Why Are Missions Important? The Answer—in Her Own Words—from ORU’s Abby Mutepfa

Abby Mutepfa

Hometown: Houston, Texas
Major: Psychology

Every year, we sit down with ORU students and ask them to tell their stories. Never have we asked a student to actually write their story … until now. ORU’s Abby Mutepfa, an ORU Missions leader and self-professed poetry lover, will be telling her story in her own words. 

A Messy Yes Leads to Radical Change 

ORU wasn’t my first college of choice.  I lived in Houston, Texas, and was accepted to a large state university, but then God led me to enroll at ORU. During my freshman year, I decided to join ORU Missions. It was a decision that radically changed my life.

At first, I didn’t think I could handle Missions. As an 18-year-old, I didn’t know what I was doing. But my first Missions’ trip to Greece was incredible. It was an amazing experience to travel and share God’s love, whether that was preaching the Gospel, washing dishes, or playing with kids. It was an opportunity to see God’s love in action. 

I learned God doesn't want your perfect yes; He just wants your yes, even if it’s messy. Success is determined by our obedience to God, rather than the absence of doubts or hesitations. When we say “yes” to God, even with our fears and uncertainties, He desires us to bring our whole selves to Him, just as He accepted the obedience of those who came before us with abundant grace. He does the same for you and me.

Because of my one messy yes, I have served God in both Greece and Zimbabwe. And this year, I said yes to a leadership role with ORU Missions, and I currently serve as a missions’ coordinator. One decision can radically change your life, and for me, ORU Missions was that decision. Everyone at ORU has this opportunity—to change lives by giving back—and saying “yes” to Missions is a “yes” to being transformed.

I have embarked on a journey through the trips and experiences I’ve had through ORU Missions that completely changed my relationship with Jesus. In unfamiliar places surrounded by unfamiliar faces, I encountered the living embodiment of God's love and grace. It has been an extraordinary expedition of discovering that in surrendering to God's plan, I received far more than I ever could have imagined.

Initially, I set out with the intention of being a vessel for His love and grace, believing I would be the one to offer something.  Yet, every step of the way, I encountered this truth: when we yield ourselves to God's guidance, He enriches our lives in ways beyond comprehension.

Through this journey, I've come to understand that when we serve, we are serving as instruments of God's compassion and mercy. We become vessels through which His love flows, and in that sacred exchange, we receive the blessing of drawing closer to Him.

As a result, my faith was not just strengthened; it was revitalized. The Gospel has ceased to be a mere story; it has become a living testimony, an invitation to participate in the ongoing story of His unconditional love.  ORU Missions instilled in me a profound purpose to continue manifesting His love in the world, making the Gospel and God's love not just words but a vibrant and transformative reality through a strategic short-term investment into a long-term Kingdom work.

Why “Yes” Is a Transformative Word

Despite being radically changed, Abby admits that Missions wasn’t a simple decision; she describes her choice as a “messy yes.” By this, she means being obedient to the Lord even when saying “yes” isn’t perfect. It’s saying “yes” to God and, at the same time, “yes” to the imperfections that make life chaotic.  

Learn more about ORU.
Learn more about ORU Missions.

ABOUT ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY

ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with 15 years of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor’s level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 151 nations (from 2019 to 2023) to be whole leaders for the whole world.

The Wall Street Journal ranked ORU as the #8 university in the nation for student experience and one of America's Best Colleges (2024). This new category rates the best colleges in the U.S. to have a great experience while attending. This ranking is powered by one of the largest ever independent surveys of verified college students and recent graduates in the United States. Niche recognizes ORU as one of the most diverse colleges in America, # 1 best Christian college in Oklahoma, and # 1 in Oklahoma for diversity. Princeton Review ranked ORU as the best regional college, and College Raptor ranked ORU as a Hidden Gem in the Southwest.

ORU has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as:

• #1 in Undergraduate Teaching
• #2 in ternational Students
  
• #3 in Best Value
  
• #6 in Best College for Veterans
  
• #7 in Best Regional Colleges in the WeMost Inst

For more information, visit www.oru.edu.