It’s a Small World …
A week and a half ago, we celebrated our 15th Anniversary. Yes, I’m the crazy woman who knowingly married a Pastor three days after Christmas. Maybe not the smartest timing ever … but ever so worth it.
So, every year when our Anniversary rolls around, we are usually crashed out on couches, cuddling with kids in PJs, and trying to recover from Christmas. I know you know the feeling.
In our 15 years of marriage, we’ve never really celebrated. So, this year we did a little planning ahead, alot of saving, and headed to New York for the weekend just before Christmas.
My sweet husband let me drag him around to look at giant Christmas trees, ride in carriages, take in window displays, drink boatloads of Starbucks to stay warm, and enjoy some good ol’ musicals. Yeah, baby.
He even stood patiently waiting for me to see the tip-top of Hugh Jackman’s skull cap clad head as he exited the theater of his one-man show. And I will tell you, even across a crowded street and wearing a bulky coat and hat, he was still quite handsome. Here is my pitiful pictorial evidence. See that black hat and black jacket in the middle … yep, that’s the Aussie-song-and-dance-Wolverine himself.
Now, on with my story, we were standing in line outside the Rock of Ages theater, snuggled in hats, gloves and scarves, when I heard my name. Looking up, I locked eyes with Lindsey Gerdes from Georgia. Lindsey is one of our Virtual Community Group leaders who I had gotten to meet at Catalyst and at Retreat. I couldn’t believe it! No way! Literally three couples in front of us in line was one of the ladies from this community. A few hugs and a little chat later, we were zipped into the theater.
And to top if off, the next night we got a tweet from a Texas PK friend of ours that said, “We just lost you in Time’s Square. Can’t believe you’re here.” What in the world?! Seriously?!
Some times ministry and leadership feel incredibly lonely. Incredibly. But if you are willing to take a risk and start reaching out, making connections, and developing relationships, you quickly find that isolation fades and is replaced by what is a pretty small world and community of people in ministry … if you’ll embrace them.
That’s why we put so much effort into connection here. We want to help you find a small world of your own. So, jump in to the discussion on Facebook, chat with us on Twitter, and of course, talk with us in the comments here!
Have you had any small world kinds of moments in relation to ministry and leadership? And … on a total New York side note … ever been there? What’s your favorite thing to do?
L&L It Local … Lifepointe Louisville
Posted by Crystal Johnson
I have been a church planter/senior pastor’s wife since 2000 now at Lifepointe Church in Louisville, KY. I have enjoyed my role as a pastor’s wife, most of the time, but part of me was not fully and actively engaged. I’d led small groups, sung on worship teams, and loved on our people, but I had not fully embraced who God was raising me up to be. In the summer of 2010, God spoke quietly to my heart that I had a voice and that He wanted to use it. I was overwhelmed that He wanted to do more with me. After nearly 10 years as a ministry supporter and partner, I fully surrendered myself to whatever God would have me do. The next thing I knew, I found “Leading and Loving It.”
The The JustONE Conference was starting, so I registered. From the first moment I put in my ear buds with my coffee at my side and listened to Lori and other speakers, I was hooked! Something awakened in me. I realized there were all these other pastors’ wives out there who lived ministry and still loved it. I love the attitude of L&L It – that yes, there are difficult aspects, and this is a place to acknowledge and address those, but the privilege to serve God from the front lines far outweighs the difficulties. L&L It has empowered me, equips me, encourages my soul, and has helped me come alive in ministry. After attending Retreat in 2011, I felt God expand my capacity to lead and my belief in what He could do through me. Linking arms with all of these fun and passionate about Jesus women gave me the confidence to fully embrace my role in the way God made me.
I am currently in the process of launching our first women’s ministry at Lifepointe. With the help of resources from L&L Itand a team of incredible ladies, we are hosting 4 “fun with a purpose” events per year and emphasizing our small groups at each.
In September, we had a “Mocktail Party,” and the air was electric. Our ladies were excited and engaged. We decorated in hot pink, black & white, played a speed dating game, had a photo booth, enjoyed a chocolate fountain and mocktails. It was close to our sign up time for small groups, so our group leaders and hosts came making our ladies feel welcome, comfortable, and willing to join a group. They wore adorable tiny silver hats, so they could be easily identified. The night was a raging success, drew in people from the outskirts, and supported our discipleship pastor and growth groups.
In December, we had “Jammies and Junk Food” night. Wow. God far exceeded anything I could have planned. It gave me such joy to watch our ladies eat munchies, play games, and enjoy a brief time in a small group discussing rest and rejuvenation (as given in the the Jammies and Junk Food PDF). It gave our girls a sort of a sampling of what our small groups are like. Then, we broke out “Just Dance” and ladies’ inhibitions came down. My favorite moment of the night was the whole room busting out the “Thriller” Dance to the Michael Jackson Wii game. We danced and laughed until we cried. It was so fun to see sides of each other we don’t always get to see.
Our next event will be “Mission Impossible” on February 24 and the “Mad Hatters Tea Party” in May. I am looking forward to planning and pulling off these events where women can have some fun and bind together. Thank you to my Leading and Loving It friends for giving me the tools, resources, and empowerment to affect the lives of our ladies in this way! It’s life changing, Kindgom changing stuff, and I am so thankful God lead me to you!
Fun Friday … Nacho Average Pastor’s Wife
Posted by Lori Wilhite
I absolutely loved Tiffany’s post yesterday. And in the spirit of embracing who we are, we proudly proclaim that we are “Nacho Average”. I mean, you know how I feel about typical.
So, I’m loving seeing pictures of everyone sporting their new “Nacho Average” shirts. Check out how great Toni, Melissa, and Joy look:
Today I want to hear what makes you a “Nacho Average” Pastor’s Wife or Woman in Ministry. What’s something not-so-typical about you? Let’s hear it!
Me? Oh so many things to choose from. I’ll add them in the comments as we go.
** Don’t forget that you can grab a shirt of your own HERE. And make sure to send us a picture of how cute you are so we can post it later!
Road Trip Retreat …
It’s Road Trip time! Hop in a car … jump on a plane … catch the train … and join us for our Leading and Loving It Retreat, September 11-13, 2012 in Oklahoma City at the Renaissance Hotel.
Are you a Pastor’s Wife? A ministry wife? Serving on a church staff? Running a Christian non-profit? A missionary? If so, then this retreat is designed specifically for you. Road Trip is about CONNECTING, ENCOURAGING, and EQUIPPING women in ministry and leadership.
The $175 registration fee (before Friday March 2, 2012 and $250 after) includes:
- 3 main sessions and small group sessions
- Breakout sessions
- Lunch
- 3 fun Leading and Loving It events and dessert receptions
- Retreat materials
- T-shirt
- Lots of goodies and surprises along the way
- Time to relax and rejuvenate
*Please note that hotel is not included.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR RETREAT.
————————————————————————————————————————-
To book your hotel:
Please contact the Renaissance Hotel at 1-800-468-3571 and mention that you are with Leading and Loving It to get our group discount of $149 per night (price based on single occupancy … so find a friend and cut the price in half!).
————————————————————————————————————————-
Speakers *Coming Soon*
————————————————————————————————————————-
Schedule
Tuesday September 11, 2012
3:00pm Registration Table Opens
4:00-5:30pm Reception for Virtual Community Group Leaders and L&L It Local Leaders
Please eat dinner before Retreat begins.
6:00pm Retreat Begins – Session 1
8:30pm L&L It Event and Dessert
Wednesday September 12, 2012
10:00am Session 2 Worship and Breakout Sessions
12:00pm Lunch
1:30pm L&L It optional Event
Dinner on own.
6:00pm Session 3
8:30pm L&L It Event and Dessert
Thursday September 13, 2012
9:00am Session 4 and Worship
11:30am Retreat Ends
————————————————————————————————————————-
Please email us with any questions at: leadingandlovingit[at]me[dot]com
————————————————————————————————————————-
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR RETREAT.
Will the real YOU please stand up?
Who are you? I’m not talking about the person other people think you are or the person you want to be. Who are you right now on January 5th, 2012? If you’re like me, digging through the layers of opinions formed over your lifetime can be challenging. Even when we believe what the Bible says about who we are in Christ, our flesh has a way of sneaking in and altering those truths. Ohh, that stinkin’ flesh!
2011 was a year of debunking some of my false ideas and feelings about myself. It’s been refreshing and freeing to let “the real Tiffany stand up”.
Examples I can share from my life (there were many more):
- Instead of feeling like I should be extroverted in all situations, I now accept that I’m extroverted when I’m overseeing an event and more reserved when I’m attending someone else’s event. It’s great to understand this about myself and feel comfortable in my skin, finally.
- I now accept the fact that I desire to commit my time and energy to passions outside my home, not just the many things I’m thankful to do as a stay-at-home mom. No more guilt because I don’t love cooking dinners (I still cook dinners).
- I’m a big picture person. Although I can do details, I don’t love the details. I may have 25 ideas and accomplish 1 of them. I fully accept that now instead of comparing myself with others who excel at the details. Not only that, I’ve freed myself from trying to do it all and instead invite the help of others.
- I like my alone time more and more each year. At first l felt like something was wrong and that I needed to change, now I realize the alone time keeps me healthy.
- As long as I can remember, I’ve been a people pleaser. This has caused me to carry a very unnecessary amount of guilt. It’s one thing to know you can’t do it all and please everyone, it’s another thing to back it up with action. I was able to make big strides in this area in 2011.
Here’s my comfort, God created me to be complex! I predict that I will still be learning about myself and making big strides in the last years of my life on this Earth.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous-how well I know it.
Psalm 139:14
I pray this is your comfort too. YOU, created by God, are wonderfully complex!!! The beauty is, your complex is probably different than my complex. Don’t be afraid to accept who you are today, January 5th, 2012.
My 2012 wish for you: Will the real YOU please stand up?
Favorite Posts
Upcoming Event Schedule
@leadinglovingit
Recent Comments
Archives
Subscribe by Email