Across the Globe: Ariel Rainey
Rainey Day in Spain
Ariel is a friend whose dedication to physical, mental and spiritual health I admire immensely. She knows how to have fun AND how to get down to business. We shared many a café con leche and many a laugh while talking about our lives and ministry back in my Madrid days.
Joy Teague Matienzo – Hi Ariel! Thanks for chatting with us about your life today. Let’s start with where you grew up and your family’s impact on your faith as a young person.
Ariel Rainey – I grew up in suburban Maryland, in a family that was very dedicated to the Lord and the local church. That foundation gave me opportunities to know Christ early in my life and learn how to serve in the church in a variety of ways. Seeing my parents model leadership, generosity, and even resilience throughout hard moments helped me make my own commitment to Christ. I felt called to full-time ministry as a pre-teen, and I’m thankful that my parents nurtured that calling and prepared me well in faith for the life I live now.
Joy – How did you know that you wanted to do missions overseas and how did you prepare for it?
Ariel -I had a specific encounter with the Lord, a “missions calling” during a prayer rally for young adults when I was in college. I felt the Lord speak to me very clearly about using my gift for languages to preach the gospel in other nations. However, at that moment, I’d never even been on a mission trip, and frankly, had never wanted to go on one! I felt sure that the Lord had truly called me – it was a pretty unforgettable moment – but I wanted to confirm it somehow, so I searched for a one-year mission assignment to get my feet wet. During the whole application process, God just did miracle after miracle so I knew it was definitely His leading and provision. Once I went on that year-long assignment, I never looked back. Now I’ve got more than 25 years working for the same organization!
Joy – What was the most difficult thing about leaving family and friends and heading into the unknown?
Ariel – When I left for that first assignment, I was 21 years old, and the internet hadn’t become mainstream. No one had cell phones or email addresses! I moved to a village where we didn’t even have a landline phone. So, in those days, my parents really had to trust the Lord with my safety, because they had no way to contact me! We wrote letters. I called from a friend’s landline about once a month, at great expense! But I remember the night before I flew out that first time. My father took me out for one last daddy-daughter dinner, and he said, “We dedicated you to the Lord as a baby, and now He’s taking us up on it. We’ll put you on the altar again, because you belong to Him, not us.” That’s the same way I have learned to think about them. My parents are in God’s hands. My family and friends belong to Him, and He’ll take care of them (and me) better than I ever could. We make the conscious choice to put those things on the altar of sacrifice.
Joy – What kind of ministry roles have you had, how were they decided and how do you think being a single woman has given you an edge?
Ariel – I’ve been a teacher, an administrator, a pastor, a mentor, a director of a non-profit, and probably a few other things over the years! Some of those roles were things I felt gifted or called to do, and others were opportunities that arose because colleagues were leaving, and there was a need. At least once or twice, my bosses approached me about taking a higher level of leadership, asking me to pray and consider different geographic locations or ministries. I don’t know that being a single woman has given me an edge, per se. I feel that my mission organization is rather conservative and still tends to choose men for leadership positions; however, it’s been easier for me to pick up and go when God opens the door, since I have less riding on my decisions (for example, no kids in school).
Joy – How has the Covid19 pandemic affected the way you minister?
Ariel – I think these past 18 months have been some of the hardest for ministry that I’ve faced in 25 years. We’ve had difficulty with constantly changing regulations and the limitations for ministry. How can we pray for people without touching them? How can we do street evangelism with masks on and trying to keep a distance? I can’t even hear or understand them! How can we have midweek meetings if we can only have 6 people in any public or private setting, but not in anyone’s home? It’s been frustrating to learn new ways to do offerings, communion, small groups, altar calls, baptisms, and more, and then it all changes again two weeks later! We’ve had to be really creative and VERY patient. I see more fear in the people of the city, too. They are afraid to come back to church, but they’re also suffering spiritually.
Joy – Is it difficult to maintain a healthy work/home balance? How do you handle it?
Ariel – I think some of it depends on personality. Type A people, like me, are always more task-oriented or driven to cross off the checklist. Ministry is people-oriented, though, and their development never finishes, so there’s no way to measure that “accomplishment” that I check off the list. There will always be more need, too, so it’s easy to get caught up in the cycle of never-ending jobs to do. I’ve read some great books, which helped me see the spiritual need for rest and sabbath. From a place of conviction, I was able to make it a priority. Years ago, I also had a counselor who reminded me that as a single woman, I have to defend my need for rest, because I don’t have a husband to point out when I’m exhausted or to be the “brakes” on my constant drive. That really changed my perspective. Since that time, I’ve learned to schedule breaks, vacations, and rest preemptively in my plans, to create that margin for myself; afterward, it’s easier to have others respect my boundaries if I’ve set them in place myself.
Joy – Do you consider your current home your actual home? What role does your “original” home play in how you make your plans for your life?
Ariel – I will always be a native Marylander in my heart, but yes, where I live now has become home. I own a condo in the States which I rent out through a property manager, but that was a smart financial decision, not necessarily where I plan to return. I don’t know where I’ll retire or when or how. I suppose that it will be in the United States to be near family, eventually, but that’s not something I’ve determined yet.
Joy – What are some of your favorite memories in the communities you have lived in?
Ariel – I began ministry in the West Bank. In those days, there was no wall, separating the Palestinian territory, so I could walk about an hour into Jerusalem to pray in the gardens of the tomb of Jesus (The Garden Tomb location). Doing Easter Sunday there was always amazing too! I loved living in the Holy Land; where people come for tourism, I lived every day. When I lived in France, I enjoyed the outdoor farmers markets, where fresh fruit and vegetables were lined in colorful stalls along the village streets each Saturday morning. The produce was delicious, and I always enjoyed chatting with the locals while shopping. I also enjoyed swimming at a community pool in France, where the glass building sat in a valley between mountains. As I swam back and forth in each lane, I could see the snow-capped majesty of the Alps. In general, France is just utterly beautiful in every little town. And the food! I’ve enjoyed a lot of great food in the countries where I’ve lived, Spain included.
Joy – Can you share a couple of things that you feel are important for people to understand about people like you who essentially choose the Gospel as their career? How can they be a good support for the friends they have “on the field”?
Ariel – We’re normal people, so don’t put us too high on the pedestal. I have my grouchy days, too! I *live* in this country; I go to work, pay taxes, have repair issues that need fixed in my house —all the normal, day-to-day stuff that happens in America happens here, too. Sometimes people seem to think I’m on a “trip” here, as though I’m just lying around the beach on vacation. I know for many this country is a bucket list destination, but for me, it’s just normal life. As friends or partners, I want people to remember we need prayer for sure, because we face very real spiritual forces. I love hearing from people —texts or messages—that people are praying, that they’re thinking of me, that they sent a little gift to surprise me, because it makes me feel more connected and less alone.
If you would like to know more about Ariel and her ministry she can be found at:
Instagram @raineydaysinspain
Email – ariel.rainey@eu.agwm.org
