EXALT Christian Women in Leadership March 2016 by Eastern Star Church

CHRISTIAN WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP

INCLUDING INTERVIEW WITH FIRST LADY SHARON JOHNSON

“ I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever.” Psalm 145:1 NLT

SPECIAL EDITION March 2016 EXALT Eastern Star Church Women in Leadership 2016

EXALT Eastern Star Church Women in Leadership 2016

EXALT

CONTENTS

“I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever.” Psalm 145:1 NLT Publisher God Founder/Editor-In-Chief Pastor Jeffrey A. Johnson, Sr. Design Tom Missler Contributors Nicole Ashburn Janai Downs Wynesia Jackson Ellen Powell Dr. Lars Rascoe III Lauren Rascoe Brandy Wright Photographers Don Briggs Michael Bluiett David Dixon Bayette George Ken Hornbuckle James Willis Executive Administration Pastor Anthony Murdock Rene Parson Alpha Garrett

A Message from Our Senior Pastor........................................... 4 Leaders in Ministries................................................................ 5 Leaders in Business................................................................. 8 Leaders in Civic Engagement/Nonprofit.................................. 11 Leaders in Healthcare/Medical............................................... 14 Leaders in Education.............................................................. 17 Leaders in Law/Government................................................... 18 Music Review/Behind the Music/Book Review........................ 21 Fast Friendly Recipes............................................................. 22

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TTY Number (317) 591-5059 Eastern Star Church

@EasternStarChur

EXALT Eastern Star Church Women in Leadership 2016

Eastern Star Church 3

A Message From Our Senior Pastor To God be the Glory! In 2015, God did some amazing things at Eastern Star Church and he’s still continuing to do new things in this ministry for 2016. This year, I feel led by God for our church to focus on one word, FREEDOM! We need emancipation, liberation, our souls need to be free! John 8:36 reads, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” It is time for each of us to be free! Free from financial and spiritual bondage. Think about what you can do to invite freedom into your life. As a church body, we will focus on spiritual freedom through the six week Bible Study classes with topics including: Hunger for God, God Solve my Problems, and Free at Last. The church body will also focus on being financially free, with more details to come soon. As we continue the 40 Day Fast to Freedom, we encourage you to view Eastern Star Church’s weekly blog to view a message from me. I pray that these weekly messages continue to encourage you on your journey to Freedom! Be sure to share your experience during the fast with your church family on Eastern Star Church’s Facebook page using the hashtags #ESCFreedom and #FreeIndeed or email us at freedom@easternstarchurch.org. Did you know that March is Women’s History Month? In honor of this month, we’ve created this Christian Women in Leadership special edition to celebrate remarkable women leaders in Eastern Star Church! The women selected are a small number of all the great women we have in our congregation. Each woman has a unique story on how she grew into a leadership role, overcame obstacles, and advice for future women leaders. Proverbs 31:30 reads, “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” (NASB) From staff, to ministry leaders, to members leading in the community, and of course our own First Lady, I pray you enjoy reading how these women of faith are utilizing their talents for the glory of God. Don’t forget to celebrate and honor those women who have impacted your life positively during the month of March. God bless you,

Pastor Jeffrey A. Johnson, Sr. Senior Pastor

EXALT Eastern Star Church Women in Leadership 2016

Christian Women in Leadership By Ellen Powell and Brandy Wright In celebration of Women’s History Month, we asked select women leaders in Eastern Star Church a few questions about being a leader.

MINISTRIES First Lady Sharon Johnson Serves in Fishers Campus Choir and Women of the Word 1) Did you ever plan to be in a leadership role or were you thrust into it or nominated? For me, my “real” leadership role started when I became a mother; however, now days we don’t recognize mothers as leaders. My other leadership role is being a wife of a pastor, which automatically came when I married Pastor Jeffery A. Johnson, Sr. 2) What does it mean to be a leader to you? What are necessary characteristics and what’s your style of leading? Being a leader means empowering and encouraging others to meet goals and aspirations. A leader should always treat others with respect, have a high level of integrity, be trustworthy, listen to others, provide constructive feedback, and make executive decisions. My style of leading involves getting direction from the Lord through prayer and respecting others gifts and talents to enhance final decisions the Lord would have me to make. 3) Who is your leadership mentor or role model and why? My leadership role model is my husband because he’s led by God and over the past 29 years I’ve seen him grow. God has always had His hand on him and his ministry. He’s an awesome leader in

our home and has also ‘poured’ himself and ALL those leadership qualities into our sons. Now that our sons are adults, it’s amazing to see their father’s drive of excellence in them. 4) What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with other women who may find themselves leading others? You never know who is watching you from a distance it could be a young girl, young mother, nieces, nephews you just never know! And how you lead or live can and will affect them for the rest of their lives. My favorite saying is, “Our life is not our own, to HIM we belong.”

Rosemary Powell Serves in Exhortation Ministry and Baptism and Communion Services 1) Did you ever plan to be in a leadership role or were you thrust into it or nominated? Neither. I started volunteering in small roles for the church and each volunteer position I held opened opportunities for me to volunteer in other capacities within ministry. 2) What does it mean to be a leader to you? What are necessary characteristics and what’s your style of leading? For me, a leader must accept Christ in their life and seek His will daily. A leader must have compassion, listen to others, encourage others, and comfort others during their time of need. My leadership style consists of me doing what I can in the body of Christ and also helping and loving one another like God loves us, 1 John 4:11-12 is my favorite scripture.

EXALT Eastern Star Church Women in Leadership 2016

MINISTRIES 3) Who is your leadership mentor or role model and why? I don’t have just one role model, I have several. I’m thankful for Pastor Jeffery A. Johnson, Sr. and Lady Sharon for what they have taught me over the years. Dr. Sheila Triplett and Minister Darrell Daniel have been wonderful role models as well. They have guided and ministered to me through the Exhortation Ministry. The classes and meetings they’ve taught have strengthened my confidence to come alongside others for comfort and care and lead people to Christ. 4) What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with other women who may find themselves leading others? Go to God and ask Him to show you where you should lead. He will show you the way!

Sharon Bracey Serves in Senior Saints Ministry, Missionary Ministry, Hospitality Ministry, and Bulletin Ministry 1) Did you ever plan to be in a leadership role or were you thrust into it or nominated?

be involved in the church.

Neither. I just wanted to get involved in the church so I could meet other church members. I grew up and worked in the church so in adulthood, I continued to

2) What does it mean to be a leader to you? What are necessary characteristics and what’s your style of leading? When I started getting involved in the church, I never thought of myself as a leader because I’ve always worked in the background to support, guide, and help others. A leader must be kind, patient, understanding, enjoy working with people, and desires to get involved. My style of leadership is organization; I have to be organized when leading others.

Clara Walton Serves in Pastor’s Aid Ministry, Women of the Word Ministry, and President of Senior Saints Ministry 1) Did you ever plan to be in a leadership role or were you thrust into it or nominated? I was nominated into leadership for the Senior Saints Ministry. I had no plans of being in a leadership role; someone asked if I would be interested in serving as president of the Senior Saints. I prayed about it before accepting the nomination, and then members voted for me to serve as their President. 2) What does it mean to be a leader to you? What are necessary characteristics and what’s your style of leading? For me, being a leader is an honor and privilege. I’m so blessed to be able to serve others. A leader must be compassionate, a great listener, flexible, great at managing expectations of others, open to new ideas and constructive feedback. My style of leadership consist of me being open-minded, getting input from others, holding others accountable to their roles and responsibilities, and having a just-do-it attitude. 3) Who is your leadership mentor or role model and why? My boss, Linda Henderson is my role model. Linda is patient, eager to teach others, resourceful, knowledgeable, easy-going, and determined. Linda is a great Christian woman who makes high quality decisions, has great communications skills, and she’s strategically focused…she’s my shero! 4) What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with other women who may find themselves leading others? Trust and depend on the Lord, He’ll show you the way. You can do all things through Christ. Pray and let God guide you.

3) Who is your leadership mentor or role model and why? Sister Mary Barnett is my leadership mentor. Sis. Barnett is such a loving and caring person who has a lot of patience and she knows how to deal with different people from different circumstances. Sis. Barnett reminds me of the energizer bunny because she keeps moving forward no matter the obstacles she may face. When I’m frustrated, she always states, “remember we’re working for the Lord” and that saying brings me back to reality because everything we do, we do it for the Lord. 4) What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with other women who may find themselves leading others? Trust in the Lord, He’ll guide your way!

EXALT Eastern Star Church Women in Leadership 2016

Alane Singleton Serves in the Deaf and Hard of Hearing ministry as President 1) Did you ever plan to be in a leadership role or were you thrust into it or nominated? I didn’t plan on being in a leadership role. The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Ministry is small so I was surprised when I was nominated to be president of the ministry.

2) What does it mean to be a leader to you? What are necessary characteristics and what’s your style of leading? A leader is someone who is aware of and engaged with the issues that face our community and society as a whole. A strong leader is someone who has a serving spirit and is willing to humble themselves. Characteristics of a good leader is someone always willing to listen, to learn, to mentor, and to motivate with the purpose of empowering others to achieve their goals. My style of leading is to lead by example and adhering to the leadership characteristics I mentioned. 3) Who is your leadership mentor or role model and why? My parents Joseph and Bonnie Humbles are my leadership mentors and role models. They embedded in me the importance of service. As an ex-Marine, my father continued to serve by giving back to the community by being a Boy Scout Leader, a member of the Riverside Civic League, and a recipient of the Jefferson Award, to name a few. My mother has always been very active in church and was very involved in our neighborhood acting as the ‘neighborhood parent’. It is the examples that my parents set forth that created a serving heart in me. 4) What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with other women who may find themselves leading others? Always be encouraging, not judgmental and be open to learn from others to help you grow.

WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP ROLES AT EASTERN STAR CHURCH

(From left to right): Sandra Keith, Director of Christian Education, Valerie Lismon, Music Administrator, Rene Parson, Executive Director of Administration, Nancy Silvers Rogers, Executive Director of Ministries, Tosseia Holmes, Executive Director of Finance, Alpha Garrett, Director of Communications, Davita Johnson, Director of Facilities, Wynesia Jackson, Director of Membership Connections

EXALT Eastern Star Church Women in Leadership 2016

BUSINESS Tiffany Fletcher

BUSINESS

Senior Associate-Clinical Supply Coordinator, Pharmaceutical-Clinical Trial Supply Planning

Lukau Matuka Regional Team Lead, Marketing Industry: Technology 1) What led you to this career path? I got my undergraduate degree in Marketing and always wanted to pursue a career in this field. Marketing is all about the relationships you develop with others and creating brand awareness for a company. I am a people person and enjoy working with others and identifying their needs. I targeted working for Interactive Intelligence shortly after I graduated from graduate school but God had other plans. I didn’t hear back from them so I accepted a position with Angie’s List doing sales. It turned out Angie’s List was one of Interactive Intelligence’s biggest local customers and we used the software. After a couple months being at Angie’s List, I received a call from Interactive Intelligence with a position offered in their Marketing department. It just goes to show sometimes God has to bring you through something to get you to something! 2) What does it mean to be a leader to you? What are necessary characteristics and what’s your style of leading? Leaders are people who are doing the job before having a title and once they get the title, they are viewed as mentors or people who believe in and inspire the people around them. Some of the necessary characteristics of leadership include open communication, attitude, and commitment. You have to know how to talk to people and also listen to understand, not just to respond. As a leader, my intent is not to necessarily manage people, but to coach and inspire others with the best of my ability while maintaining a positive attitude and being all inclusive to those on my team. 3) Who is your leadership mentor or role model and why? My father. I believe one of the reasons I’ve found myself in leadership roles is because of my strong work ethic which was instilled in me at a very young age. Growing up I watched my father work hard to support our family and so I have always had that mentality that whatever the task or challenge put in front of me, I am going to put my all toward mastering it.

1) What led you to this career path? Although the majority of my professional career and primary work experience consisted of working in the non-profit industry, I decided to take a leap of faith and transition into the Pharmaceutical Industry to expand my knowledge base of supply chain management and gain exposure to a broader, more complex project management role. 2) What does it mean to be a leader to you? What are necessary characteristics and what’s your style of leading? A true leader is someone who is confident enough to operate in their strengths while acknowledging their weaknesses, empowering others through delegation and leading by example all while exercising patience and consistency. My leadership style consists of being clear about expectations while providing a safe place for growth and development for those I lead. I believe there is no assignment above or beneath me. I am here to serve. 3) Who is your leadership mentor or role model and why? My leadership mentor is Pastor Tony McGee, Senior Pastor of Zion Hope Church. Prior to becoming a Pastor, he was my first professional supervisor and taught me everything I know about leadership. He taught me how to think creatively and strategically, how to lead by example, and how/when to take risks. 4) What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with other women who may find themselves leading others? I would advise other women who find themselves leading others to trust God, be patient, and have fun! Leading others is such a rewarding experience. Take time to reflect and pay it forward!

4) What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with other women who may find themselves leading others? Don’t chase a title, I believe if you find what you are passionate in and work hard at that, the title will come. Always try to lead by example, true leadership starts with you and is more about what you are doing when nobody is looking. Storms will come, but you have to stay positive in front of the people you are leading, encourage them and make sure they stay committed.

EXALT Eastern Star Church Women in Leadership 2016

BUSINESS Tracey A. Jones McDonald’s Restaurant Franchisee 1) What led you to this career path? My desire was to have a career that allowed me to develop as a business person, and the ability to provide opportunities for people to advance their life aspirations. I also wanted the ability to strengthen and serve my community while creating the vision of my heritage, while honoring God, through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

2) What does it mean to be a leader to you? What are necessary characteristics and what’s your style of leading? Through a journey that has allowed me by God’s grace and mercy intertwined with majestic wisdom the professional privilege and professional honor to know and understand impactful, powerful, and positive leadership, I am firmly convinced the greatest leadership style which provides me the unique ability to be able to lead in a distinguished manner is a Christ-like, Christ-center, Christ-lead, Christ-driven and God receiving all the praise, honor and glory through His Son, Jesus Christ. 3) Who is your leadership mentor or role model and why? As I reflect, not only upon my career journey but also my life journey I am positive, crafted within the architectural foundation is the indelible impressions gifted within me are the ones from my mother, Mrs. Rebecca A. Stewart. 4) What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with other women who may find themselves leading others? Allow yourself the marvelous and wonderful experience of not only being embraced and trusting, but also be guided by God, through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

EXALT Eastern Star Church Women in Leadership 2016

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT/NONPROFIT Mia Black

Helen M. Lewis

Goodwill Guide, Non-Profit 1) What led you to this career path? There were many influences that went into my decision to work in this career field, but the most impactful were my grandmother and mother. I grew up watching them give to others in any way possible- through conversation, tough love or a gentle hug. Also through my own shortcomings and mistakes; if it wasn’t for God and those who helped me, I wouldn’t be here today. What I know for sure is no matter who we are and where we come from; we all have our own journey to become the best reflection of a flawed and wholesome human being. I am invested in this career of service because I want to help others become who they are meant to be despite what they may have done or what they have gone through. 2) What does it mean to be a leader to you? What are necessary characteristics and what’s your style of leading? Being a leader is not about the position or the title after your name. Being a leader means being an example for the purpose that you serve and for those that you are responsible for. Eugene Habecker said “The true leader serves people. Serves their best interests, and in so doing will not always be popular, may not always impress. But because true leaders are motivated by loving concern rather than a desire for personal glory, they are willing to pay the price.” You have to have passion for your work because your passion is God’s permission. Integrity is a supreme quality in leadership. I believe in having a collaborative style of leadership. I allow for my staff to have a voice in situations or help with building upon a vision. Other times, I have to be the boss and make sure things get handled. No matter what my style is, I do it with respect. 3) Who is your leadership mentor or role model and why? During my tenure with the Indiana Department of Correction I had two Superintendents who really impacted my style of leadership, Mike Lloyd and Steven Keever. The most valuable lesson I learned from Mike Lloyd was to always have a vision. Steve Keever taught me that sometimes the best choice will not be the easiest to make, but you do what is best for the person. Both men gave me the empowerment, knowledge and respect which shaped me to become a better leader. 4) What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with other women who may find themselves leading others? Proverbs 31:25 - She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.

Founder/President, Prom Genie, Inc., Community Service 1) What led you to this career path? My background is healthcare and business. I received my Bachelor of Science in Business from Ball State and my Masters of Public Administration from University of San Francisco. I attended a conference and there was a person there discussing a prom dress give away project in Chicago. As I listened I thought this would be nice to serve the young women in Indianapolis and Northern Indiana areas. At the time, I owned a dry cleaning business and talked to customers who told me stories of why they did not attend their proms and most of stories ended with them not being able to afford a dress. I knew God was telling me I needed to do this. 2) What does it mean to be a leader to you? What are necessary characteristics and what’s your style of leading? Being a leader is not about telling people what to do, it’s about conducting yourself in a manner that people want to follow you, not because of stature or titles but because they believe in what you do and the way you do it. I think you have to care about people, be a good listener by understanding what they are communicating verbally and non-verbally, be supportive and let people know when they have done a good job. Leadership is about being there for the people who need you when they need you. I try to lead by example. I work hard and I allow people to come to me when they need me. I don’t hover over people when they work. I show respect and I understand that they have lives outside of working with me. 3) Who is your leadership mentor or role model and why? My mother and the women in my home church are my role models. My mom worked, raised four children, and completed her GED the year I entered college. She surrounded me with like-minded women, very strong mentally and spiritually. She taught me to put God first, to get an education, follow my heart and to give back to others. My mom was a postal worker who worked her way into a management position without a high school diploma or college degree. She always worked in the community helping the elderly in hospice care and taking food to friends who were sick or just unable to help themselves. She instilled that in her children. 4) What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with other women who may find themselves leading others? You can lead effectively without harsh words or coercion. When you are in an intense situation, pray and allow GOD to lead you. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

EXALT Eastern Star Church Women in Leadership 2016

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT/NONPROFIT Demitrea Kelley Pursuing MBA in Healthcare Administration, expected graduation date 2016, Creator and Director of LoveTour, Motivational Speaker, Model 1) What led you to this career path? In 2008, I had my first child, Mikayla, who was born with Sickle Cell Disease, an inherited blood disorder that affects red blood cells. Mikayla has been hospitalized dozens of times since birth and has faced multiple crises. Working closely with healthcare providers and organizations that provide care for Sickle Cell patients, I found my passion in helping others and becoming an advocate for changing lives. Deciding to go back to school and obtain my Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, I will be able to create opportunities for those affected by Sickle Cell Anemia. This will help me achieve my ultimate goal to open up more clinics across the United States. Using Sickle Cell as my platform I began competing in national pageants winning the title as Miss Black Indiana USA 2011, began modeling and continued to speak on my experiences to people across the nation encouraging them to live a life with LOVE.

2) What does it mean to be a leader to you? What are necessary characteristics and what’s your style of leading? A leader is a person that has the opportunity to make an impact on their community by being a servant to others. I believe in Servant Leadership which is the concept that everyone is seen as equals and the leader is actually in the position to help, encourage and give back to others. A leader is a person with integrity, respect, trust, honor, loyalty, selfconfidence and humility. In my style of leadership I find that I focus on the “You” instead of the “Me”. With this in mind every decision made is for the well-being of the people around you. Thinking selflessly and having a consistent spirit to encourage inspire and value other people that you are working with. 3) Who is your leadership mentor or role model and why? My leadership mentor is Karen Arrington, Founder and CEO of Miss Black USA. She is my role model, confidant, child of God and most of all someone I look to as my friend. Even though she has met thousands of young women that have passed through the pageant, I have found that she and I connected on another level. I grew up without very many positive role models to look up to so having a woman that fears the Lord and teaches me so much about my walk with Christ is remarkable. She has traveled around the world, won outstanding awards, and is a humanitarian but at the end of the day she shares her God given purpose which is to help young women find their passions in life. 4) What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with other women who may find themselves leading others? My advice to other women that are in leadership is simple: take the time to encourage people to set aside self-serving behaviors in favor of serving others. You can do this by displaying your service to others, consistently.

EXALT Eastern Star Church Women in Leadership 2016

HEALTHCARE/MEDICAL Dr. Lynette SmithCaillouet Internal Medicine/Hospital Medicine at Community Health Network 1) What led you to this career path? When I was in the ninth grade, Crystal was my best friend. Both of us were doing terrible in biology. So terrible, we worried about being killed by our own parents once they found out about our poor performances. However, November 3, 1983 while waiting at the bus stop with earphones in her ear, Crystal was hit by a car and her body dragged some distance down the street. The driver who hit Crystal did not even bother to stop. Crystal died several days later and I almost spent the remainder of my freshman year in a state of hopelessness beyond measure. I did not want Crystal’s memory and how much she meant to me to be in vain. So I changed my outlook on life and fell in love with biology. My biology grade improved from a D- to a B+ and then to an A. When I graduated from high school, I attended Northwestern University and earned an undergraduate degree in biology. While at Northwestern, I spent my spare time as a biology researcher for Baxter Healthcare Corporation trying to help make blood substitute. It was Dr. W. Ellis Carter, a research scientist at Baxter, who encouraged me to pursue a career in clinical medicine. I attended the University of Chicago and in 1995 obtained my doctorate of medicine. 2) What does it mean to be a leader to you? What are necessary characteristics and what’s your style of leading? Being a leader means setting a standard of excellence and requiring others to follow. With the exception of the ER physician(s), I am the only physician in the hospital at night so I absolutely require all ancillary staff to give exceptional care to patients. I live my life on purpose in the trenches of medicine because every life matters. I serve God and He has made me understand that my job is to help heal His patients in the name of Jesus unless He is calling them home. I am a true patient advocate because in the middle of the night I do not have anything better to do but to serve the need of the patient. I have been known to wake up a colleague and say, “Since I don’t believe Jesus is ready for this patient yet, get on up out of your bed, come and help me save this patient.” My best leadership skills have occurred in the middle of the night. 3) Who is your leadership mentor or role model and why? Thank God for good parents. My parents are Frank and Wyona Smith. They were and still are my leadership role models. They never spared the rod so I learned early in life to be respectful. They demanded accountability in school, work and friend associations. My parents taught me to love Jesus. They are responsible for the standard of excellent service I use every day. While growing up, I am pretty sure the theme in our household was “Nothing kills you faster than being lazy!!!” because my father told me that almost every day. 14

4) What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with other women who may find themselves leading others? Being a leader carries enormous responsibility. I believe that you have to lead in a spirit of excellence and truth. I also believe that you have to be honest about your own life story. I love it when Pastor Johnson says, “You didn’t pick yourself up by your own bootstraps”. I believe that people need to really know a true story to understand the greatness of God. Here is my own true story. I am Dr. Lynette Smith-Caillouet who attended Northwestern University and the University Of Chicago Pritzker School Of Medicine. However, I made my own life difficult by getting pregnant out of wedlock at age 17. My parents did not put me out of their house, but they refused to lower their standards of excellence for my life. My parents told me that they would help me raise my daughter, Tamoya, but only if I continued to go to school. I am a physician today because my parents believed in me, loved me even when I let them down, and never lowered their expectations of my life-long service to God. Those were the toughest years of my life. Yet, today I live as a testimony that through the grace of God, you can serve your life purpose in a spirit of excellence for His glory.

Min. Cissy Brents RN, MSN, CCTC, Renal Transplant Coordinator at IU Health 1) What led you to this career path? I worked in the nurse’s office at Arlington H.S. My mom and the school nurse decided I should be a nurse. I started in nursing and then changed my major to Computer Science, then later decided I wanted to work with people and not machines. The first medical unit that I worked on when I graduated from nursing school was a renal [kidney-related] unit. I have done various other nursing areas, but I’ve always returned to Renal. Looking back, it has been God directed. 2) What does it mean to be a leader to you? What are necessary characteristics and what’s your style of leading? A leader is someone who has the ability to motivate others to accomplish the task at hand. A leader also influences others to develop their strengths and learn to deal positively with their weaknesses. A good communicator, listener, not afraid to delegate, visible, authentic, transparent and able to remain calm in difficult situations are characteristics of a good leader. A real important one is to be a Christian disciple - a Christ follower. I do not lead a team of people directly, at this time. I have discovered over the years, I would rather be on the teaching side than be the person in the leadership position who also has to be the disciplinarian. My style is an achiever, let’s get the task done.

EXALT Eastern Star Church Women in Leadership 2016

HEALTHCARE/MEDICAL 3) Who is your leadership mentor or role model and why? My mentors have changed over the years. When I was young, I wanted to be like my older brother’s wife. She seemed to have it together. I learned from many different women, even Oprah, years and years ago to pray on my knees. I read it an article, that it was a sign of surrender, humility and asking for God’s help. My spiritual mentors have changed over the years, too. (I.e. Kenneth Hagin, Kathryn Kuhlman, and Priscilla Shirer, just to name a few.) I have also learned from leaders over me, past and present, learning what to do and what not to do. 4) What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with other women who may find themselves leading others? Lead by example. It is also important to have a variety of people with different personalities, skills and abilities on your team to achieve the desired outcomes. So everyone does not need to act and or think alike and have the same ideas.

Dr. Leeandrea Sloan Family Medicine physician, IU Health Physicians 1) What led you to this career path? I always wanted to be a doctor. I first told my mom at the age of five that I was going to grow up to be a doctor just like Dr. Jones. He was my family doctor and I absolutely loved him. He helped me make wise health choices and did it in a fun way. As I began my training I decided to become a family physician. My passion is preventive medicine for the whole family to help people live healthy active lifestyles. 2) What does it mean to be a leader to you? What are necessary characteristics and what’s your style of leading? A leader guides, directs or shows someone or something the way. An important characteristic of a leader is that they are able to follow. My style of leadership is relational. Establishing a relationship with someone gives them the confidence in you to follow where you lead. 3) Who is your leadership mentor or role model and why? Mari Swayne is my leadership mentor. She is the Vice Principal at Pike High School and the former President of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority Incorporated, Alpha Mu Omega chapter. She is an awesome leader because she led by example. She displays the characteristics and actions that she wanted to see in our members. She saw potential and leadership qualities in others that they may not have seen in themselves. She is very encouraging, uplifting, and supportive.

Dr. Tamara Dickerson “Dr. D”- Medical physician, Pediatrician and Dr. D. The Parent Trainer - Parent coach 1) What led you to this career path? Since the age of five years old, I have known that I wanted to be a physician to help people. I chose the field of pediatrics during the summer while I was in college. I was a Summer Missionary with the Southern Baptist Church in San Jose, California. I served children in the inner city of San Jose and fell in love with meeting the needs of children. That summer, God showed me that there is a mission field in the US that needs laborers just as laborers are needed abroad. 2) What does it mean to be a leader to you? What are necessary characteristics and what’s your style of leading? A leader is someone that seeks out the good of others and not themselves. Leaders look for the balance in their decisionmaking and go all in to what they commit to. My style of leadership requires active listening and observation. I enjoy thinking outside of the box and participating, if not leading, in the plan of action. I believe that God has given us the gift of laughter and humor to show us how not to take ourselves too seriously...to become as little children. 3) Who is your leadership mentor or role model and why? I am blessed to have a family member for my leadership model. My aunt, Carrie Peterson, served in management at the formerly known South Central Bell. She also birthed a vision into a legacy called the Summerbridge program. The program started in a strip mall in her neighborhood where she went door-to-door recruiting children that needed help in bridging academics from one school year to the next. She has grown this into a program that now has a board of directors that is ensuring the longevity of her mission and calling - to help serve those children that need help with academics to ensure better success for them in the future. She brings the love of God to whatever she does. She teaches in everything that she does. She loves those children with a passion and it shows. 4) What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with other women who may find themselves leading others? Spend time with God to make sure you know that He loves you. Make sure you know that you have someone praying for you while you are praying for yourself. Make sure you bring God’s passion to everything you do. Don’t wait for others to make the first step if you KNOW that God is calling you forward. Remember you and God are a majority.

4) What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with other women who may find themselves leading others? One piece of advice that I like to share with other women leaders is to be confident without being arrogant and just be yourself. EXALT Eastern Star Church Women in Leadership 2016

EXALT Eastern Star Church Women in Leadership 2016

EDUCATION Dr. Nikki Woodson Proud Mother of 2, Business Owner of Change Makers International, Author, Christian, & Superintendent, Washington Township Schools 1) What led you to this career path? From the youngest age I can recall wanting to be a school leader. I loved everything about school and felt that I could do any job working with children within schools. My high school counselor wrote a letter of recommendation for me to college in 1993 and stated, “Nikki will be a Superintendent one day.” That is how strong my vision was for what I wanted to do. I knew it and articulated it before I was even out of high school! After high school, I continued with school for another consecutive 12 years obtaining my Bachelor’s Degree (Ball State) with Teacher’s License then Master’s Degree (Butler) with Principal’s License and finally my Ph.D. (Purdue) with Superintendent’s license. During this time I held a variety of roles within schools such as Teacher, Special Education Program Manager, Assistant Principal, Principal, Central Office Administrator, Assistant Superintendent and now Superintendent of Washington Township Schools. I feel blessed to be able to shape the lives of students every day! 2) What does it mean to be a leader to you? What are necessary characteristics and what’s your style of leading? My favorite quote about leadership is from John Quincy Adams who stated, “If your actions inspire others to dream more,

learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” Leadership is within each of us and I certainly do not think a title or position qualifies you as a leader. If you were to ask staff who work with me day to day, I feel they would share that I am a leader with these characteristics: • Hands-on leadership style • High expectations for all • Work hard and play harder 3) Who is your leadership mentor or role model and why? My leadership mentors are all those who came before me to make it possible for a black woman to obtain the highest possible degree and lead an organization as CEO with 12,000 students and 1,500 employees! While I have a list of accomplishments and have broken barriers for AfricanAmerican female administrators in the state of Indiana, I could not be here without standing on the shoulders of those who came before me to make what I am doing even possible today. I honor the relentless educators who fought for equity in education long before I began my career. As I become more seasoned in my career, I have come to realize the power of students seeing themselves in those who educate them. 4) What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with other women who may find themselves leading others? My lessons I have learned can’t be narrowed to just one piece of advice… • Take care of yourself as much as you take care of others • Listen…and let God guide • Be authentic and show people your true self • Love hard • Find gratitude in each day • Surround yourself with people who uplift you • Challenge yourself to be more of your best self • LIVE LIFE LOUD

EXALT Eastern Star Church Women in Leadership 2016

LAW/GOVERNMENT Yetunde Freda Okunade, Esq.

lead in a positive light.

Andrea Lewis

Owner and Attorney at Okunade Law

Chaplain at the Indiana Women’s Prison (IWP)

1) What led you to this career path? Beginning in my teenage years, I knew that I wanted to become an effective attorney in my community. There were no attorneys in my family, and to this day, I still believe that every family needs at least one attorney. Growing up, I was also very intrigued by the impact of attorneys. Because of my skills and my passion, I knew that I could make a difference in my community, in ways that only an attorney can. As a result, I knew very early that I should focus on my education and surround myself with great mentors. I worked very hard and graduated with honors from high school, graduated from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University in Bloomington, graduated from Indiana University School of Law in Indianapolis, passed the bar for my attorney license, and I now have my own practice. I thank God for directing me the entire time. 2) What does it mean to be a leader to you? What are necessary characteristics and what’s your style of leading? To be a leader, it helps to first be a great follower when learning about leadership. A leader can be described as someone who takes the initiative to achieve a goal and knows how to direct others while still being a team player. Characteristics include being focused, smart, having a great work ethic, being confident (not cocky), and supporting his or her people in a way that encourages them to be more productive and excited about their work. My style of leading includes open and effective communication as well as leading by my actions and words of encouragement. 3) Who is your leadership mentor or role model and why? One of my role models is my mother back home in Memphis, Tennessee. She just turned 60 years young, and she is full of wisdom! From a young age, she taught me how to carry myself in a classy manner and persevere in my personal and professional goals. Many years ago, she and my father came to the U.S. from Nigeria for college. They were both foreign students and worked hard in their education and in then their careers to stay in the U.S. and provide for our family here. My brothers and I are the first generation born and raised in the U.S. Watching my parents work and lead others is much encouragement that when you seek God first and persevere with prayer, faith and action, God will direct you and bless the fruit of your labor. 4) What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with other women who may find themselves leading others? One piece of advice is that your actions speak louder than your words. Be as consistent as possible because people are watching and can be influenced by you! Make the choice to 18

1) What led you to this career path? At the age of 35, when I had a wellestablished career in the pharmaceutical industry, God called me into ministry. A career in ministry was nothing I had considered prior to that time. When I received the call from God, I became part of the Ministers in Training (MIT) at Eastern Star Church. Through that training program, Pastor Johnson and the MIT leaders would emphasize that a call to ministry is a call to preparation. Therefore, I attended seminary and obtained a Master of Divinity degree. In 2009, while I was in seminary, God directed me to begin ministering in prisons (something else I had not planned to do). I began serving as a volunteer at IWP that year. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I believe God was preparing me for my future role. The job opening for a chaplain became available in the spring of 2012, but I was a few months away from obtaining a Master of Divinity, and I was not ordained. Both were requirements of the job. There was another obstacle for me, which was income. The following year the job became available again. By then I had the degree, I had been ordained, and the salary had gone up. God provided everything I needed to be able to minister full-time to those in prison. So in 2014 I resigned from Eli Lilly and Company to accept the role of chaplain at IWP. 2) What does it mean to be a leader to you? What are necessary characteristics and what’s your style of leading? To me being a leader is using knowledge, influence, and resources to promote change and achieve goals. You can demonstrate leadership whether or not you have a formal position as a leader. God would have us use leadership to bring about good in our families and communities. One leadership characteristic is to be reflective. To begin with self-reflection is important. You need to consider whether there is anything within you that needs correction, improvement, or that might impede attainment of your goals. Review any habits or practices you have that are barriers to effective leadership. We need to do regular, humble self-assessment so as not think of ourselves more highly than we ought (Romans 12:3). Being reflective also creates space for planning, problem-solving and creativity. Other characteristics include communicating clearly and honestly with others, as well as being willing to listen to the ideas of others. Leaders don’t have all the answers; they usually make better decisions with input from other knowledgeable people. Most of the time I use a collaborative leadership style by

EXALT Eastern Star Church Women in Leadership 2016

LAW/GOVERNMENT valuing team relationships and input. The environment I work in sometimes requires me to be authoritative. 3) Who is your leadership mentor or role model and why? I don’t have a designated mentor or role model. I glean from the teachings and practices of many people, both those in ministry and in other arenas. You can learn from observing what others do and through hearing about their experiences. At ESC I have learned from Pastor Johnson’s leadership, as well as Rev. Diana Etindi and Rev. Darrell Daniel. I have met with several pastors in the city to learn from their experience including Rev. Anne Henning-Byfield, Dr. Linda McCrae, Dr. Marion Miller, Pastor Judy Fackenthall, and Dr. Ivan Douglas Hicks. I sometimes listen to the Leadership Podcasts of Pastor Andy Stanley and Dr. Tim Keller. I have read books and articles on leadership as well. 4) What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with other women who may find themselves leading others? Leadership is not about having a title, but is about serving a group or organization, and effective leadership is a skill that can be learned.

Robin Shackleford State Representative, House District 98 (Government) and Project Manager (Business Consulting) 1) What led you to this career path? When I was in college at IU Bloomington I was on track to major in Business. My junior year, I went to my counselor concerned that maybe I had made the wrong choice because all my classes were primarily focused on profit verses people. He recommended I take a public affairs management course and I instantly fell in love with the concept of managing a State or City because it revolved around helping people with everyday issues. This is the year I also got acquainted with the political/legislative process while on a spring break trip to Washington, DC and there was no turning back—I got the fever to be engaged. 2) What does it mean to be a leader to you? What are necessary characteristics and what’s your style of leading? As simple as it sounds, in order to be a leader someone has to be following and the reverse is also true a great leader should also be someone that can be lead. My leadership style is Democratic; I make the final decisions, but I include team members in the decision-making process. I encourage creativity and people are often highly engaged in projects and decisions. As a result, team members tend to have high job satisfaction and high productivity.

My main goal as a leader is to build a winning team by encouraging others within the organization to become leaders, that’s why my style is more inclusive and circular versus hierarchical and exclusive. For example, in the legislature there are a number of ways to effectively display some characteristics of leadership: (1) Build Connections—As a leader I develop trust relationships with decision-makers by maintaining communication; establishing connections with colleagues and supportive relationships with state agency heads and advocates; and maintaining a relationship with staff while providing guidance and training to help them become more confident liaisons. (2) Context-Relevant Expert—By becoming a knowledge expert in health related topics I gain the trust and confidence of my colleagues and constituents in this area. (3) Effectively Communicate—Actively participating in the information exchange process with our Caucus and my constituents. I’m a member of our Caucus social media team and I send weekly electronic updates to a vast distribution list both of these tools keep everyone informed of what is happening at the Statehouse and in the community. (4) Active Listening—Actively paying attention to the communication of others. (5) Motivational—Aiming to raise and sustain individual performance levels and enhance the sense of belonging. For example, I encouraged my colleagues to host healthcare enrollment events in their districts and assisted them with the planning. I truly believe everyone can be an effective leader if the will is there and proper training is provided. 3) Who is your leadership mentor or role model and why? I have two sets of role models, internal and external, which include some powerful and strong women. My internal group includes my mom and her five sisters (aka The Aunts/Angel Network). These women instilled in me a spiritual foundation, perseverance, a can-do attitude, family first, determination, education is mandatory, and help the less fortunate. Even though they were all married, they were the biggest feminists and believed women were equal or maybe greater than men. One of my mom’s (retired Army Reserve Sargent) favorite t-shirts stated, “A woman can do anything a man can do, but better.” I loved that shirt. My all-time external role model is Oprah Winfrey. I have watched and admired this woman since I was a little girl. It’s not just her power or being a billionaire, it’s her spiritual journey. Oprah has been on a continual journey of self-improvement and has taken us along for the ride. This journey of self-discovery, whether good or bad, has allowed me to take the journey with her and work on myself. She is a master teacher of self-empowerment, for which a woman leader cannot be without. 4) What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with other women who may find themselves leading others? My one piece of advice to women leaders would be to have a spiritual foundation. We as women have many challenges between career, family, volunteer organizations, school, kid activities and more; but in order to balance all that we are given there has to be a solid foundation. If this foundation is built on God’s love, forgiveness, compassion, guidance and joy, we should be able to conquer all.

EXALT Eastern Star Church Women in Leadership 2016

LAW/GOVERNMENT TaKeena M. Thompson

Pastor Jeffrey A. Johnson, Sr. Senior Pastor

Attorney at Cohen & Malad, LLP

One Church | Three Locations

1) What led you to this career path? I decided that I was going to be a lawyer when I was a teenager. I am sure my interest started with watching episodes of Law & Order and The Practice. However, I have always had a passion for giving a voice to the voiceless and a desire to be an effective advocate for underserved or marginalized persons. It is truly a rewarding experience.

Join us for Sunday worship services Fishers Campus - 9:15 a.m. 8850 E. 106th Street Fishers, IN Cooper Road Campus - 10:45 a.m. 5805 Cooper Road Indianapolis, IN Main Campus - 12:15 p.m.

2) What does it mean to be a leader to you? What are necessary characteristics and what’s your style of leading? Being a leader means having a vision and inspiring and motivating others to fulfill that vision. It is not about being in charge and making decisions. It is about putting others’ interests (or an organization’s interests) above yours. It is about how well you work with a team, and how well you inspire, encourage and motivate your team to reach the intended outcomes. A leader should be a person of integrity and honesty; an optimist but a realist; a motivator; and last but not least, a leader must have THICK skin and deal with challenges without losing their cool. It is those difficult moments, and how you handle them, that will define who you are as a leader. My style of leading is to make sure everyone does not look at me as the leader, but as a member of the team working towards a solution or outcome. While, as a leader, you drive that discussion, it is important to me that I create an environment of inclusion and not stifle creative thoughts and ideas by reminding the group that I am in charge.

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Sermons- Monday - Friday @ 9:15 a.m. The Upper Room - Thursdays @ 7:30 p.m. Stream LIVE Every Sunday and watch services ON DEMAND www.easternstarchurch.org and click “WATCH LIVE”

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3) Who is your leadership mentor or role model and why? I really appreciate Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, the former president of Spelman College (my beloved alma mater), as being a phenomenal leader. I was a junior when Dr. Tatum became our president. She had a vision to advance our institution and she made it happen. She was fearless. She was pleasant and approachable. She always wore a smile. She made it look easy! I strive to be that type of leader.

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4) What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with other women who may find themselves leading others? Tackle things one at a time or you will become overwhelmed. No leader can accomplish all tasks within a specified term. Identify and focus on two to three things that you would like to accomplish, make them happen, and then take on other issues. Also, practice your “poker face.” You should never allow your frustration to show. You have to make them feel confident and have confidence in you despite the challenges you face.

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EXALT Eastern Star Church Women in Leadership 2016

Contact Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Phone: (317) 591-5050 Fax: (317) 591-5060 www.easternstarchurch.org

The Young Adult Ministry and The C.R.E.W. hosted a ‘Behind the Music’ session presented by Pastor Jay Johnson and Sis. Janai Downs (JD) in August dealing with the social, spiritual, and sexual references in Hip Hop music. After the event, the presenters challenged attendees to a 10-day music challenge, where they only listened to Christcentered music that positively impacted their spirit. Sis. Downs provided her top five-songs with explanations from the 10-day music challenge: 1. ‘Great and Mighty’ by Byron Cage JD: “The song lyrics are simple and repetitive, it is a call to continuously affirm in our own hearts and to everyone we encounter how powerful God is!” 2. ‘He Turned It’ by Tye Tribbett JD: “This high-energy song is a nine-minute praise break! It starts out reminding us of times when we thought we’d never come out of messy situations and moves us to an expression of

gratefulness we feel when God changes our situation!” 3. ‘Undefeated’ by KB, featuring Derek Minor JD: “This song is great! Not only will the beat keep you moving but also the lyrics remind us of the fact that every knee will bow to the victorious God we serve!” 4. ‘Prodigal Son’ by Tye Tribbett JD: “This song brings the true emotion behind the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. It paints a picture of what the son must have felt when he came to his senses and confessed that he would rather be with the Father than live the life of sin he had selfishly chosen. It’s a song of repentance and the realization that we need God.” 5. ‘Fill Me Up’ by Jesus Culture JD: “Pastor Jeffery A. Johnson, Sr. has preached numerous times about being filled with the Holy Spirit and this song embodies his preaching. It’s the portrait of desiring God and relentlessly requesting more of Him!” Sis. Downs challenges everyone to listen to the right music, Jesus music, before tuning in to the world and worldly matters. Before logging into social media and throughout the day dwell in an atmosphere full of the peace God offers to those who trust Him and keep your mind on Him.

Jonathan McReynolds’ sophomore album, Life Music: Stage Two will put a smile on your face, as well as in your heart and spirit. Jonathan is a triple threat, a spirit-filled songwriter, creative composer/musician, and highly anointed singer/ performer with a sense of humor to boot. Life Music: Stage Two continues the journey of what Jonathan says is a “Christian response to humanity.” He jumps right in with praise party tracks that shout I love Jesus! “Whole” and “Limp” are lyrically deep compositions telling you that even in frailty God is the answer while ”Maintain,” “Pressure,” and “Stay High” help you hold on to your sanity in a world full of crazy. Jonathan concludes the project with a slow song sure to make quartet lovers sing his praises entitled “Jesus.” Jonathan McReynolds has put together a soundtrack that simply feels good. Be sure to add Life Music: Stage Two to your album collection!

Book Reviews True Woman 101 Devine Design Book Review by Wynesia Jackson Are you looking for a good Bible study book that will empower women of all ages? This 8-week interactive bible study seeks to help women reclaim their identity by discovering the foundational truths about womanhood in scripture and pinpointing prevalent lies that undermine those truths. The book is insightful and challenging for all women. You will not be disappointed!

A Resilent Life Book Review by Dr. Lars Rascoe III Are you questioning if you’re on the right path? Are you looking for a book on resilience? If so, this a good book for you. A Resilient Life explores what it means to entrust our life to Jesus and do what Jesus has called for us to do. The book will also answer how resilient individuals are eager to cultivate learning through the body and mind, live for the big picture, consider the past, focus on God, work within their talents and gifts, and strive to be disciplined to follow God’s plan.

EXALT Eastern Star Church Women in Leadership 2016

Southwest Quiona Salad

Prep Time: 10mn Cook Time: 20mn Total Time: 30mn INGREDIENTS • 1 cup quinoa cooked according to package directions (you can cook quinoa in either water or chicken stock to add a little more flavor) • 14 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed • 14 ounce can corn, drained • ½ of a large red bell pepper • 4 green onions, diced • ¼ cup chopped cilantro • Juice from 2 limes 1 /3 cup olive oil • • 1 teaspoon ground cumin • ½ teaspoon black pepper • 1 teaspoon salt 22

DIRECTIONS: 1. Cook 1 cup quinoa according to package directions. I like to cook my quinoa in either vegetable stock or chicken stock to add a little flavor. I also like to rinse it before I cook it. To do this, just place the quinoa in a fine mesh strainer and rinse it under water for a few minutes. 2. When the quinoa is done cooking, fluff it with a fork, transfer it to a large bowl, and allow it to cool completely (about 15 minutes). 3. In a small bowl whisk together lime juice, olive oil, ground cumin, black pepper and salt. 4. When the quinoa has cooled, add in black beans, corn, red bell pepper, chopped green onions, and cilantro. 5. Stir in dressing and toss to coat. 6. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. Leftovers the next day are even better! 7. Enjoy! Source: www.centercutcook.com

EXALT Eastern Star Church Women in Leadership 2016

Chopped Greek Salad

INGREDIENTS FOR SALAD: • 2 large English Cucumber, sliced • 1 pint Grape tomatoes • 1 Red Bell Pepper, chopped • 1 Green Bell Pepper, chopped • ½ red Onion, sliced thin • 1 cup Kalamata Olives • 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

INGREDIENTS FOR DRESSING: • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil • Juice of 2 fresh squeezed lemons • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 2 tsp dried Oregano • 1 tsp sea salt • 1 tsp black pepper DIRECTIONS: Whisk all the dressing ingredients, pour over chopped salad, combine well, enjoy Source: www.cleanfoodcrush.com

Vegetarian Tuscan Kale And White Bean Soup

INGREDIENTS • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil • 1 yellow onion, diced • 4 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced • 1 (32-ounce) box low-sodium vegetable broth • 4 cups packed chopped kale • 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with Italian herbs • 1 (14.5-ounce) can no-salt-added cannellini beans, drained and rinsed • 2 large carrots, cut into coins DIRECTIONS 1. In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and carrots and cook 3 minutes. 2. Add garlic and cook 2 minutes longer. 3. Add broth, kale and tomatoes and cover. 4. Cook 5 minutes or until kale is tender. 5. Add beans and heat thoroughly. 6. Serve hot. Source: www.wholefoodsmarket.com

EXALT Eastern Star Church Women in Leadership 2016