Back To School: A Time to Weep and A Time to Laugh
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School started today. I always have such bittersweet thoughts each year as I send my children off to a world of pre-calculus, environmental science and U.S. History. And while my youngest is a junior in high school and my oldest is a sophomore in college, it doesn’t mean I don’t get a little teary-eyed.
Because the first day of school is a marker of time. If you’re a mom of school-aged children, you are probably like me. There is always the “first day of school” photo. For me, it just happened to be of Courtney getting ready to hop in her little Volkswagen bug this morning. What happened to the day when we walked down the street hand-in-hand anxious about meeting the new teacher and discovering who would be in her class?
So, I get teared up thinking I only have two more years to do this. (and since we went through the ritual this morning, I actually only have one more year!) I also got a little teary this week when my son took our 17-year–old living room furniture and hauled it into the rental house that he is sharing with four other friends. (although I was not teary about getting rid of the furniture!)
I know I’m not alone. Today (or somewhere close to today) moms around the world will be sending their little ones (and big ones) off to school. It might just be one of those “times to weep.” But it’s also a time to laugh. It’s a time of joy to see them maturing not only physically, socially and emotionally, but maturing spiritually. It’s a time to begin seeing how your children are applying Biblical principles in their life, struggling with spiritual questions and expressing their desire to make their world better because of the Gospel.
So, to all you moms out there: take a moment to reflect on the past, but rejoice in what you have instilled in the hearts of your children. They might just rise up someday and called you blessed!
Speaking Louder Than Before
By · CommentsEach year the Women’s Missions and Ministries Office spearheads the development of the Oklahoma State Missions Offering promotional materials. I’m always proud to “show off” the ways Oklahoma Baptists reach people in our state (and even beyond our state) because of the generous gifts of Oklahoma Baptists.
2010 SMO Disaster Relief Segment from emedia on Vimeo.
This year the stories we have highlighted are probably some of the best examples of how State Mission Offering dollars are put to use. There are three highlighted ministries–all very unique and all very important to the work of reaching people with the Gospel.
First, we featured the work of Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers who are reaching out to earthquake victims in Haiti. Disaster Relief teams have offered medical assistance, building projects and digging water wells to provide clean and safe water.
Second, Oklahoma Baptists are being encouraged to use a new evangelism strategy called MY316, which helps people learn how to use their personal testimony coupled with the most familiar verse in the Bible–John 3:16.
The third video features a story of church planting in the state. Church planting is still one of the greatest needs in Oklahoma, and the story shows how one church has grown from 13 to more than 500 by reaching out to the bikers in Southern Oklahoma. I have to admit, attending this church during the filming of this video was a day I will never forget. Seeing the authenticity of this church caused me to think of how Christ loved those who desperately needed a Savior.
If you belong to an Oklahoma Baptist church, I highly encourage you to watch the videos and order free materials for your church. September is the month to highlight State Missions to your congregation. Click here to place your order and let’s speak the good news of Christ louder than before.
It’s Going to Be SWEET!
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One of the most important aspects of the Women’s Missions and Ministries Office is equipping women to reach women through their local church and community. We know leadership skills are vital to a healthy ministry. When leadership thrives, so does your ministry.
That’s why our office conducts annual SWEET events. SWEET is an acronym for Statewide Women’s Enrichment and Education Training. Sometimes these events are held on a Saturday and are conducted as a statewide conference. But, we’ve also realized the value of regional events every other year. So…this year we’re coming to five locations around the state! These are evening events designed especially with ideas to help you reach women with God’s word and to reach others with the Gospel of Christ.
Dates and locations for 2010 include:
- Oklahoma City, Quail Springs, August 10
- Guymon, Grace Southern, August 12
- McAlester, First Baptist, August 31
- Lawton, First Baptist, September 2
- Inola, First Baptist, September 9
We have six learning lab leaders who will be teaching at most locations. They are the best teaching team our state can offer, so you don’t want to miss hearing from them. In fact, you will have the opportunity to attend two learning labs out of the 12 offered. (one reason you need to bring your entire ministry team!)
Learning Labs include:
- Unhindered: 2010-11 WMU Emphasis (this is especially for WMU Directors and Women on Mission Leaders)
- Cracking Creativity: Creativity in Ministry
- Beginning, Balanced and Blooming: How to Begin a Women’s Ministry and Keeping It Balanced
- Leading to Change Lives: How to Develop a Leadership Team
- Inspiration to Application: Applying God’s Word in Bible Studies (as groups and as individuals)
- Connections and Conversations: Bridging the Generations In Ministry
- More Than a Billion Reasons to Pray and Go: Learning about our Partnership with East Asia
- Recycle, Reuse Resources: How to Do Ministry On a Dime
- I Feel Like a Woman…Let’s Go Girls: Biblical Womanhood
- In the Company of Women: How to Develop Community in Your Ministry
- A Life Set Apart: Pursuing Personal Holiness
- Electronic Gospel: Using Technology in Ministry
In addition, we are offering a special teen girl’s track in Guymon and Baby Boot Camp training at three locations. Patsy Sanders, who has coordinated Baby Boot Camps around the state, will give women the opportunity to learn how to begin this type of ministry in your area.
The cost is only $15 which includes resources and dessert. More details are on our website, so plan now to attend!
Sharing Meals, Building Intimacy
By · CommentsI’ve been preparing for my small group Bible study this morning and, once again, I have been struck with the simpleness and profoundness of one small verse in Scripture.
Ruth 2:14, “At mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar.”
I don’t know about you, but my family (especially Conner) LOVES to have warm bread with a bowl (yes, bowl) of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. But, I digress.
In her study on Ruth, Kelly Minter makes the statement, “To me, communing and dining are at the essence of relationships.” How true.
Think for a moment about the times in your life when you had great conversations over a meal. It might have been around the kitchen table at home with your family, a date with someone you didn’t know well or lunch with colleagues. Whatever the case, relationships are founded, solidified and deepened when we share meals.
For another scriptural reference, look at Esther 5. The fate of Israel is in the hands of Queen Esther. The king asks for her request and how does she answer in verse 4? “If it pleases the king, replied Esther, let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.” Are you kidding me? Esther has the opportunity to save her people–right then–and she wants to have dinner first? What’s even more interesting is that she does it again the next night!
Why? She was building intimacy with the King. Boaz was building intimacy with Ruth.
So, how are you building intimacy with the King of Kings–Jesus Christ? Pretty simple. Commune with Him and dine with Him. And you don’t even have to turn on the oven. His word is the bread of life and He is willing for you and me to sit down with Him everyday and take in His word and His presence. Psalm 19:9-10, “The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.”
So take a moment today and have some bread and honey–or even oil and vinegar. And forget about the carbs. You’re communing with the One who gave you life and wants to have a relationship with you.
Beautiful Slave
By · CommentsMany of you know that for the past year God has been opening my eyes to the tragedy of human trafficking–especially here in Oklahoma. While I would love to make the problem go away quickly, I have honestly struggled with the “next steps” and how to make a difference. While I’m still wrestling through the issue, I know that for many people, the issue is not even on their radar. So education is a must.
Our office partners with national Woman’s Missionary Union, an organization that a lot of churches have put aside or consider “outdated.” But the more I’m involved with WMU, the more I believe there is no other organization that is “on target” with developing missional churches. For the next two years, WMU is tackling the issue of educating churches about the critical issue of human trafficking and human exploitation. I can think of no other organization affiliated within the SBC that is even attempting to address the issue, must less work towards freeing women in other countries through World Crafts and their Set1Free initiative. They are addressing the issue in their publications and I urge your women’s group to discover how they can use WMU resources to take the next step towards impacting human trafficking.
The following video was shown last week at the national WMU Celebration. While it was not produced by WMU, it is a poignant reminder that there are women and children who are enslaved every minute–around the world and even in your own community. Please feel free to share this video and help spread the message. Let’s not talk about being a missional church. Let’s do it.
BEAUTIFUL SLAVE Song About Child Slavery And Human Trafficking TAKE NO GLORY from Take No Glory on Vimeo.
Scouting the Divine
By · CommentsI know it hasn’t been that long since we finished the 2010 Oklahoma Ladies’ Retreat, but we’re really excited about 2011 and introducing you to a new, fresh face — Margaret Feinberg. Margaret is the author of the new Bible Study, “Scouting the Divine.” She’s also authored “The Sacred Echo” and has spoken before thousands at national conference like Catalyst. If you haven’t marked your calendars for 2011, make sure you plan to be at Falls Creek April 15-16.
Scouting the Divine from Threads on Vimeo.
A Tribute To Daddies
By · CommentsFather’s Day is quickly approaching and I’ve had a lot of time this past week to think about the love between a woman and her daddy.
That’s right–Daddy. That special connection between all the little girls who have twirled in dresses and the men who will still check her oil and hold her heart in the palm of their hand. Father just seems a little formal for their special upcoming day. Instead, Daddy just seems a little more fitting.
You see, this past week, I’ve gotten to spend a lot of time with my Daddy. And I wish I could tell you 
we went on vacation together or even played golf together (one of those special things my dad has taught me). But, instead, I spent a lot of time sitting next to my dad in the hospital.
It was just a week ago my mom, sister and I convinced dad things didn’t seem quite right. He was just a couple of weeks away from having heart surgery, but something else was going on. It didn’t take long for doctors to discover two blood clots putting pressure on his brain. I’m glad to say surgery was successful and after a week in the hospital, he’s now home and recuperating.
But the time in the hospital gave me some time to really think about dads and their daughters. One of my dearest friends spent the last couple of years watching her dad decline due to the cancer that invaded his body. She said her earthly good-byes to him this spring. And last week I got word that another friend in ministry lost her daddy to the tragedy of suicide. Their grief caused me to use this post as a public thank you to all the dads, including mine, who have done the following for their daughters:
1) Thank you dads for telling us boys are “yucky” and then giving us your complete blessing when we still fell in love.
2) Thank you dads for taking us to church and showing us God’s love by serving others.
3) Thank you dads for teaching us girls to stand up to boys and that’s it o.k. to bite them back when they hurt you.
4) Thank you dads for making us laugh and for being goofy–especially when you knew we just wanted to cry.
5) Thank you dads for knowing when to speak and when to stay quiet. (like when I wrecked my car or ran out of oil)
6) Thank you dads for working hard to provide–even when we didn’t seem grateful.
7) Thank you dads for teaching us to understand football, baseball, basketball and a myriad of other sports.
Thank you dads for loving your wives–our moms. It has helped us learn how to truly love unselfishly.
9) Thank you dads for giving generously and helping us learn there’s so many in the world who have less.
10) Finally, dads–thank you for being a picture of my Heavenly Daddy. I can trust Him more, because you showed me how you trust in Him.
No Lone Rangers
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I guess I must be bored tonight. Why? I actually started cleaning out some cabinets in my home office. Yep, the kids are gone and the only thing on television is The Bachelorette. (oh how I could go on and on about that one!)
So, as I started cleaning out the drawers that hold random photos, copies of writing contracts and leftover Christmas stationary, I found one of my favorite teaching props. It needs little explanation. The moment I place it on my face, there is an immediate connection. And I think it cost me less than a dollar to purchase. But if I didn’t have it as a reminder, it would cost me a lot more.
What is it? It’s a little black “Lone Ranger” mask. You know, the Lone Ranger. The cowboy hero with his famous horse, Silver. And why do I own one? Because it’s my reminder that ministry is NOT meant to be done alone.
As a women’s ministry leader, do you often find yourself doing everything? Are you dreaming up the ideas for ministry and then executing the details? If so, you might be wearing my Lone Ranger mask. But if you’re developing a team who will help you pray and seek God’s will for your ministry, then hopefully you’ve found a healthy balance of leadership and collaboration.
Teams don’t always mean that execution is easier. In fact, it’s really not. If I sat in my office and made all the decisions, I could get a lot of things crossed off my “to do” list more quickly. But, because I value the input of others, sometimes there is give and take, hard discussions and creative minds focused on kingdom results. We spend time praying, creating, debating and making decisions together that I believe deliver a better outcome. And the best part is that my team has an investment in the ministry we are working on together.
In fact, I think Jesus had a similar team. They were called the 12 disciples. And while Jesus could have accomplished His purpose without them, I’m glad He chose to use them and continues to use us to reach our world for Christ.
So, no more Lone Rangers. Let’s do ministry together.
When God Moves
By · CommentsI can probably count on my hands the number of times I have really experienced a true movement of God in my life. While I know God’s activity is both in the big and small areas of my daily decisions, I’m talking about those moments when you see your mustard seed of faith move a mountain.
That’s what I saw God do last month at the Oklahoma Ladies’ Retreat.
Yep. That’s right. It was a month ago. And I’m still moved to tears when I hear how God showed up in the lives of 2200 women during a Saturday morning altar call.
Jen Hatmaker, one of our keynote speakers, challenged the women of Oklahoma (representing 312 churches) to go and be the barefoot church–to reach out to those who are poor, marginalized and abandoned. And then women demonstrated it. One by one, women flooded the altars and left shoes, jackets, umbrellas, Bibles, notes of surrender, cash, jewelry, and yes, even a set of wedding rings. Each gift was a sign that God would be their priority and they would live a life of sacrifice to meet the needs of those in their world. After it was over, volunteers collected 70 boxes of items that we took to DaySpring Villa yesterday. DaySpring is a shelter of women and children who have been victims of domestic violence. It was an overwhelming sight of selflessness and a picture of our desire to see women echoing God’s heart for the world.
The women of Austin New Church (where Jen’s husband is the pastor), put together a video that I feel sums up the God movement that happened at the retreat. Click on the following link and get a peek. And start praying with your own mustard seed of faith that God will move a mountain in your lifetime.
What mountain has God moved recently in your life? I’d love to hear about it.
The Power of a List
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Charles Schwab, the president of Bethlehem Steel, hired a consultant and said to him, “If you’ll show me how I and other top managers in our company can use our time better, I will pay you a fee of whatever you ask within reason.”
The man said, “All right.” He then gave Schwab a blank sheet of paper and said, “I want you to write on this sheet of paper all the important things you need to do tomorrow and list them in order of their priority. As number, one, put the most important thing you should do tomorrow. As number two, put the second most important thing you should do, and so forth. Then when you go into work tomorrow morning, start with the first thing on your list and stick with it until you finish it. Then move on to number two, and so forth. You more than likely will not be able to accomplish all the things on your list in a given day, but you will have accomplished the most important thing on your list or at least made a major effort regarding it. Then tomorrow night, make a new list for the upcoming day. Do this for several weeks and let me know what happens.”
The consultant concluded, “If you find that this plan is working for you, pass on the idea to your managers. And if this is of value to your company as a whole, send me a check for what you think the plan is worth.”
Schwab did as the consultant advised, and he gave the idea to his managers, who also put the plan into action. A few weeks later, Schwab sent his consultant and friend, Ivy Lee, a check for twenty-five thousand dollars. In 1930, that amount was similar to receiving several hundred thousand dollars today.
I learned the power of a list more than 25 years ago when my first supervisor required me to do this very thing every Monday morning. Of all the leadership books I’ve read and conferences I’ve attended, this simple task that takes about 15 minutes to finish each Monday morning, has keep me organized and productive in every area of my life.
So today is Monday and I’m getting ready to make “the list.” The best part is that because I’ve been in my job for almost five years, I have kept every list I have made since August 2005. Each week I can evaluate my timelines for deadlines and evaluate where I’m behind and where I need to focus my attention.
So here’s your leadership tip of the week. Make a list. Look at it often. Evaluate your priorities and accomplish great things. Whether you’re a woman who is a homemaker, an attorney or a lay leader in your church, time is part of your stewardship to the Lord. Be effective.
(story adapted from “Success God’s Way” by Charles Stanley, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000. Page 193)
I am the Women's Missions and Ministries Specialist for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. Our purpose is to encourage women to embrace and echo God's heart for the world.
