Book
Suggestion The Power of Mustard Plant Faith: Growing Beyond the Seed For centuries many Christians have regarded the mustard seed as the faith standard: as long as we had “faith the size of a mustard seed,” we were ready to tackle any challenge that came our way. But what if mustard seed faith is just the beginning? What if there is so much more to what God wants from us and for us? This groundbreaking book explores what is possible when we grow beyond the mustard seed to a mustard plant of faith--a faith that fuels creative action for powerful results across the spectrum of our lives. Celeste Glasgow Ribbins is a process-oriented problem-solver who served as a public relations and communication professional in the public and not-for-profit sectors for more than 25 years. She has designed performance management systems, led teams charged with improving business processes, orchestrated administrative operations systems, and written speeches for national figures. In 2017, Ribbins launched The Powershift Experience, a customized coaching and facilitation company. In addition to a range of services that include helping leaders with goal setting, team building, and conflict management, The Powershift Experience offers Powershift Circles for individuals who need support to solve a problem, discuss and resolve an issue, or move a goal forward and Shift My Power coaching sessions for individuals looking to take their performance to the next level. Ribbins served Cleveland State University’s Division of Diversity, Inclusion & University Engagement by training and coaching internal and external clients on issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, bias, and cultural competency and directing and overseeing special projects. She also directed operations for the NEOMEDCSU Partnership for Urban Health, a premedical program designed to support underrepresented students who desired to become physicians in an urban center. Prior to her tenure in higher education, Ribbins served as statewide director of communication for Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio where she garnered positive editorials and articles about the organization from every major Ohio newspaper and empowered marginalized women to tell their stories of healthcare and hope. She has further served as press secretary for former Mayor Jane Campbell and public information officer for former Attorney General Betty Montgomery. Ribbins is a certified diversity professional with a master’s degree in Psychology from Cleveland State University and a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Rochester, where she volunteers to help develop an affinity group for first-generation students. She is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She is married to the Reverend Mark David Ribbins, pastor of Avon Avenue Baptist Church in Cleveland. Together they have a creative, tenacious teenager named Julia and a rambunctious beagle-terrier named Jackson. SPRING/SUMMER 2022 | 33
