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Celebrating Lottie and Her Life
Posted by: | CommentsLottie Moon is a name I’ve heard since I was a little girl. Growing up in a Southern Baptist church, December was not only a time to celebrate the birth of Christ, but to celebrate the life of a woman who encouraged churches to pray and give to mission efforts. Today, many of our churches still focus on giving to international missions during the holiday season, but I wonder how many of our young people are familiar with Lottie’s story.
Last Saturday my daughter and I had the privilege of sharing missions with 100 Girls in Action at an annual Lottie Moon Christmas Tea. Gina McKean, the children’s minister at Portland Avenue has coordinated this event for several years and includes all of the churches from Capital Association. These little girls were precious and we had a blast! Gina is the type of woman who takes an idea and carries it out like none other. From the invitations to the food, to the mission project, to the craft, it was a morning that girls will remember for a long time. Here are some photos to give you a glimpse of how incredible it was.
Our tea included food just right for little girls–peanut butter and jelly, eggroll, oranges and yummy sweets.
Chopsticks were given to each girl as an ornament and prayer reminder.
The program was Asian inspired and all the decorations had cherry blossoms.
We even painted a cherry blossom tea cup.
Girls love taking their picture with our life-size cutout of Lottie Moon. She really was that small!
During one portion of the morning, Gina gave the girls a “quiz” on their Lottie Moon knowledge. Courtney is a senior in high school and I discovered I haven’t done a very good job of sharing the Lottie story with my own daughter! When I told her that Lottie died on Christmas Eve from starvation, she couldn’t believe it. No one had told her about the sacrifice Lottie made so that the Chinese people could hear the news of Jesus. This really struck home because Courtney and I spent a week in East Asia this year and our hearts were touched by students who had never heard the simple words of John 3:16. To put it simply, Lottie’s work continues today. Out of the 1.6 billion people living in East Asia, more than 98 percent do not know Christ as their Savior. Many of them work in factories where Christmas ornaments and lights are produced, but very few understand the story behind the decorations.
I’m grateful for the work of Lottie, but I’m more grateful to Southern Baptist missionaries who continue to share the hope of eternal life. I’m grateful to Southern Baptists for giving to the Cooperative Program and to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. I’m grateful that as believers we can be His Heart, His Hands and His Voice. What will you give this year to support international missions?
For more information about Lottie’s life or this year’s offering, visit www.imb.org.
Thank You Steve Jobs
Posted by: | CommentsMany of us went to bed last night knowing that Apple founder Steve Jobs had passed away. You might have learned of his death on the device he invented. I’m typing this post on my fourth Apple computer. I have an iPhone and an iPad. Today I’m thankful for Jobs’ genius.
1) Apple changed the way I worked. My first job was a typesetter in college. The machine I worked on took up an entire room. I worked in the public relations department at Oklahoma Baptist University where I studied journalism. I would painfully take the typed pages of the writers and input them into an enormous machine that would spew out the copy into nice strips of glossy white paper. They would be waxed, cut and placed on boards before they could be printed. Five years later, I saw my first MacIntosh computer at a conference. I marveled at the way someone could actually input copy, manipulate type and place it directly on a page that could be sent to a printer. I coaxed my boss to make the investment, learned the process, and became an instant fan. Thank you Steve Jobs for completely changing the print business for the better and for making work easier.
2) Apple actually gave me a platform for work. I left my job after giving birth to our first child. Within six months, a graphic designer friend called me and asked if I would be willing to take on some free lance work. I told him I didn’t have a personal Mac. He said, “buy one” and start a business. My little layout business, called K2 Communications, provided extra income for our family for more than 9 years while I stayed home with young children.
3) My Apple computers have allowed me to design things I could never have imagined. Whether it’s a video for my children, a pocket size book with photos or a handout for a seminar, my MacBook has allowed me to be creative far beyond my imagination or my ability. Why? Because they are simple, easy to use and just plain fun. Thank you Steve Jobs for making technology good looking and fun. (my computer has also saved me storage space because now I don’t print pictures, I don’t buy actual CDs and now I don’t buy printed books. I can carry it all on my computer, my phone and my iPad.)
4) Thank you for being a company who stood beside me when my MacBook actually failed. Yep, that’s right. The MacBook that I’m typing this post on crashed a couple of years ago. I have to tell you that my stomach actually felt sick. When I took it to the Apple Store, I was told the computer had failed and I had lost all my data. They tried desperately to recover the loss of my data, and although it was unsuccessful, they fixed the computer at no charge. I learned a valuable lesson in that experience. Apple backs its products and I need to back up my hard drive!
So, today, I’m grateful for Steve Jobs. I’m grateful for his creative and innovative mind that has honestly changed the way we communicate. I do not know if Jobs’ accepted Christ as his personal Savior. I have been told he was a Zen Buddhist. He wasn’t philanthropic. He even took money from Steve Wozniak on the sale of a game. I would like to think that in his final days, someone shared the Gospel with him. It’s a sober reminder to all believers that no matter how much influence you have on earth, your eternal destiny is the most important decision you can make. You and I may not leave a legacy of technological advances, but we can leave a legacy of making Kingdom advances.
Beyond Sunday Morning
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Some of the greatest servants in the local church are many times the people who get very little recognition. Many times it’s the men and women who prepare each week to teach your children about God’s love and His plan for their life.
I know how grateful I am for those who are called to minister to children. Both of my children had wonderful men and women of God who challenged them to learn scripture, to serve others and even develop wonderful musical skills. (well, at least Courtney–she’s the singer in our family)
Our office is joining the Children’s Office this weekend to offer a unique afternoon of training children’s workers who go “Beyond Sunday Morning.” There is no cost to attend this training event that will be held Sunday, September 11 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Portland Avenue Baptist Church in Oklahoma City.
Breakouts will include specific training in the areas of: I’m a Christian Now, TeamKid, Bible Drill, Mission Friends, Girls in Action, Royal Ambassadors, Children in Action and Children’s Music.
We hope your children’s workers are able to attend, but please make sure they register in the next couple of days at www.bgco.org.
Mission Monday: Chaplaincy (Even if it’s Tuesday)
Posted by: | CommentsSMO 2011 Chaplaincy-Vimeo HD from BGCO on Vimeo.
I had been at the BGCO for less than a couple of months when Paul Bettis, BGCO Chaplaincy Specialist, came to my office and gave me the opportunity to go on a “field trip”. I didn’t know much about Paul at the time, but I would quickly learn my idea of chaplaincy was pretty limited to what I knew about hospital chaplains.
My field trip destination was the Oklahoma County jail. This was not my idea of a fun field trip. I had never parked in the jail parking lot, much less walked the halls of a jail. Paul introduced me to Argyl Dick, a veteran chaplain who had many volunteers who sat face-to-face with those who had been incarcerated. It wasn’t until later in the year that I discovered Oklahoma has more women per capita in our prisons and jails than any other state in our country. I remember him making a comment, “You never know Kelly. God might just call you to be a prison chaplain.”
While I haven’t sensed a calling to commit a weekly time at the jail, I have learned a great deal about the various kinds of chaplains in our state. They are on our oil fields, our military bases, at biker rallies and in the midst of disaster relief. They are volunteers who have a heart to see people as the way God sees them–individuals He has created with a plan and a purpose.
I’m extremely grateful for the ministry of chaplains and with your support of the Oklahoma State Missions Offering, chaplaincy ministry is able to minister to a greater number of people who need to hear the Gospel.
And P.S.–about two years after my jail visit, I found myself entering the jail again for a chaplaincy visit. But this time it was a lot more personal. A high school friend had just been convicted of murder in a DUI case and was waiting her sentence. While it had been close to 30 years since we had seen each other, I was able to hold her hand, cry with her and pray for God to comfort her in the midst of a tragedy she wished had never happened. Without that first visit, I might not have considered going to see her. I’m glad I did. Because I was the one who received the blessing.
Organization: It’s Time for New Blog Thoughts
Posted by: | CommentsI want to be a good blogger. Really, I do. I can multi-task with the best of them, but I’ve realized recently that my orgnizational skills are a bit lacking in the way I write my blog. And I’m usually a good organizer! I write out of a sense of urgency, a need to promote our next event or just whenever the thoughts in my brain actually make it on the computer screen.
So, here’s some thoughts on how I plan to organize my blog. I can’t promise that I will blog every day, but at least this will give me a framework of what to write and the days you’ll want to read!
Monday: Moms, Missions and Multi-tasking
Tuesday: Theology and Devotional Thoughts
Wednesday: Women and Work (BGCO events and happenings)
Thursday: The Leadership Task
Friday: Fun, Family and Fashion
Hope you’ll continue to read and engage as we encourage women to embrace and echo God’s heart for the world!
Disaster Relief Brings Relief
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Tornadoes are no laughing matter in Oklahoma. While we may sometimes joke about running outside to watch for twisters instead of taking shelter, the truth is most Oklahomans know the devastation that can be caused in a few short minutes. We often marvel at the calm and sunshine that seems to immediately come after the damage has been done.
Victims may also marvel at the way Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief teams are quickly called into action. This year, the Oklahoma State Missions Offering features this ministry and its ability to reach into the lives of those who need good news. Take a quick look at this video segment and make sure your church as ordered its State Mission Offering materials.
Reach Your Community By Being In the Community
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SMO 2011 Church Planting-Vimeo HD from BGCO on Vimeo.
Each year our office has the privilege of educating Oklahoma Baptists about the wonderful work accomplished through their gifts to the Oklahoma State Missions Offering. While most people tend to perceive our office as only working with women, at this time of year we get a birds-eye view of several ways God is at work around our state.
One of the joys I encounter is being on location during the filming of the videos we produce each year. This year was no exception. Today I’ve embedded one video which shares the impact of church planting in our state.
Many people ask the question, “Why does Oklahoma need more churches?” Good question. It might seem there is a Baptist church on every corner. But the fact of the matter is that there are still a million Oklahomans who aren’t associated with any church. There is a growing need for Hispanic churches (the latest census reported that Oklahoma Hispanics have increased 85% in the last ten years).
For pastor Ernie Tullis, his calling to begin a church came from God’s prompting to go back to the neighborhood where he was raised.
What Tullis found was a neighborhood of high poverty, drugs and crime. A talented musician, Tullis began the process of working with the BGCO to begin a new church by being the church to this community. In just over a year, Tri-church meets at a local elementary, runs around 80 people each week and most importantly, they are seeing lives transformed with the Gospel.
Now is the time for your church to begin ordering their complimentary State Mission Offering supplies. Order online here and begin promoting the offer this fall in your church.
A Carnival With No Clowns
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As our office approaches the early deadline for our SWEET Experience event, I thought I would share some of the exciting speakers who will challenge and encourage you. While we are using a carnival theme, I can assure you there will be no clowns on stage–just women who are passionate about helping women change the world. (although I’d love to find someone who wants to come and make animal balloons for free.)
We’re calling the morning session, “Under the Big Top”. It will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the Worship Center at First Baptist, Moore. You’ll be greeted by our amazing worship leader, Amy Hill. Amy has been speaking and leading worship at women’s events for several years and you will find that she will get you ready for a day of experiencing the Lord.
Andrea Mullins will be one of the featured speakers under the Big Top. From the first time I met Andrea, I knew she was one sharp lady. She has been with WMU for several years, and although she leads a team of people who accomplish incredible work, one of her interesting passions is her love for Olympic ministry. She’s attended several Olympics over the years with the mission of sharing the Gospel. She heads up the WorldCraft ministry at WMU, a ministry offering small business owners in developing countries the opportunity to sell their products. WorldCrafts is a fair trade ministry that offers hope to women and men who struggle with poverty, disease and human trafficking. She also serves as the publisher for New Hope, the publishing arm of WMU. Some of the best missional authors are represented by New Hope. I love this publisher’s ability to not just publish books that sell, but books that are impacting missional living.
Our final speaker under the Big Top is Jaye Martin. Jaye is no stranger in the world of women’s work. Many of you may be familiar with her resource, Heart Call, which was produced by the North American Mission Board. She is currently the Director of Women’s Leadership at The Southern Seminary in Kentucky. She is respected and admired for her passion to help women connect their calling to their spiritual gifts.
This is just the Big Top! In addition, there are more than 20 Side Shows offered in the morning. All of them will be led by women who are experts in their field. (not the bearded lady) I can’t wait for you to be a part of this exciting day of women’s leadership development. Are you coming? Are you bringing other women? Don’t forget the early registration deadline is August 8. We’re looking forward to serving you.
Where Conference Meets Carnival
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Are you a woman who wants to make a difference in her world? Most of the women I meet will tell you “yes.” They want to make a difference in their family, their church and in their community. In fact, most women I know hope that deep down inside of them they have the influence to make the world a better place–even if it’s something as simple as choosing to buy things that are environmentally friendly or as complex as fighting poverty.
If this describes you, then you’re the kind of woman our office wants at our upcoming SWEET Experience event on Saturday, August 27, at First Baptist, Moore. SWEET stands for Statewide Women’s Enrichment and Education Training. While we have been conducting SWEET events for six years, this year we’re bringing a new twist to the one-day conference. The morning will be filled with a general session and breakout sessions (we’re calling them Side Shows), but the afternoon will be turned into a huge Midway carnival where women can connect to several ministries, experience missions and take back ideas they can implement in their women’s ministry.
Registration is open and the cost is only $35 if you register by August 8. For more information, visit our website at www.bgco.org/women.
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and Blume
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Last week I had the privilege of teaching a conference at the national Blume conference sponsored by Woman’s Missionary Union. More than 2,200 teenage girls and sponsors converged on the property of Walt Disney World ready to learn about missions and experience missions. One of the benefits of attending was that my husband, my daughter and her friend, Tallie, joined me for the week. (I think Magic Kingdom was part of the enticement because my daughter has NEVER volunteered to attend a conference where I was teaching!)
As you can imagine, we had a couple of days to explore all Disney offers. I must admit, I love the creativity and imagination of Disney theme parks. And who can refute their ability to create an environment into something truly magical? Even the fireworks are simply breathtaking.
But, in the midst of the week, I was blatantly faced with the contrast of two different kinds of princesses. During our day at Magic Kingdom, we kept noticing little girls dressed in their favorite Disney princess costume, complete with make-up, hair and a tiara on top. The culprit? The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Yep, that’s right. For only $189.95 plus tax (that’s the beginning price), your little girl can be a princess for a day. Consider that most of the girls were around six years old and will never remember this experience. They did look adorable, but my 17-year-old quickly chimed, “You would have never let me do that!” Probably not. But it didn’t stop her and Tallie from making a quick purchase of their favorite Disney princess tiara. Courtney is a redhead, so Ariel has been her favorite for years. Tallie was transformed into Jasmine which fits her dark hair and beautiful skin. The fairy godmothers in training helped them put on the crown, sprinkled glitter in their hair and told them to make a wish. With a quic
k $14.95, the girls became instant princesses and were greeted by Disney cast members the rest of the day with, “Welcome Princess.” (I think it’s in the training manual)
It didn’t stop there. We stood in line to meet Rapunzel from the movie “Tangled” and had pictures taken with Sleeping Beauty, Belle and Cinderella. There were a lot of princesses running around the Magic Kingdom that day.
Back at the Coronado Springs Resort, I met a bunch of other princesses. They were girls representing several states and countries. They didn’t wear crowns or have diva attitudes, but came in t-shirts, shorts and big smiles. They worshipped with great abandon and listened intently about the power of the Holy Spirit, not the power of a wish. They listened to women encourage them on how to fight human exploitation and how God is moving among the nations to make His glory known. These are the women of tomorrow–young women who have a passion to fight injustice and to live on mission with God. These are young women who are wearing another crown–a crown of righteousness.
I think every girl loves the fairy tale story of a young princess waiting for her Prince Charming. I just pray we’re teaching girls their forever prince is not in a Disney movie, but in the God who loves them more than they can imagine and cares about the intimate details of their life.
What kind of princess are you raising?
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.
