Hello blog world....I am back!
We have been in Columbus all week for our annual Distinct Council for the Assemblies of God.
It was nice to get away, spend time with the Lord, friends, and my parents.
What a hoot!! We laughed together and talked about those nasty gas prices. I am very blessed to have the heritage that I do.
My parents are first generation Pentecostals and they have paved a road for my sister and I to walk in.
On Tuesday night, we joined as 9 candidates were ordained into the ministry. It was very moving to watch a couple that I had known the wife since she was a young girl. There was another couple that the wife was ordained after ministering with her husband for years.
What a blessing to watch as God's call on their lives were affirmed in such a profound way.
On Wednesday, the Ohio Distinct voted it's very first woman presbyter. Now, I am not much of a women's lib type girl but it was a really great moment.
I have known Donna for years, served with her as we were the only women on the youth rep. committee and spent time with her talking about the ministry when we were both young ministers.
I think it is a wonderful thing that she will bring a different insight to the presbyters and their meetings.
I want to offer my prayers to you Donna as you minister in a new capacity in the Ohio District.
We have come a long way in the Ohio District!
Showing posts with label Ministry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ministry. Show all posts
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Friendship, Love and other Working Relationships
Yesterday was Monday. A Monday that I was glad to pack up.
You know those days...........you wonder did you wake up in your house, with your life, and your family. The day proceeded with the realization that YES! it was my life but get on for the ride.
Last night, we received a phone call that was a little unsettling. I realized that an unedited article was sent out in our Family Life News to "our" church world.
Oh boy!! We felt really bad. Mostly me because, I had been working on taxes for the past couple of weeks and had a little much going on and did not check the article when I converted it to a PDF File.
It caused another staff member to be bent out of shape about the article and my husband had to make his apologies.
Mistakes can be very hard. They are not always perceived in the best light and the forgiveness is not always accepted and forgotten.
I tend to believe in the best of everyone. I believe friendship offered to me comes unconditionally and I give my trust and friendship in the same matter.
After some sleepless hours last night feeling bad for the entire situation, I thanked Father God that He forgives us with no strings attached. He looks past my mistakes and sins and loves me for who I am. His friendship is unconditional.
Today is a new day and I trust a better day that I can still be called "A Friend of God."
You know those days...........you wonder did you wake up in your house, with your life, and your family. The day proceeded with the realization that YES! it was my life but get on for the ride.
Last night, we received a phone call that was a little unsettling. I realized that an unedited article was sent out in our Family Life News to "our" church world.
Oh boy!! We felt really bad. Mostly me because, I had been working on taxes for the past couple of weeks and had a little much going on and did not check the article when I converted it to a PDF File.
It caused another staff member to be bent out of shape about the article and my husband had to make his apologies.
Mistakes can be very hard. They are not always perceived in the best light and the forgiveness is not always accepted and forgotten.
I tend to believe in the best of everyone. I believe friendship offered to me comes unconditionally and I give my trust and friendship in the same matter.
After some sleepless hours last night feeling bad for the entire situation, I thanked Father God that He forgives us with no strings attached. He looks past my mistakes and sins and loves me for who I am. His friendship is unconditional.
Today is a new day and I trust a better day that I can still be called "A Friend of God."
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Women and Ministry
2 hot topics in one post. What was I thinking?
It's been an interesting week in the Northeast Section. Nothing bad happening, but a simple matter of "What to do with the women?" came up.
This coming Monday and Tuesday, we have a Pastor's Prayer Retreat. Last week the email came to remind the group about the retreat and there.....in the last paragraph was the "Sorry girls....no room in the inn for your makeup.....you can come and join us on Tuesday morning if you want to pray."
Now, I thought I would have a little fun with our Sectional Secretary and responded that it seems that the girls don't need to pray these days and.....well.....PRAY BOY!!
That led to some emails, "in jest", back and forth.
The discussion reminded me of 20 years ago, when I was on the State Youth Rep. Committee and there was just Donna, myself, and 13 guys. I must say the guys did a great job at not making us feel excluded. We were left out of a few "sports" things but were invited if we wanted to join.
Those days there were not many "women in ministry" in our state. Fast forward to 2008. I reside in a section where there are 2 women Sr. Pastors, and (I think) 6 women credential holders or staff pastors. We, have come a long way. Jeannie Mayo blazed a trail for all of us. She is a legondary woman youth pastor, was the first woman to speak at General Council, and has done all kinds of things for women in ministry. We have women all over the country who are pastoring, staff pastoring, speaking and ministering to many.
I myself have a Sr. Pastor (who happens to be my Presbyter) who has supported me and had me fill his pulpit on occassion. Even the time I told him that it was Mother's Day...... "let a woman talk about being a mother."
I married a man that was not to sure about woman in ministry and today, we travel all over this country and minister together. I preach, sing, play the piano, and minister around the altars alone and with my husband. The bible does say that "two are better than one." I went to CBC back in the early 80's, and I still think about the women that were there to "be a pastor's wife." I also knew women that, like myself, felt God's call on their lives to be a minister. I am a pastor's wife but I feel that my calling is just as important as my husband's call.
It's 2008 and the A/G boys club could use a female touch. Has the Assemblies of God moved forward in our thinking regarding Women and Ministry? Yes, but I think we need to do some more work. We have reached a level that we should stop talking about men and women and talk about People Called To Minister.
I would love to hear the toughts of others reading this blog. Sometimes we sweep these issues under the rug and a good healthy discussion with action would be great.
It's been an interesting week in the Northeast Section. Nothing bad happening, but a simple matter of "What to do with the women?" came up.
This coming Monday and Tuesday, we have a Pastor's Prayer Retreat. Last week the email came to remind the group about the retreat and there.....in the last paragraph was the "Sorry girls....no room in the inn for your makeup.....you can come and join us on Tuesday morning if you want to pray."
Now, I thought I would have a little fun with our Sectional Secretary and responded that it seems that the girls don't need to pray these days and.....well.....PRAY BOY!!
That led to some emails, "in jest", back and forth.
The discussion reminded me of 20 years ago, when I was on the State Youth Rep. Committee and there was just Donna, myself, and 13 guys. I must say the guys did a great job at not making us feel excluded. We were left out of a few "sports" things but were invited if we wanted to join.
Those days there were not many "women in ministry" in our state. Fast forward to 2008. I reside in a section where there are 2 women Sr. Pastors, and (I think) 6 women credential holders or staff pastors. We, have come a long way. Jeannie Mayo blazed a trail for all of us. She is a legondary woman youth pastor, was the first woman to speak at General Council, and has done all kinds of things for women in ministry. We have women all over the country who are pastoring, staff pastoring, speaking and ministering to many.
I myself have a Sr. Pastor (who happens to be my Presbyter) who has supported me and had me fill his pulpit on occassion. Even the time I told him that it was Mother's Day...... "let a woman talk about being a mother."
I married a man that was not to sure about woman in ministry and today, we travel all over this country and minister together. I preach, sing, play the piano, and minister around the altars alone and with my husband. The bible does say that "two are better than one." I went to CBC back in the early 80's, and I still think about the women that were there to "be a pastor's wife." I also knew women that, like myself, felt God's call on their lives to be a minister. I am a pastor's wife but I feel that my calling is just as important as my husband's call.
It's 2008 and the A/G boys club could use a female touch. Has the Assemblies of God moved forward in our thinking regarding Women and Ministry? Yes, but I think we need to do some more work. We have reached a level that we should stop talking about men and women and talk about People Called To Minister.
I would love to hear the toughts of others reading this blog. Sometimes we sweep these issues under the rug and a good healthy discussion with action would be great.
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