Body of Christ is not defined by nationality, country, culture, or language.
We are ONE Body.
It doesnāt matter where we come from or what language we speak. There is one Body, and there is one Holy Spirit.
An Unexpected Door Opens
During this most recent visit, the Lord placed another opportunity directly in front of me.
My sweet sister-friend, Rose Bwalya, was wearing a green T-shirt the first day I saw her. Across the front, in large letters, were the words:
ENCOUNTER REVIVAL MINISTRIES
Immediately, I was intrigued.
Something in my spirit wanted to know more, and I began asking the Lord what it meant and why those words had captured my attention so strongly.
Soon afterward, I had the opportunity to sit and visit with Rose and her husband, Leonard.
Leonard began explaining the heart and work of Encounter Revival Ministriesāhow they pour into young people, teach them practical skills, and serve children and youth, many of whom are growing up without the consistent presence of one or both parents because of incarceration or other difficult circumstances.
As I listened, my heart felt like it leaped out of my chest.
THIS WAS IT.
There was something about what they were doing that connected deeply with what the Lord had already placed inside of me, and how the Lord wanted me to be involved with them.
The desire to please and serve my Heavenly Father through ministry has brought a fulfillment I cannot adequately describe. The overflowing love, blessings, relationships, and fruit the Lord has allowed me to witness are immeasurable.
And once again, I found myself amazed by the way God had been putting pieces together long before I could see the finished picture to serve Him with my whole being.
From Brokenness to Surrender
The way the Lord works continues to baffle meāand I pray I never become so accustomed to Him that I stop being amazed.
When He speaks, I want to move.
No questions. No hesitation.
Because He has been ever so faithful to me.
Jesus met me in my sin, my shame, my brokenness, and my fears. He brought freedom into places I thought would forever define me. And because of that freedom, I have a new story.
I have a testimony that belongs completely to Jesus and gives glory to Him alone.
Romans⬠ā8ā¬:ā28⬠ā
āAnd we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.ā
Every part of my story reminds me that this Scripture is true.
The journey that has taken me from being a broken, lost, ashamed, and empty shell of a woman - to becoming a woman with a surrendered and contrite heartāserving my King with every part of my lifeāhas been nothing short of the redeeming power of Jesus Christ.
And now, to see Him bring me into this new season as a team member of IAM Women, while continuing to deepen the calling He placed on my life years ago, overwhelms me.
I donāt want a platform higher than His presence.
I donāt want a position greater than surrender.
I donāt want to arrive at a place where I no longer need Him desperately.
The highest place I ever want to be is at the feet of Jesus.
And wherever those feet lead meāwhether here at home or across the world in Zambiaā
I will go. š©·