The official publication of women of faith
fall/WINTER 2009
Your
Backstage Pass to A CONVERSATION WITH Steven Curtis Chapman living Outwardly focused A Women of Faith Bible Study
APPLES OF GOLD
magazine
The
Hole in Our Gospel
A Letter From Mary Several years ago I met (though briefly) a young girl somewhere in the South. My friend Ney and I were together but I can’t remember where or when. All I remember is that as we were leaving, having just met her, her parting greeting to us was, “Say ‘Hi’ to everbody everwhere.” And since then, we have. Both of us use that expression all the time. I hear myself saying it and I hear it from Ney. We even say it to each other. In fact, I was just texting Ney, who is in Colorado with many dear friends we both know, and I heard myself saying, as I wrote the text message, “Say ‘Hi’ to everbody everwhere.” Ney had a friend in college in the Deep South whose standard greeting was, “Hello there. How’s your Momn’em?” (all one word in that Southern dialect) We’ve ‘picked up’ that saying and made it our own as well. Ney asks me about my “mama’ and “them” all the time. I lost my ‘Mama’ more than thirty years ago, but when I’ve visited others in my family it’s still the standard question. It’s not technically biblical but don’t those phrases remind you of all the times we find biblical encouragement to ‘greet one another’? In this age of technological discoveries and breakthroughs, many of us communicate through forums that might seem, at first glance, impersonal. I believe communication and ‘connection’ are matters of the heart. Whether it’s a faceto-face greeting, something penned with ink, something that comes in a text (or even a Twitter) to thousands, or something online, communication with others is a matter of the heart. I don’t hear God’s voice audibly, nor does He communicate with me through the US Postal service, but I read His Word, and His Spirit reveals His heart to me. When I’m standing on the platform speaking to thousands in the arena, I never think of thousands in the audience. I see a face and find myself talking with her as if we were the only two in the room. Communication is a matter of the heart. So as we transition to an online Connection magazine we won’t lose touch. In fact, we’ll be able to communicate more frequently—to show up in your inbox and ask, “How’s everbody everwhere?” In His Love for You,
Mary Graham, President Women of Faith, Inc. P.S. Follow us on Twitter! twitter.com/womenoffaith twitter.com/marygraham Your Current Discount Code: WFADC49
Mission Statement: We are a membership organization of women from all denominations, nationalities, age groups, and backgrounds. We strive to enrich women’s lives by encouraging them with God’s love and His message of hope: equipping them with resources for their lives; creating community with other members; and giving them the opportunity to give of themselves to those who are in need.
Executive Editor Mary Graham Managing Editor Susan Ellingburg Circulation Marilyn Lee Layout & Design Amy Holt Connection Director Molly Thornberg Connection Administrator Jackie Bolden In This Issue: Allison Allen Jeannine Barneby Susan Ellingburg Mary Graham Lauren Hafernick Breanna Kadlac Fanny Levin Benita Long Marilyn Meberg Kate Muir Sandi Patty Erica Pearson Rich Stearns Sheila Walsh Lisa Whittle Copyright 2009, Women of Faith, Inc. Connection Magazine is published by Thomas Nelson Live Events, 820 W. Spring Creek Parkway, Suite 400, Plano, TX, 75023. This publication may not be reproduced by any means without written permission of the publisher. Publication of advertising does not necessarily constitute endorsement. Ideas expressed in articles are the opinions of the author and not necessarily those of Women of Faith or Thomas Nelson, Inc. The editorial staff accepts no liability for any errors of commission or omission. Women of Faith events are a production of Thomas Nelson Live Events. Unless otherwise noted, books quoted in this issue are published by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Send your letters, comments, and questions by email to editor@thomasnelsonlive.com. Please include your first and last name, address, and daytime phone number. Letters chosen for publication may be edited for length and style.
A Conversation with Steven Curtis Chapman
From Our Cover
18 13
Living Outwardly Focused ........................................... 10 A Women of Faith Bible Study
An Open Door, Please
COLUMNS
In the Wings: Lifting Us Up ................................................. 5 Allison Allen
Your Backstage Pass to Women of Faith .................. 17
Ask Marilyn ............................................................................... 9
A Conversation with Steven Curtis Chapman.......... 18
Come to the Table .................................................................. 14
Fanny Levin
Authenticity: Don’t Count Me Out ................................... 20
Breanna Kadlac and Lauren Hafernick
Apples of Gold .................................................................. 22 The Hole in Our Gospel ................................................. 24 Richard Stearns
Marilyn Meberg Benita Long Lisa Whittle
Shine the Light: Joyce Walker ............................................ 26 Jeannine Barneby
FEATURES
Celebrating Christ in Others .......................................... 6 Sheila Walsh
Beloved Pilgrim ................................................................. 7 Sandi Patty
An Open Door, Please .................................................... 13 Erica Pearson
Shine the Light: Nancy De Mott ........................................ 27 Kate Muir
IN EVERY ISSUE On Our Nightstand ................................................................... 4 Member Benefit Bulletin ...................................................... 23 Wrap It Up ................................................................................ 29
table of contents Come to The Table
The Hole in Our Gospel
14 24
On Our Nightstand Alive Day
A Story of Love and Loyalty By Tom Sullivan and Betty White A Marine’s “Alive Day” celebrates a survival after almost certain death. It’s a time of hope and joy. But Antwone Carver isn’t celebrating. Psychiatrist Brenden McCarthy can relate. Enter Brenden’s big-hearted black Labrador, Nelson. With boundless energy, contagious optimism, and a big heart, Nelson shows them both what it means to live a truly abundant life.
A Victorian Christmas
Sentiments and Sounds of a Bygone Era By Lucinda Cockrell Inscriptions from postcards, Christmas cards, poems, and prose from the early twentieth century. The included CD lends soft, simple Christmas songs performed by acclaimed mandolinist Butch Baladassari. The result is an experience of Christmas from a bygone era—a unique way to say “Merry Christmas.”
Redefining Beautiful
What God Sees When God Sees You By Jenna Lucado The Revolve Tour speaker Jenna Lucado has teamed up with her dad, Max Lucado, to bring girls a fresh perspective on what they need to live a life of peace, joy, and confidence. Through conversational “girl time” Jenna reveals that when we look to God as our Father, He can change our focus, our look, and our lives.
The Total Money Makeover
A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness By Dave Ramsey Dave offers a bold, no-nonsense approach to money matters, providing not only the how-to but also a grounded and uplifting hope for getting out of debt and achieving total financial health. The Total Money Makeover isn’t theory. It works every single time. It works because it is simple. It works because it gets to the heart of the money problems: you.
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In the Wings
Lifting Us Up by Allison Allen
She never makes a fuss when she enters a room, never craving a grand entrance. She carries herself with the quiet confidence of a woman who has been talking to her Father and is pleased with the good things He has been whispering in her ear. She laughs easily when laughter is called for and enters into the pain of others when that, too, is called for. She is always ready with a Scripture, a story, an assurance, and, more importantly than any of those—genuine prayer. Her name is Lana Bateman, and she is Women of Faith’s official intercessor.
has, itself, walked a path of brokenness, and, ultimately, healing. I was particularly struck by a dominant theme, as Lana indentified with those she was praying for: hope. For that moment in time, Lana was ripping through the roof, like the paralytic’s friends in Acts, carrying this church to the feet of Christ. I remember thinking, “How beautiful—God is ringing a bell here, letting us all join in the holy work of intercession.” For one moment, the unseen was seen; the hidden work was standing in the spotlight.
Sometimes I wish you could see her: squirreled away in a room deep in tunnels of the arenas of America. With a stack of prayer requests in her hand, an open Bible, and a whole lotta love, she is doing the unseen, difficult, and rewarding work of beseeching heaven to come near and kiss our broken earth. She is praying over the prayer card of the woman who writes that she has lost the one person she is sure she cannot live without. She is lifting up the mother who has just received a diagnosis that she has yet to utter aloud. She is holding up the arms of the gal (or guy) who is on the stage, praying that what is shared from the platform is effective and powerful. She is hoping for the city, believing that every person who has never met Jesus will be thoroughly introduced to Him by the time Saturday afternoon rolls around. And she does all this unspeakably important work unseen, invisible, “in the wings.”
For one moment, the unseen was seen; the hidden work was standing in the spotlight.
About a month ago, in the fair city of St. Louis, Lana Bateman made a rare, on-stage appearance. Mary Graham, the President of Women of Faith, related that a dear church—one that had suffered the loss of their pastor in the most tragic of circumstances—had members in attendance. Lana stepped, humbly onto center stage, and poured out a beautiful prayer—one born out of a lifetime of intimacy with God and a heart that
There is a phrase that is spoken before every Friday night kick-off of a Women of Faith event. At some point, after dinner is finished, Mary Graham calls out, “Anybody wanna pray with Lana?” This is our call to circle up, to listen in, as we add a hearty “yes and amen” to the work God is doing.
Allison Allen Prior to joining the
Women of Faith team, Allison appeared in 650 performances of Grease on Broadway. Our ulti-talented dramatist also acts as a media/ acting coach and co-wrote the stage musical Magdalene. Allison and her family live in Tennessee. Copyright Allison Metcalf Allen/Love Is Served 2009. All Rights Reserved.
WOMEN OF FAITH
Fall/Winter 2009
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Tales from the Porch
Celebrating Christ in Others It is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure. —Philippians 2:13 (NRSV) If the whole point of our lives is to become more like Christ and be a conduit for the love of God, then we will each be given different paths to take—which may or may not correlate to our prayers. Some paths seem more attractive than others, but no one really knows the burdens another carries. What I am convinced of is that God loves His children. I don’t know why He answers one person’s prayers one way and another person’s differently, only that He has a reason for it. One of the ways we can measure whether we are at peace in the love of God is by asking ourselves whether we are able to celebrate Christ shining through another’s life—whether we can recognize God’s wisdom as He lovingly hand-packs each life Himself. Because only when we can do that—when we can accept His hand working differently in your life as opposed to mine, answering each prayer in His own time and understanding—can we truly be at peace with God. Believing that God is not listening to us dampens our relationship with Him. But taking joy in living out His plan for us—that’s freeing! Excerpted from A Grand New Day © 2008 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used with permission. All Rights Reserved.
Sheila Walsh
Women of Faith speaker Sheila Walsh is author of the award-winning Gigi, God’s Little Princess series, The Heartache No One Sees, Get Off Your Knees & Pray, and Let Go. Sheila lives in Frisco, Texas, with her husband, Barry, and son, Christian.
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Tales from the Porch
Beloved Pilgrim You might be amazed at how freeing it is to lose your reputation. Devastating, yes. I have to admit, it has been one of the most painful experiences of my life. But I’ll tell you what—it has freed me from worrying that I might lose my reputation! Been there, lost that, and I’m still breathing. When you survive what you once thought would be an insurmountable loss, you realize that you and God can face just about anything together. I have found that being real, being yourself, is a lot more attractive to others than trying to impress them anyway. It has forced me to rely not on my own reputation but on God’s. It’s been made painfully clear that I am not perfect—but He is. I can’t atone for my sins—but He did. God is the only credential we need, and that frees us from worrying about our own lack of certifications, diplomas, and degrees. To find ultimate freedom, you begin to let who you really are inside shine to the outside world. The world becomes a sort of “come as you are” party—where you are happy to show up just as plain old you: a beloved pilgrim, very much in progress. Excerpted from A Grand New Day © 2008 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used with permission. All Rights Reserved. Sandi Patty has amassed more awards than any other female vocalist in contemporary Christian music history. She’s been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame, received thirty-nine Dove® Awards, five GRAMMY® Awards, and three RIAA-certified platinum and five gold recordings. Sandi and her husband, Don, live with several of their eight children in Oklahoma City, OK. When pride comes,
then comes disgrace;
but wisdom is with the humble. —Proverbs 11:2 (NRSV)
Sandi Patti WOMEN OF FAITH
Fall/Winter 2009
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Ask Marilyn By Marilyn Meberg
OK then, if avoidance is not always the best solution for toxic people and situations, what is a better solution? Since Jesus clearly stated we are to love one another, that is nonnegotiable. We cannot sidle up to Jesus and ask for a “yeah, but” clause in His directive. He took all the “yeah, buts” into account when He stated simply, “Love one another.” That means, honey, you and I need to deal with ourselves and figure out what triggers the pop-off instinct.
Question: In my Bible study last week, we were talking about being a witness to everyone we meet each day and that Jesus said we are to love everyone as ourselves. A woman in my study is someone I can hardly stand much less love. She goes on and on about how she loves the people she “runs into” and is always thinking of ways to show them the love of Jesus. She is one of the most self-righteous and superspiritual sounding persons I’ve ever met. She’s also a gossip who can’t wait to tell “the latest.” I have thought maybe I should drop out of the study because I’m afraid of what I might say to her; I’m afraid I’m going to just pop off at her. Would it not be best for me to quietly leave the group? Answer: Yes, honey, the safest thing for you, your Bible study group and the self-righteous gossip is for you to quietly drop out of the group. That said, let me ask you this: What will you do the next time you meet someone at whom you feel like popping off? What will you do with a husband, children, in-laws, friends, employers, fellow workers, grocery clerks, all of whom may inspire a few popping off responses? Will you choose to move, find a new husband, new kids, new friends, a new job, and a new grocery store? To simply leave people and situations which inspire “popping” may be the safest solution for the preservation of harmony, but is it actually the best solution? Probably not.
Since I share that instinct with you I too need to ask myself “Marilyn, what’s your trigger? Why do some people bug you more than others? What’s the source or root of your instinct?” If I put myself in your Bible study group, the self-righteous gossip would bug me also because I have a hard time with people who pretend to be holy and behave in ways that are not. As a preacher’s kid, I saw too much of that growing up in church, so that behavior is always a trigger for me. But here’s a hard truth from the famed Swiss psychologist Carl Jung. He believed everything that irritates us about others can lead to an understanding of ourselves. Does that mean I have to recognize I have a tendency to be a gossip? Does that mean self-righteous talk coupled with unrighteous behavior may be a problem for me as well? The reality is, when Jesus said we are to love one another, He included the phrase “as ourselves.” We may be triggered by behavior we dislike in others because we fear we may be guilty of the same instincts. Therefore, Jesus included the loving of ourselves in His command. There’s no getting around it for any of us. We are to love everyone. We can’t quietly drop out. Why? We’ll take our own tendencies with us and Jesus said to love ourselves also. If we can’t get away from ourselves, and we can’t get away from others, we may as well give in. Love ourselves—love others. Jesus does. It’s tough, but with His enablement we can too. So, honey, you better stay in the Bible study. Marilyn has been enlightening, encouraging, educating, and entertaining Women of Faith audiences since we began. But don’t worry—she still has plenty of wisdom and fresh insight to share! This year she shares the stage with Sandi Patty and Steve Arterburn (and sometimes Henry Cloud) at the Friday Feature. The parent of two and proud grandmother of two more, Marilyn is originally from the West Coast, but now lives in Texas. If you’d like to “Ask Marilyn” a question, send it to editor@womenoffaith.com.
WOMEN OF FAITH
Fall/Winter 2009
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Deeper Connection
Living Outwardly Focused Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. 1 Corinthians 10:24 NIV Making the most of what you’ve been given requires an outward perspective. So what does that mean? In the business of life, it’s easy to become a belly-button gazer— one who only looks at her own needs. But God invites us to change our focus to upward and outward. He wants us to see those who are in need, recognize the call on our lives, and live compassionate, intentional lives committed to making a difference. That doesn’t mean that you wear yourself out trying to fulfill every person’s need, but rather focus on the unique needs God is calling you to fulfill. If you look at a list of needs within your community, you’ll probably see a few that tug on your heartstrings more than others. And if you look closer, you may even see a pattern to those needs. Maybe you have a heart for providing for children.
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Maybe you desire to see people get out of debt. Maybe you’re passionate about making things more beautiful or helping things run more efficiently. Living outwardly focused lives means paying attention to the needs around you and focusing your attention on those that you are designed to fulfill! Here are a few examples of people who have made a decision to live outwardly focused:
• A woman in California felt she was called to help
feed the hungry. More than two decades ago, she felt led to give all of her Social Security check to provide Thanksgiving dinners for the homeless in her area. She’s been faithfully doing this ever since. Thousands of people have been fed as a result.
• A couple in Texas opened their home to abused and
unwanted children and shared what they were doing with friends and neighbors. Because of their efforts, more than seventy children have found a home in their community.
• A woman in Colorado felt a call to help serve the poor, orphaned, and those ravaged by the AIDS epidemic in Africa. Over the last eight years she’s managed to build a community development center that has taken in dozens of children as well as provided micro-business opportunities for adults.
• A retired couple from Illinois has decided to spend
their summers volunteering at a camp for at-risk youth. They help take care of the grounds as well as provide administrative support.
All of these individuals have felt a call to serve others and live in such a way that they are focused on the needs of others above themselves.
They have placed their faith into action in tangible ways and are maximizing the resources they’ve been given.
5. Read John 15:12–13. How does Jesus describe the greatest kind of love? Can you think of a greater demonstration of love? If so, explain.
1. Other than the examples listed, what are some specific ways you’ve seen people place their faith into action? How have you placed your faith into action?
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Throughout the Bible we read of Godly men and women who lived generous, outwardly focused lives.
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6. Look up the following passages and record the person’s name and how they chose to live outwardly focused rather than for themselves. Passage
2. Do you think being outwardly focused is a one-time event or a posture of living? Explain. _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ 3. When you look around your community and church, what things do you feel like you could help transform? What’s preventing you from making these changes? _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Living outwardly focused may sound simple and easy—like just noticing needs around you—but it actually goes deeper. Living outwardly focused requires a heart change, one in which we are truly concerned with others above ourselves. 4. Read Matthew 16:25. What do you think Jesus meant when He said this? _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________
Person
Outwardly Focused Example
Genesis 13:9 Genesis 50:21 1 Samuel 18:4 1 Corinthians 10:33 2 Corinthians 8:9
Each of the people listed above embraced living an outwardly focused life in a different way. No two were the same. This is a wonderful example of the different ways God chooses us meet the needs of others. 7. Reflecting on the Scriptures above, what are some of the characteristics of an outwardly focused life? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 8. Are there any ways in which you feel God is calling you to change your life to be more outwardly focused? Explain in the space below. __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Making the most of your resources means living an outwardly focused life and placing the concerns of others above your own. As you seek God and the ways He wants you to serve others, you’ll find yourself making a bigger difference in the lives of others than you can imagine. Making the Most of Your Resources: How Do I Make the Most of My Time, Energy, and Money? © 2009 by Margaret Feinberg. Used with permission. All Rights Reserved. Making the Most of Your Resources is part of the 2009 Women of Faith Bible Study Series.
_______________________________________________ WOMEN OF FAITH
Fall/Winter 2009
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An Open Door, Please . . . By Erica Pearson Every day, I walk into work with my arms full. I always have a toddler in my right hand and coffee in my left hand. In addition, my arms overflow with a lunchbox, books, and a ridiculously oversized purse. I’ve become quite a juggler and not once (knock on wood) have I spilled coffee on myself! As I approach the big glass doors, I can see people already busy and off with their day. It never ceases to amaze me the number of people who look at me through the glass door and keep on walking. I know they see me. They look me right in the eye, and yet they keep on walking. Some even smile at me while they walk by and watch me look like one of those clowns balancing plates on a tall stick while I try to open the door with my elbow and keep a toddler from running away. In my mind I’m screaming (with a sarcastic tone), “Don’t worry, I don’t need any help! I’ve got this all under control!” I’ll admit, on more than one occasion, this routine has gotten my day off to a bad start. Today, as I lived version #178 of this maddening routine, I was struck by a harsh reality. Is this what those who don’t know God feel like as they go through life with all their baggage? Are they screaming inside, “I’ve got this all under control, no really, I don’t need any help . . . .” Is this how they feel when they see me speak of a life of peace and yet I don’t take the time to open a simple door and invite them in? Is this how they feel when I walk by them with a huge smile on my face and joy in my heart while they look on with a burdened heart and shoulders, carrying the weight of the world? Jesus said to “Go out into the busiest intersections in town and invite anyone you find to the banquet.” (MSG) Are they trying to get to the banquet? Have they come to the door with arms full only to look in and see us smile at them and walk on by! Oh, that I may have ears that hear and a heart that sees the need of His people! Today, I’m going to look for opportunities to open the door for someone else—they just might need a little help getting into the banquet! WOMEN OF FAITH
Fall/Winter 2009
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ComeTable to the
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T
h ink of our stalwart early Christian forebears. What words were used to describe those believers? According to surviving letters and manuscripts, they were “loving, joyous, hospitable, and friendly.” They celebrated God’s bounty and the gift of His Son. Can we reclaim that legacy? Of course we can! It’s our history and our heritage. In Greek there are several words for love, one of them meaning “brotherly love.” That word, philos, should be at the heart of every Christian gathering. Where better to practice this love than in the intimacy of a small group sharing a meal? Throughout history, such occasions have been a source of great social, as well as spiritual, transformation. Until the third century A.D., church buildings did not exist, so faith in Jesus Christ was continued by those who met and celebrated in their homes. Many years later, John Wesley reinstated these meetings, centered around the love feast. In more recent times, believers in Eastern Europe, under the yoke of Communism, practiced their faith in the milieu of small groups gathering for meals. To assemble for religious or political reasons was dangerous, so the sharing of food, ostensibly, gave these meetings a social nature. As serious as this all sounds, small group dinners were and are not only a source of great pleasure, but are integral to and consistent with our faith. So many religious traditions spurn happiness. God has created us so that we are predisposed to live a life of celebration. The very nature of our faith also encourages us to live in community with one another. I’d like to share with you the work of an almost forgotten poetess by the name of Alice Cary. Born near Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1820, she enjoyed a brilliant literary career, counting among her friends the likes of Edgar Allen Poe, John Greenleaf Whittier, Horace Greeley, and PT Barnum! She was as well known for the lavish hospitality of her regular Sunday evening receptions as she was for her writing. Enjoy her words….
crab and corn chowder (Makes 4 to 6 servings)
3 tablespoons butter, divided 3 green onions, chopped (both stalks and tops) 1 rib celery, chopped 3 ears fresh corn, removed from the cob 1 tablespoon flour 1¼ cups half-and-half 1 cup seafood stock or bottled clam juice 1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chilies, drained 12 ounces lump crabmeat 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning Place 2 tablespoons of the butter in a medium saucepan and sauté the green onions, celery, and corn until tender. Remove 1 cup of this mixture and purée in a blender. Return to the pan. In a small skillet, melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Stir in the flour and cook about 30 seconds. Stir in the half-and-half and cook until slightly thickened. Add to the corn mixture. Stir in the seafood stock and green chilies. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Carefully stir in the crabmeat and season with the Old Bay seasoning.
Nobility
True worth is in being, not seeming,— In doing, each day that goes by, Some little good–not in dreaming Of great things to do by and by. For whatever men say in their blindness, And spite of the fancies of youth, There’s nothing so kingly as kindness, And nothing so royal as truth. The recipe we’ve included would be fabulous to share with someone as a way of Christian caring. And—trust me on this—your kindness will not be diminished one bit if you make a little extra for yourself! When Benita Long went shopping for a cookbook that mixed ingredients, food, God’s word, His people, and the fellowship that comes when they’re all stirred together, she couldn’t find one . . . so she wrote it herself. The result, Come to the Table, is available at womenoffaith.com. WOMEN OF FAITH
Fall/Winter 2009
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o t s s a P e g a t s k c Your Ba th
i a F f o n e m o W
By Breanna Kadlac and Lauren Hafernick You wouldn’t believe how much goes on behind the scenes at a Women of Faith event. We could tell you such stories . . . so we decided to do just that! We’re two of the Event Planners for Women of Faith and The Revolve Tour. And this is your backstage pass.
We Are Hockey Fans, BUT . . .
Breanna: It was one week before our 2009 Columbus event. This was my third time planning for this city and I was feeling pretty good about it. Columbus is our biggest and craziest event of the year—you wouldn’t believe how much goes on backstage! This year we had an entire film and photography crew shooting our 2009 A Grand New Day DVD, 25 VIP’s on hand to experience the event, and 15 members of our national sales team in attendance. I knew it was going to be a busy weekend. And then the call came . . . it was the General Manager of Nationwide Arena; he informed me their NHL team, the Blue Jackets, had just made it to the playoffs. A game would now be held during our load-in (move in and set up) time. I thought, “Good for them—but do you know what this means for US?!” Flights had to be changed, additional staff called in, catering plans modified, volunteers and staff notified, and hotel rooms switched and added. (Good thing we have flexible teams.) On top of all of this, most hotels in the city were sold out! We shifted into high gear, and in hours we had a plan in place—our teams would start load in at midnight on Thursday and work through the night to be set up by the time doors opened Friday at 9:00 a.m.
We arrived at the arena at 11:30 p.m. Thursday, ready for a long night. Five semi’s to unload, twenty-four booths to set up, eight dressing rooms to put together, signs to hang, people to feed. Dinner became lunch and breakfast became dinner. Approximately 420 Red Bulls later, with zero-to-three hours of sleep for most of our staff, we were ready to start A Grand New Day!
Dumpster Diving for Babies
Lauren: My experience in Spokane last year still gives me chills. Early that Saturday morning, I was the first one at the arena to do my walk through. I was admiring how “clean” the arena looked when realization kicked in that this “clean” was the result of the thousands of missing World Vision sponsor bags. There should have been one on each seat! What had happened to all the World Vision babies that needed support and sponsorship? I soon learned the arena cleaning crew had thrown them all out the night before. Each of these bags holds the life of a child that desperately needs our help; I knew they had to be found. Fortunately, the trash compactor had not yet been emptied. God bless our staff, they dove headfirst into that nasty, stinky, slimy trash compactor filled with old nacho cheese, mustard-y napkins, and everything else you can imagine, to save the lives of our World Vision babies. We managed to get the bags sanitized and back on seats before the arena filled with attendees. From the audience, we hope you experience a huge production that runs (more or less) without a hitch. Now you’ve seen a bit behind the scenes to the many moving parts that bring you inspiring messages, moving worship, and a weekend of enjoyment.
Backstage Bits
• It takes more than 90 flights to get all speakers and staff to your city • 5 tractor-trailers transport everything needed for each event • An average of 105 people eat in backstage catering each weekend • We go through more than 100 bananas at every event • Pink and green arrows are taped to the floor backstage to direct traffic WOMEN OF FAITH
Fall/Winter 2009
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A Conversation with WoF: We’re thrilled you’ve been with us for most of our A Grand New Day events. What has touring with Women of Faith been like for you?
Steven: I think anybody who knows me and has heard me talk
about this—from my wife to my manager—knows that being with Women of Faith has really been a part of the healing process for me on grieving our loss of our daughter. Being in an environment like this—with the Women of Faith leadership and the women in the audience—there’s a real sense that their hearts are really with us as a family. I didn’t expect that coming into this. I believed it would be great and good, but it’s ministered to me as much as any ministry I’ve been giving out. To be associated with Women of Faith . . . it’s been profound. It’s allowed me to receive as much as I give. I love having my sons with me being “oohed” and “aahed” over by women who want to pinch their cheeks. They’re having a blast. Will Franklin is 18 and the drummer in my band who wants to rock every night. He has loved this. He says, “You have to do these Women of Faith events again.” They love you and think this is a blast.
WoF:This year you picked up your seventh “Artist of the Year” award and tenth “Songwriter of the Year” Dove award. After so many, is it still meaningful when you win?
WoF: Tell us about your new CD. Steven: Beauty Will Rise is a collection of my personal Psalms
from the last year and a half since we lost Maria. It’s the laments, wrestlings, ponderings, and God meeting me and my family in the midst of our grief. It’s me coming to the place of saying, “God I don’t understand. But I trust you. You give and take away.” It’s raw. It’s the most honest of a record as I’ve ever made. It’s really just my Psalms that I felt I wanted to share with people who could appreciate that.
WoF: How do you go about writing a song? Do you have a
‘standard operating procedure’ or is it different every time?
Steven: A year or so ago I honestly, sincerely, wasn’t sure I’d
ever write another song or do another concert. I thought that unless I can sit and write a song and do this honestly and with integrity to the depth of pain and confusion, I’m not going to write. I thought if I ever do write, it won’t be anything anyone wants to hear. I was asking questions like, “Where are you God? How long oh, Lord? What are you thinking?” That process was very different for me—as I did begin to wrestle through these songs—of waiting, songs of longing, a different place to write from. These songs were written from a place of desperate hope.
Steven: This year the awards meant a completely different thing than they’ve ever meant before. I know that what these represent is that you are still, by the grace of God, acknowledging my artistry and song writing—the effort there and the giftedness there. And it’s one more way for people to say, “We love you. We’re hurting for you. We’re so sorry.” It felt almost like a big group hug for my family. It’s people saying, “The way you have walked this out on our behalf as a believing community that the world so often sees in a not great light—you’ve walked this out in a way that we’re proud.”
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“ . . . sincerely, wasn’t sure I’d ever write another song or do another concert”
Steven Curtis Chapman WoF: What’s your favorite part of life as a musician?
For example, would you rather write a song or perform it?
Steven: It’s hard to separate one from the other. They really
are so intertwined. I love the creative writing process. It’s an amazing thing to be a part of. You see something that didn’t exist and you get to watch it come into being. There’s a real humbling process in that. It’s a gift. It’s not something you learned; it’s a gift you get to operate in. The performing part of it is completing the purpose. Once it’s written, it’s like, “Somebody has to hear this!”
WoF: Your adoption ministry recently changed its name. Tell us about that.
Steven: As we were first considering adopting, we wondered
what we would name another child. On a whim, we thought we should find out the Chinese name for laughter—since Mary Beth said, “There’s no way I would have another baby.” An hour later we were sitting in a doctor’s office and I picked up a magazine and saw a story about a Chinese family and that the word “Sho” means “laughter” in Chinese. God said, “Hey, watch this.” And I thought God is up to something here. Initially the ministry Shohannah’s Hope started when we got home with Shoey and were being approached by people who wanted to adopt if they could afford it. Mary Beth saw the need of a huge number of people; there are 140 million orphans who could be adopted. The more we told our story, the more people began to reach out for help. [The ministry] was set up to assist families with the cost of adoption. Out of that, we did orphan adoption awareness. We just opened Maria’s Big House of Hope in Luoyang, China to care for orphans with special needs. When you walk through the fields of the fatherless, you look in the faces of the orphans and adoption isn’t something that happens for these special needs kids. We began building orphanages for orphans who are not adoptable. Maria’s Big House of Hope has 140 beds, an operating room, and physical therapy facilities.
WoF: Your family has journeyed through some really tough
times, but you’ve had some milestone celebrations, too—two weddings in the last year. How is that “father-in-law” thing working for you?
Steven: I have my son-in-law Tanner (Emily’s husband). I would
take him as a son any day even if he weren’t married to my daughter. He’s a great young man. We have a great relationship; he came to me so much in the courting process for counsel and wisdom. He got on his knee in front of me to ask my permission for my daughter’s hand. He proposed to Emily on an airplane on an intercom and basically presented the Gospel. He said, “There are two people who have changed my life: Jesus Christ . . .” (at this point Emily’s wondering what is going on and people are freaking out). Then he said, “The second one is a girl named Emily Chapman and I’d like to ask her to marry me.” My daughter-in-law Julia (Caleb’s wife) is like a daughter to me. She’s grown up in my home. Her brother is Will Franklin’s best friend. They played basketball together.
WoF: Do you have a specific message for the Women of Faith audience?
Steven: I’ve resonated with the spirit of Women of Faith— there is a real sense of the beauty of brokenness that is a part of this whole organization and the women who are a part of this. The message being communicated is that brokenness is a beautiful place to our God. He is close to those who are broken, contrite, confused. Obviously, that’s so where our family has been—that’s the message I feel like I’ve been able to plug into with Women of Faith.
Over time we began to realize that this whole deal is designed for those who know hope from the gospel as the adopted sons and daughters of God. It’s not just the adoption assistance fund; it’s the orphanages in China and Africa. We’re engaging more and more people to mobilize the church to care about orphans and show them hope. So, we changed the name of “Shohannah’s Hope” to “Show Hope.”
WOMEN OF FAITH
Fall/Winter 2009
~ 19
Authenticity
Don’t count me out (Even Though I Didn’t Make It In) Why Popularity Doesn’t Have to Define You By Lisa Whittle I’d like to say that I think popularity is overrated. I’d like to say it, but I can’t. I would, were it not for the memory of my 6th grade year and the infamous “third line.” The third line was something my teacher, Mr. H., came up with (in addition to the dreaded demerits) to provide an incentive for us to behave properly and without delay as we walked through the halls of our Christian school. There was the boys’ line. And the girls’ line. And then . . . there was the glorious and somewhat unattainable third line. (Insert heavenly choir music here.) It was a line for the best-behaved and most respectful sixth-grade students—the ones who were put on a pedestal by our dear Mr. H. He never admitted to them being his favorites, but we all knew the truth. Mr. H. had his pets, and they all happened to wind up in his famous third line. I was not one of them. The truth is those of us who never made the cut and into the third line coveted those slots. Most of my girlfriends made it into the third line. Many of my guy friends did, too. In fact, I’m almost willing to bet that I was the only girl in my sixth-grade class who never once made it out of my genderspecific line and into the third line. (Never, ever.) Did I mention…never?
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Seems I had a preference for socializing over listening. Or something like that. At least that’s what Mr. H. mumbled one day as I approached his desk to lament over the fact that he never put me in his favored line. I can still remember his eyes peering over the glasses that were slid way too far down his freckled nose and the thought that I wanted to push them back up where they belonged. Since I was not in his third line, I kind of doubt Mr. H. would have liked that. Many years later, this silly elementary school memory is still etched in my mind. To my young sixth-grade self, the third line represented favor. Status. Endorsement. Popularity. Things within my reach but things I was never quite able to grasp. As is universal for women, I still grapple with the desire to be well liked and favored. I still want to be endorsed and yes, even popular, among people I know and love. But what I have figured out thus far in my journey is that sometimes in the process of life those things elude us. So I’m not so sure anymore that popularity (though enjoyable) is altogether possible. It’s just way too hard to make everyone happy with you all the time.
live well . . . live wisely . . . live humbly . . . My desires have changed a bit over the years. Evolved, really, into a greater desire for something more solid and more able to be achieved and maintained: to represent a life that is full and rich, purposeful and respected. Much more than simply being popular, I desire a life that others see and want to emulate. Not a “perfect” life, since none such exists, but a life that represents grace despite imperfections . . . love despite shortcomings . . . and worth despite failure. A life lived with a reputation for Christ-likeness. It is, in my opinion, the only life that will have any chance for impact. And that fills me with great hope for things—besides popularity—that I CAN actually achieve. James 3:13 encourages us to “live well, live wisely, live humbly.” That “it’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts.” Because I am a practical girl at heart, these everyday applications come to mind.
live well . . .
What I do and how I live should be purposeful and healthy to myself and those around me. Treat myself well and others equally, if not better.
live wisely . . .
The words that come out of my mouth should be thought out and weighed carefully before spoken. (It’s much more helpful to do it this way than to have to constantly take things back I should have never said.)
live humbly . . .
Never take myself so seriously that I can’t accept my own set of flaws. Understand the grace that it’s taken to get me to where I am, and offer that same grace to others. What this verse ultimately says to my heart is that despite my past unsuccessful attempt at popularity, I am still qualified to represent something far more important. This applies to us all: as women who influence other women (we all do, by the way), both you and I have the opportunity to be a part of a bigger, more impactful “club” of women who are known to care about other people and are willing and able to show it. We have the opportunity to offer hope to the life of a hurting girlfriend . . . relevance to the life of a woman who feels insignificant . . . acceptance to the life of a friend who has always felt thrown away. These are things that popularity can’t accomplish. True, there are times that it is simply easier to travel the road of popularity. For the 2.2 seconds I was popular in high school, believe me, I enjoyed it. But popularity never lasts long enough to touch someone’s life. We, as believers in Jesus Christ, have a responsibility to give those without Him in their life a reason to see His worth and value. To make His character come alive by our actions and to represent everything that is not possible for us to be, but for Him, in the first place. It is our reputation for loyalty, love and faithfulness that will make an indelible mark on someone who might not otherwise take notice. Though Mr. H. may never have seen me worthy enough to get into his third line, God surely hasn’t disqualified me to represent Him. I may not have been Mr. H.’s favorite, but I am happy to report that the ultimate Teacher in life thinks I’m pretty special—so much so that He allows me to represent Him without sticking me with any certain stigmas or labels. Girlfriend, the good news is that the same goes for you. And neither one of us has to stand in any particular line to qualify.
With a 6-year old daughter of her own who loves to “play school,” Lisa Whittle now stands in the third line of her pink ruffled bedroom-converted-classroom with all the other stuffed animal students who listen well. She appreciates honest conversations over coffee, and she is refreshed by people who give a care and aren’t afraid to show it. Fuzzy slippers also top her list of favorites. So do wearing her husband’s old t-shirts and looking into the eyes of people she loves. Namely, her fabulous family of five (dog included).
WOMEN OF FAITH
Fall/Winter 2009
~ 21
By Fanny Levin
I hope she doesn’t see me sneak between these women primping themselves in front of the mirror. (Dinner with friends, Santa Monica, California— ladies restroom attendant.) It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a restroom with an attendant. I finish washing my hands and take a paper towel. She hands me a paper towel. “No thank you,” I say.
Apples of Gold
I don’t want to give her a dollar. I dry my hands and sneak towards the door.
And then I notice white paper towels folded neatly on the counter by the sink; green mints piled in a bowl; red, yellow, and orange lollipops standing loosely in a glass; crystal bottles of perfume; a little plant; Q-tips swirled in a cup; red lipsticks; combs; hairspray; aspirin; and cinnamon chewing gum. “This is art,” I say to the woman watching me admire her work. Does she believe me? Does she even know she created something beautiful? “Thank you for providing these lovely toiletries. What is your name?” I ask, extending my hand. “Patricia,” she says, offering her hand. Her brown eyes shine. Ebony folds of her smooth skin emerge as she smiles. I see an elder, a wise woman. I feel grateful to be in her presence. “I’m Fanny. It’s nice to meet you,” I say, holding her hand in my palm. “You’re doing a great job.” Somehow we start talking about God and love. “…I count my tips,” she tells me. “Before I go to sleep I say, thank You, God, for my tips…” She hesitates—looks at me in a questioning way. What is she thinking? Does she see the thirst in my eyes? Tell me, please, what were you going to say? “…I give it all back to You, Lord. It’s Yours. I give it all back to You,” she says. Silence. “That is beautiful. Just beautiful,” I say. “Thank you for sharing…” I glance away. Oh Lord, that I may trust You as she trusts You… that I may be as devoted. Such faith she has in You, Lord. How could I think she is just a bathroom attendant?
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Take these logs from my eyes, Lord, I don’t like these thoughts. Please, take them away. Help me release them to You. Thank You, God, for Patricia—for her ability to touch such an arrogant, prideful and ignorant person, as I. Our beauty is in You, Father, not our job descriptions or fabrics we wear or types of flowers we buy or plant in our gardens. All flowers are extraordinary.
Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances… Proverbs 25:11
I finish drying my hands, look inside the zippered pocket of my purse and see a ten dollar bill, a five dollar bill, and a one dollar bill. I reach for the five dollar bill. “I give it all back to You…” she said. I pick up the ten dollar bill, fold it and place it in her wicker basket between the sinks. I notice myself smiling in the mirror. I turn to Patricia, this gentle woman. “God bless you…” I say, reaching out my hand once again; and again, she offers hers. “God bless you, too,” she says. Our hands release, yet still together. I walk out of the restroom recalling Proverbs 25:11: Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances… Fanny Levin is a writer/storyteller and poet seeking to uncover golden moments through “seemingly” mundane experiences. A most grateful Jewish believer in Yeshua, she writes to glorify the Lord, and often prays, “…help me write what You want me to write, Lord.” Fanny also writes stories for children. She lives in Southern California.
Member Benefit Bulletin
they won! We pulled three names at random from our virtual hat and sent each of them a gift. The winners are: Beverly Besanceney of Shushan, NY Linda Gover of Saint Cloud, FL Bette Pycraft of Kentwood, MI Each one received a copy of The Joy of My Heart by Anne Graham Lotz. By the way—just because we’re going digital does not mean we’re going to stop giving things away! You’ll still have plenty of chances to win terrific prize. Winners will be announced on the Connection section of womenoffaith.com. (womenoffaith.com/connection) Chance of winning Free Product Giveaway is dependent upon the number of active Connection Members at time of drawing. Winners are chosen at random from the Member database. Winners agree to the use of their names in Women of Faith promotions. Women of Faith employees and their immediate families are not eligible. Prizes are nontransferable; no cash substitution. Prizes are subject to all federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Taxes are the sole responsibility of the winners. Void where prohibited by law.
WOMEN OF FAITH
Fall/Winter 2009
~ 23
Good Reads
By Richard Stearns His name was Richard, the same as mine. I sat inside his meager thatch hut, listening to his story, told through the tears of an orphan whose parents had died of AIDS. At thirteen, Richard was trying to raise his two younger brothers by himself in this small shack with no running water, electricity, or even beds to sleep in. There were no adults in their lives—no one to care for them, feed them, love them, or teach them how to become men. There was no one to hug them either, or to tuck them in at night. Other than his siblings, Richard was alone, as no child should be. I try to picture my own children abandoned in this kind of deprivation, fending for themselves without parents to protect them, and I cannot. I didn’t want to be there. I wasn’t supposed to be there, so far out of my comfort zone—not in that place where orphaned children live by themselves in their agony. There, poverty, disease, and squalor had eyes and faces that stared back, and I had to see and smell and touch the pain of the poor. That particular district, Rakai, is believed to be ground zero for the Ugandan AIDS pandemic. There, the deadly virus has stalked its victims in the dark for decades. Sweat trickled down my face as I sat awkwardly with Richard and his brothers while a film crew captured every tear—mine and theirs. I much preferred living in my bubble, the one that, until that moment, had safely contained my life, family, and career. It kept difficult things like this out, insulating me from anything too raw or upsetting. When such things intruded, as they rarely did, a channel could be changed, a newspaper page turned, or a check written to keep the poor at a safe distance. But not in Rakai. There, “such things” had faces and names—even my name, Richard. 24 ~ CONNECTION MAGAZINE womenoffaith.com
Not sixty days earlier, I had been CEO of Lenox, America’s finest tableware company, producing and selling luxury goods to those who could afford them. I lived with my wife and five children in a ten-bedroom house on five acres just outside of Philadelphia. I drove a Jaguar to work every day, and my business travel took me to places such as Paris, Tokyo, London, and Florence. I flew first-class and stayed in the best hotels. I was respected in my community, attended a venerable suburban church, and sat on the board of my kids’ Christian school. I was one of the good guys—you might say a “poster child” for the successful Christian life. I had never heard of Rakai, the place where my bubble would burst. But in just sixty days, God turned my life inside out, and it would never be the same.
every day. He and his brothers must have watched first their father and then their mother die slow and horrible deaths. I wondered if the boys were the ones who fed them and bathed them in their last days. Whatever the case, Richard, a child himself, is now the head of household. Child-headed household, words never meant to be strung together. I tried to wrap my mind around this new phrase, one that describes not only Richard’s plight but that of tens of thousands, even millions more. I’m told that there are sixty thousand orphans just in Rakai, twelve million orphans due to AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. How can this be true? Awkwardly, I asked Richard what he hopes to be when he grows up, a ridiculous question to ask a child who has lost his childhood. “A doctor,” he said, “so I can help people who have the disease.”
Yet this was to be the moment that would ever after define me.
Quite unexpectedly, eight months earlier, I had been contacted by World Vision, the Christian relief and development organization, during their search for a new president. Why me? It wasn’t something I had sought after. In fact, you might say I had been minding my own business when the phone rang that day. But it was a phone call that had been twenty-four years in the planning. You see, in 1974, at the age of twenty-three, in my graduate school dormitory, I knelt down beside my bed and dedicated my life to Christ. This was no small decision for me, and it came only after months of reading, studying, conversations with friends, and the important witness of Reneé, the woman who would later become my wife. While at the time I knew very little about the implications of that decision, I knew this: nothing would ever be quite the same again, because I had made a promise to follow Christ—no matter what.
The Man Who Wouldn’t Buy China . . .
Several months after becoming a Christian, I was newly engaged to Reneé. As we were planning our wedding and our life together, she suggested that we go to a department store to register for our china, crystal, and silver. My self-righteous response was an indication of just how my newfound faith was integrating into my life: “As long as there are children starving in the world, we’re not going to own fine china, crystal, and silver.” Perhaps you can see God’s sense of irony in my becoming president of America’s premier fine tableware company a couple of decades later. So when I answered that phone call from World Vision in January 1998, I knew that God was on the other end of the line. It was His voice I heard, not the recruiter’s: Rich, do you remember that idealistic young man in 1974 who was so passionate about starving children that he would not even fill out a wedding registry? Take a good look at yourself now. Do you see what you’ve become? But, Rich, if you still care about those children, I have a job I want you to do. In my prayers over the weeks leading up to my appointment as World Vision’s president, I begged God to send someone else to do it, much as Moses had done. Surely this was a mistake. I was no Mother Teresa. I remember praying that God would send me anywhere else, “but, please, God, not to the poor—not into the pain and alienation of poverty and disease, not there.” I didn’t want to go there. Yet here I was, the new president of World Vision, sent by knowing staff to get a “baptism by fire” for my new calling, with a film crew to document every moment. Two crude piles of stones just outside the door mark the graves of Richard’s parents. It disturbs me that he must walk past them
“Do you have a Bible?” I asked. He ran to the other room and returned with his treasured book with gold-gilt pages. “Can you read it?”
“I love to read the book of John, because it says that Jesus loves the children.” This overwhelmed me, and my tears started to flow. Forgive me, Lord, forgive me. I didn’t know. But I did know. I knew about poverty and suffering in the world. I was aware that children die daily from starvation and lack of clean water. I also knew about AIDS and the orphans it leaves behind, but I kept these things outside of my insulating bubble and looked the other way. Yet this was to be the moment that would ever after define me. Rakai was what God wanted me to see. My sadness that day was replaced by repentance. Despite what the Bible had told me so clearly, I had turned a blind eye to the poor. Now my heart was filled with anger, first at myself, and then toward the world. Why wasn’t Richard’s story being told? Twelve million orphans, and no one noticed? But what sickened me most was this question: where was the Church? Indeed, where were the followers of Jesus Christ in the midst of perhaps the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time? Surely the Church should have been caring for these “orphans and widows in their distress” (James 1:27). How could the great tragedy of these orphans get drowned out by choruses of praise music in hundreds of thousands of churches across our country? Sitting in a hut in Rakai, I remember thinking, How have we missed it so tragically, when even rock stars and Hollywood actors seem to understand? Ten years later I know. Something fundamental has been missing in our understanding of the gospel. The word gospel literally means “good news.” Jesus declared that He had come to “preach good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18). But what good news, what gospel, did the Church have for Richard and his brothers in Rakai? What “good news” have God’s people brought to the world’s three billion poor? What “gospel” have millions of Africa’s AIDS orphans seen? What gospel have most of us embraced in the twenty-first century? The answer is found in the title of this book: a gospel with a hole in it. Richard Stearns has served as President of World Vision U.S. since 1998, having formerly been the CEO of Parker Bros. Games and Lenox, Inc. He and his wife Reneé have 5 children of their own and millions more around the world.
WOMEN OF FAITH
Fall/Winter 2009
~ 25
Shine the Light By Jeannine Barneby Love comes in many different packages, but I doubt that my big sister, Joyce, ever expected that I was a birthday package of love. That’s right, we share the same birthday, nine years apart. She says that I was the best birthday present she ever got, but I have always suspected she is just being nice. Joyce is a loving mother, a terrific friend, a care giver, a cancer survivor, and the best sister. She has had her share of life trials and disappointments. But it is my sister’s strong testimony of Christ that turned those trials into triumphs and empowers her to be an example of God’s love in everything she does. In the words of the old children’s hymn, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.” And Joyce does. Joyce taught 4th Grade for 32 years and remembers every student. More remarkable, every student remembers her. Wherever I went with her, invariably someone would say, “You’re Mrs. Walker. I had you in 4th Grade.” I have long admired her positive impact on hundreds of children. I know it was her Christ-like spirit touching those young lives that fixed her in their memories. Our year of true sisterhood was 1986. We shared great highs and deep lows. Joyce was diagnosed with breast cancer and we celebrated our birthday in the hospital. I had the privilege of caring for her (when she would let me). There were other illnesses and tragedies that year; however, nothing stopped us from planning our parent’s 50th Wedding Anniversary and strengthening our sister bond. Most memorable was my sister’s attitude while silently suffering the devastating surgery and chemotherapy for breast cancer. Twenty years ago, treatment for this disease was overwhelming. But being the woman of faith that she is, she has counted it a blessing. Joyce took her experience and courageously helped other women, sharing her testimony of healing and belief in God. When our precious mother started to fail, Joyce became her daily nurse and added strength to our dad. She is a thoughtful care giver and advocate for friends and family faced with medical situations. I have watched her be the voice to the doctors when a friend could not speak. And whatever the circumstance, she expresses her faith in the healing touch of our Savior. Joyce was poodle skirts and bobby socks, while I was The Beatles and teased hairdos. A generation apart, we were definitely different. As I grew toward adulthood, Joyce was kind enough to wait for me, and the bridge over the age gap was built. Today there is no gap, no bridge, no big sister/little sister. We share a birthday but more importantly, we share our faith and love of Christ. Together we are a tapestry, woven with the most delicate threads and colored strands, symbolizing our individual experiences. Where they blend, one sees a pattern of common faith and love. It is our personal picture of sisterhood blessed by God. Our Mama, a woman of great faith and wisdom, told us that JOY stood for—Jesus first, Others second, You last. How fitting that she would always call my sister “Joy.” 26 ~ CONNECTION MAGAZINE womenoffaith.com
CONTEST WINNERS By Kate Muir I am one she nurtured. As a college student, she made a place for me in her home every weekend. She loved me as her own daughter while I was away from my own mom and now has vowed to be Grammy to my children as well. Her love is so genuine and free-flowing that it would be such a feather in my cap to claim that she had treated me special—but in actuality she treated me no different than she has ever treated anyone else. She doesn’t claim the love as her own; she claims it for Christ, from Christ. This sharing of the Light of Christ has included teaching a class called “New Beginnings.” This is a Sunday school class/personal ministry for the recently convicted, paroled, arrested, awaiting trial or sentencing, and those fighting addictions. She overlooks their sin and offers them dignity and assures them of salvation through Jesus. I remember visiting this class on Easter. Auntie N walked into the room and proclaimed, “Jesus is risen!” and those milling around replied, “Risen indeed!” Then I noticed some had bought pop from the vending machine in the hall. Next, I saw the simplicity of showing Christ to others just by maintaining their dignity. Aunt Nancy called for everyone to grab a Bible and get ready, then she walked around the room, “finding the right verse.” Then I saw it! With the finesse of the pickpockets and thieves she ministered to, Aunt Nancy slid her hand into her pocket and under the cover of some of the Bibles I saw a flash of light. Three quarters—enough change for a Coke®. “(Name), would you make copies of this for me?” (Name) returned with copies but also with a can from the pop machine, and she thanked him. I realized the intimacy of the moment and waited until later to ask her about it. (Name) was a recovering cocaine addict: homeless, penniless and on parole. Everyone else having a pop and his having none would have started the downward spiral of cravings. (Name) was in Sunday school class; he craved God, he craved to know Christ. Nancy understood that, right then, three quarters for a Coke was the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. She has inspired me to bring the light of Christ right to people where they are, just as I have witnessed her doing so many times. It is not enough to sit in the light, warm and clean and comfortable. We are called to walk in the light―even and especially when it shines into the dark and dirty cravings of human frailty.
WOMEN OF FAITH
Fall/Winter 2009
~ 27
Red Swan Stories “I am blessing a dear friend so she can bring home her daughter, Jade, from China. I met Dawn on a mission trip–my daughter and I went to China to work in an orphanage and met Dawn there. She lives in the orphanage as a missionary. We have been friends since and I would love to be able to support her any way I can. While at Women of Faith in ’09, I was praying for Dawn . . . then the announcement for Red Swan came on! Praise the Lord! Thank you for the opportunity to help a friend bring home her first child, her daughter, Jade!” Jill S. “My Husband works 50 hours a week. When he’s home he works on our home: landscaping, putting in sand and sidewalks, and other things. He’s a hard worker and the only one who works—so only one income. I would use this extra money to treat him for his birthday. He deserves it!” Heidi C. “My 14 yr. old daughter and I are going to match the funds we receive from Red Swan and give the amount to the summer church camp scholarship fund in our church to help a child go that couldn’t otherwise. Thank you! And, God Bless!” Peggy B.
Wrap It Up
1. No one really knows the burdens another carries.
7Outer
Thoughts About Relationships with Our
Circle
2. There’s no getting around it for
any of us. We are to love everyone.
3. God wants us to live intentional lives committed to making a difference.
4. We have a responsibility to give
those without Him in their life a reason to see His worth and value.
5. It is not enough to sit in the Light . . . we are called to walk in the light.
6. Love comes in many different packages.
7. Today, take a moment to open the door for someone else.
WOMEN OF FAITH
Fall/Winter 2009
~ 29
Wrap It Up
Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. James 3:13 (MSG)
WOMEN OF FAITH
Fall/Winter 2009
~ 31
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Members-only Web Site Bible studies, videos, articles, and much more await you there.
Preferred Seating
Option to purchase seats in the “Connection Section” at Women of Faith events.*
We look forward to seeing you online! *Discount not available for event registrations. Connection seats are limited and subject to availability.