2018 in Retrospect

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

- Romans 15:13 -

I can’t believe this year will be 10 years since I started “writing” this annual year-in-review post. The first two I wrote on my Facebook page, and the rest I have written here on my blog. While I don’t keep up with my blog as much as I used to (I am more apt now to write shorter things on Facebook), I do enjoy coming here from time to time and seeing what God has done in and through my life over the years. The retrospects I’ve written are particularly interesting to read because I can see an over 10 year span of my life and all the highs and lows that went with it – some I had forgotten completely about!  As with every year, I invite you to take a moment and look back on the year that was me and see the good, the hard, and everything in between…

WORK

2018 was the year I never expected as it relates to my job at the Executive Committee. Near the start of the year, our organization was turned upside down and inside out by heartbreaking information. For more on that, you can read here. We were in the middle of prep for the Annual Meeting so it was a bit of a crazy time with work life changing while at the same time planning for thousands of attendees to our Annual Meeting in Dallas. On top of all that, there was even more heart-wrenching times within our Convention throughout the year as it relates to organizations/people outside of my workplace. Most of you know how much I deeply love the Southern Baptist Convention and my job at the Executive Committee and so I don’t like seeing something I love go through hurt, but sometimes hurt has to happen so healing and forgiveness can take place…and it is. I believe our best days are ahead of us, truly I do.

This summer our Annual Meeting took place in Dallas, TX. It was our largest attendance since 2010 with almost, but not quite, 10,000 people in attendance. It’s always a crazy, busy time and this year wasn’t any different! The big event was that the Vice President of the US came and spoke – and all the security that comes with that. It was a cool experience to be on stage where he was, and man that room was p.a.c.k.e.d.! Once again, I coordinated the Page group which always makes my heart happy as it was where I got my “start.” I was asked to pray at the WMU Annual Meeting which was held a couple of days before our actual meeting and it was an honor for me to do that as a product of a missions education family! My dad and sister came and I got to spend a little time with them. I got to catch up with friends, make new ones, and just enjoy being with my Southern Baptist family – which is one of my favorite places to be!

View of the 2018 Annual Meeting from my perch

No lie, it has been a hard time this year at work, we have faced unknowns and questions and enter into a new year with the biggest unknown question of who our next leader will be. A new day is dawning for us, though, and I am excited to see where God takes us in this coming year.

CHURCH

My involvement with the children’s ministry at Brentwood Baptist has continued and grown this year. I started my 4^th year of teaching 5^th grade. This year have a group of kids that I taught on Wednesday nights when they were in 2^nd grade, so I’ve been here long enough now to pretty much watch a group of kids grow through the children’s ministry which is fun, but bittersweet at the same time. In the summer, I visited my previous 5^th grade group at their mission trip in West TN and my heart exploded to watch them be the hands and feet of Jesus while leading a VBS for children in an underprivileged neighborhood. I smile when I think of me teaching 5^th grade because it is something I wouldn’t have expected I would love as much as I do. I can’t really imagine teaching any other grade! Our Wednesday night program is going great, as well. I am loving opening the kids’ eyes to missions and am beginning to see glimmers of that coming through in the way the kids interact with the lessons and in how they ask questions and share their hearts. While we are already doing this, my hope is to continue to have deep connections between what the kids hear about missions as to what their parents are hearing so that families can be on mission together. It’s something that my parents did for my family and is what impacted me so deeply.

My sweet class from earlier in the year

At the beginning of the year, I was convinced that God was calling me to one of the other campuses. As the year continued, however, I began to realize that a change of pace at the main campus of which I currently attend was where He was actually leading. With that prompting from the Lord, I began attending my church’s young adult worship service on Tuesday evenings instead of worship services on Sunday mornings. This Tuesday evening service is called Kairos and it has been a game-changer for me. It was exactly the change of pace I needed. Every week I leave feeling refreshed and worshipful. The pastor of Kairos is one who can teach to both the unbeliever and the believer at the same time and both can leave feeling fed. I desperately needed this and I’m so grateful God gave me the courage to step out of my comfort zone and into a place where this sheep is being deeply fed. (This does mean I am at the church another day out of the week (3 days), but hey, I am a minister’s kid, so it’s really no biggie J)

LONDON

This year I had the opportunity to live out a dream of mine to travel to London, England! I traveled with members from my church as we went there to lead a conference for our overseas workers. My church sponsors these workers and we wanted to give them a time of needed rest and rejuvenation. I helped out with childcare for those with kids, they had someone do photoshoots, another gave haircuts, and so on! It was truly a time of R&R that our workers needed! As I mentioned, I had the chance to hang out with the kids – especially the older ones (9 and up). When my parents were overseas workers, I lived a life very similar to theirs and I can remember when people from the States would come and hang out with me and my friends and so I wanted to be that person for these kids! I was able to help plan games, mini lessons, and fun crafts for the kids to do and we had a b.a.l.l.! I’m so grateful I had this opportunity to give back the same way people gave to me years ago. I look forward to the next time my church leads this conference! (Oh, and you may be wondering, why London? The answer to that is that it was cheaper to fly everyone to London than to the States…go figure!)

Conference Center where we served

I can’t leave this little section, though, without talking about the few, fun things I got to do that week. While there wasn’t a ton of time to sightsee, I did have an afternoon to do so and boy, it didn’t disappoint! Because it was just an afternoon, I had the task of deciding what two or three things I absolutely wanted to do. The top thing I really wanted to do was visit Buckingham Palace! It is only open in the latter summer/early fall and after watching the Royal Wedding, the Netflix show “The Crown,” and 2018 just being so “royal,” I really wanted to see the home of the queen…and so I did! It was beyond extravagant and amazing. It is hard to put into words how beautiful it was. I got to see the royal thrones, walk down red carpeted staircases, see so many different rooms lined with gold, visit the queen’s garden, look out to the inner courtyard and so much more! Incredible. The second thing I wanted to do was visit one of the famous cathedrals. Timing afforded me the opportunity to attend an Evensong service at Westminster Abbey – the church where the queen had her coronation and where Prince William and Princess Kate were married, among other events. I got there a little past the time I wanted, so I didn’t get to set in the seats down the aisle, but there were seats in the wings and when the service was over, I got to see sights I’ve only ever seen on TV. Because it was service time, I got to hear the amazing choir sing and fill the Abbey with their songs. The intricacies of the cathedral were amazing and it was another “I can’t believe I’m here” moment. Afterwards, I went with the group I was with to the area of the London Eye and on the way saw Scotland Yard, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and so many other notable buildings. We even got our pictures at the iconic red phone booths! We wanted to go on the Eye so we could see the city from high up, but unfortunately it was closed. That was okay, though, because getting to see and walk the city was just as fun and memorable. The little town where our conference was held was so quaint and beautiful, as well. We stayed north of London in a town called Hoddesdon. I enjoyed just walking the streets and meeting the people (especially those with dogs)! I mention that because it was so amazing to me to watch the people’s guard come down when I asked about their dogs and told them about mine. They were so willing to talk and smile and laugh – it was really cool! One of the last things I did in town was stop at a local Fish & Chips place and eat the iconic British meal – along with mushy peas! It was a perfect end to a perfect trip.

Buckingham Palace

MINISTRY

Outside of work and church, I have been able to be involved in other ministries, the biggest being the TN WMU. I was asked to be on their LEAD team this year which basically means I serve when needed, especially in the area of children’s missions. I got to write a bunch for them this year. I wrote the children’s lesson for the TN state missions offering, as well as some of the fall children’s missions conference material. As far as the Begin Anew ministry, I wasn’t as involved as I have been in the past due to other responsibilities, but I did get to volunteer a few times, as well as attend both graduations this year and watch ladies who I was able to get to know over the past couple of years graduate with their high school equivalency degree – one lady taking her last test 7 times and finally passing! Yep, I cried.

2018 Children's Missions Conference

FAMILY

While we don’t get to see as much of each other as we wish, my family is doing well and we try to see one another as much as we possibly can. We took a family vacation this year to Savannah, GA and had a lovely time there. Our house in East TN finally sold in the spring, so that was an answer to prayer. This year brought some changes, however. Currently every member of my family is living in a different state. Looking at our family app is really strange as we are spread out over the Southeast.

My mom has been in Kentucky a good portion of the year caring for her family. She originally came to help out with her mother (my grandmother), as she is getting older in age, but has turned into being able to help out in other ways. This year her sister (my aunt) lost her husband to cancer. My mom has been able to be there for her during this time which has been a big blessing. My dad is still working as an administrator in Alabama and Lauren is still at Liberty University working as one of their event planners (getting bigger and bigger projects as time goes on).

Another change is Meredith who got a job with Chick-fil-A Corporate! After four or so years at a public accounting firm in Atlanta, she applied for and got a job with the accounting department at CFA. It has been a needed and wonderful move for her. CFA is based out of Atlanta so there was no need to move from her home. There’s so much I could write about how the work environment is for her at CFA, but I can sum it up by saying, Chick-fil-A truly cares about their employees. We all know they care about their customers, but it 100% bleeds over to their employees as well. We are all so happy for her and God is blessing her there already!

In the Chick-fil-A founder's office

And of course, sweet Ollie is our constant source of smiles, snuggles, and laughs. We love him so!

TO WRAP IT UP

For a while now, I have wrapped up the year with a word. Truth be told, I’ve struggled with a word for this year – there have been highs and there have been lows; how do you sum up all of that with a word? But as I read back over my year as it is written here, the word that comes to mind is “FILLED.” I have been filled this year with love from family, friends, and of course, kiddos. My family is always a Facetime or text away when I am feeling down or full of anxiety. When all the hard stuff was going on at work, so many friends reached out with their prayers and thoughts. There are so many times when kids run up to me outside of class and wrap me in a huge hug or tell me that they want me to come see them baptized or that they put into practice something we learned on a missions night. I have been filled this year with the presence of the Lord through seeing Him in a different way than I have before by attending the Tuesday night Kairos service. I have been filled with deepening friendships and new ones, as well! I have been filled with so many amazing opportunities to serve Him this year through missions and ministry opportunities where I have been able to use the gifts and talents He has given me. My dream to visit London was filled this year AND I got to serve Him there – a two-for-one special!

What I want to do with this word, however, is to carry it with me into this new year. I know that God will continue to fill me with much more than I could even imagine and am excited for a new year of being filled in, of, and through Him! The verse I began the blog with is Romans 15:13 and it says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Oh, how I pray you will pray this verse over me this coming year. There are days and times where I can be pulled down by hardships or anxiety or sadness and having joy, peace, and trust just doesn’t seem possible. I think it’s like that for all of us, especially as we grow and begin to see what the world and everything in it looks like and how it behaves. My favorite verse is Philippians 4:8 and I have it literally everywhere I could get overwhelmed (except maybe my car…with Nashville traffic, I should probably change that) … anyways, this verse says to think of the things that are lovely, true, noble, excellent, admirable, and so on. With Philippians 4:8, Romans 15:13 becomes possible. I love it when Scripture intertwines itself together! Thank you in advance for praying this verse over me.

I don't know what 2019 is going to look like, but as this new year dawns, I pray I will continue to fill and be filled. So, here’s to a new year of being filled … filled in Him!

2017 in Retrospect

“…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

- Philippians 1:6

It’s hard to fathom that a new year is upon us. It seems like I just wrote my annual retrospect for the previous year and now it’s time for this year’s! In all honesty, the retrospects are more for me than anyone else. They help me reflect on the blessings of the Lord and what He has done in my life. Many times reflecting on these memories make me smile or remember special moments from what I share. It is always a good reminder to me of Philippians 1:6 that “…He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it...” There’s definitely some more completing going on, but day by day His blessings are evident. So…you ready for a look back at 2017? I know I am!

Work

Per the SBC Chief Parliamentarian’s nomination, I was awarded the (unofficial, but official-to-me-and-that’s-all-that-matters) SBC Nerd of the Year! That shoe sure fits me! In all seriousness, though (and forgive me for saying the same thing every year), I love my job and where I work. I love the Southern Baptist Convention. I love working with our SBC entities. I love meeting new people who are a part of our denomination. I love helping to preserve history (which is the main part of my job). And I love seeing, hearing, and experiencing all that we are doing to advance the Kingdom. If that makes me a nerd, then so-be-it. I gladly accept it and you can make me a t-shirt and give me some nerdy glasses!

As with every year, the major event for work was the SBC Annual Meeting. This year we held our meeting in Phoenix, Arizona! Yes, it was hot…but not as hot as the week after we left when it got into the hundred-degree weather. The annual meeting was pretty eventful news-wise. If you’re interested, you can check out more information about that on our Baptist Press website. The reasoning behind our making news, however, caused some strong emotion within the arena. One of my jobs at our annual meeting is to coordinate the microphone monitors and pages. If they have any issues with people who come to the microphone to speak, they come consult with me. Due to the emotion in the room, let’s just say I was consulted quite a number of times this year. It’s not my first rodeo dealing with passionate people, but it is always a little out of my comfort zone. Everything worked out, though, and I think next time I will bring the essential oil “Stress Away” with me and have it on an ongoing spray cycle so that it can calm people down…ha ha!

The annual meeting also brought me my first midnight print-run. I’d hear stories from back in the day about our daily publication being sent off at midnight, but I’ve been blessed over the past two years to not have to experience that tiredness. Not this year! While waiting for some content that was being discussed in a late meeting, I had to hold the printing until midnight. It worked out, but let’s just say the next morning I was Tired (with emphasis on that capital “T”). It’s part of the experience, though, and my philosophy is “take-it-as-it-comes and enjoy every minute” and of course I did!

Throughout this year there were also some other projects and special events that I got to be a part of at work. We celebrated our 100^th Anniversary as an Executive Committee and somehow, my photo made the Baptist Press news release about our anniversary party…but I didn’t know until I read the article. It’s just all around a wonderful place and family to work in and with and I cherish every moment!

Our Executive Committee, and my job, wouldn’t exist without your giving to the Cooperative Program! Thank you to all those who support SBC causes, including ours! We strive to do our best for you as we all cooperate together to spread the good news of Christ through all we do.

Church

Brentwood Baptist may be a big church, but when you find your niche, you really have a good community of people that surrounds and supports you. For me, that community is the children’s ministry (and no, not just the kids). I love the people I work with at the church and enjoy serving with them throughout the week. I am still the 5^th grade Sunday School director/teacher and love being a part of these kids’ lives at such a pivotal age. It is so neat to watch the transformation that happens in their lives from the start of our class to the end of our class. Although rather large, our class affords these kids the opportunity to get to know one another (they’ve all never been in the same class before) before they begin the student ministry where everything else will be new and unknown.

Our children’s ministry revamped our Wednesday night program this year and it has turned out to be a very popular and intriguing program in which we’ve had many kids come to be a part. Named “Impact,” this program appeals to kids’ gifts and talents and offers 8-10 varying classes (art, sign language, construction, sports/games, cooking, etc.) for children to choose and learn how they can serve God and make an impact for Him through that task. My role in this new program is as the missions class leader (does that really surprise you?). It has been THE BEST to get back into that role of teaching kids missions and I have loved opening the world to my group of kids. I have also gotten to coordinate missions nights for the whole Impact group once a month and that has been really great as well. The classes are semester-long, so beginning in January, I will have a new group of kids to teach and I can’t wait!

Taught kids about how missionaries use henna hand art to tell Bible stories

Ministry

This fall I worked with the TN WMU and their annual children’s missions conferences. We went to three locations across the state and I got to watch children learn and grow in their missions knowledge. I had the opportunity to write the mission fair activities which was fun for me, especially when I saw my ideas become reality at the mission fair! I also had the chance to be the host in the opening/closing session a couple of times which, although out of my comfort zone, was fun and different.

I discussed last year that I had started working with Begin Anew of Middle Tennessee (formerly Christian Women’s Job Corp) and this job continued in full force. As the childcare coordinator for the downtown Nashville site, I led the childcare workers in caring for children whose mothers were being tutored in order to pass tests to obtain their high school equivalency degree. I really am inspired by these women who seek better lives for their children by working so hard to pass these tests. This year I was able to witness two moms who I have watched walk this journey graduate and the smiles on their faces were nothing short of huge! We recently found out that one lady who has been with the program for ten years passed her last test after taking it 16 times and will get her high school equivalency degree! I screamed when I heard the news! Glory to God!

With all that said, it hasn’t always been easy. Spiritual warfare and outside influences have ravaged these ladies, as well as their children. My heart broke quite a number of times to hear of deaths of loved ones, hospital stays, as well as just day-to-day stories. It has been a blessing for me to be light in these dark times for, especially the kids. I pray that the things I taught and the attitudes I held were ones that brought light and planted seeds in their hearts.

I decided later in the year that, with my full-time job increasing in demand, all I am involved in outside of this ministry, as well as other factors, that it was better for me to take a step back from this ministry for the time being. I will go back in a few months as a volunteer, but my time as the childcare coordinator has come to an end. It will be strange not being there weekly, however, I know that for me, this is the right decision at this point and that God will provide a new way for me to use my gifts outside of work and church. I can’t wait to see what that might be!

Family

A lot happened with my family this year. As far as my parents, my dad worked his first full year at FBC in Enterprise, AL. In June, my mom finally joined him, quitting her job at the adult daycare in East TN, of which she loved so much. It was the right thing, though, because they needed to be together! Our family home in East TN is still on the market and we hope it will sell soon, if you don’t mind we’d appreciate a prayer or two about it.

Meredith continues to live in Atlanta as an auditor. She has gotten really involved in a Johnson Ferry church plant called Christ Covenant and absolutely loves it. She’s on the nominations team as well as the greeter team! This summer, she took about a month long trip to Asia to visit some friends. She also visited her Compassion International sponsor child in the Philippines. The pictures from that trip would just melt your heart!

Lauren had a very eventful year. At the beginning of the year, she was a part of a college fashion show where she designed clothes for children with special needs. She won the “Best Children’s Wear” award for her designs. I have to tell you; I was nothing short of beaming with pride watching her dream become reality at this fashion show. The models of her designs were awesome too, it was so so amazing! In May, Lauren graduated from college! We all traveled to Liberty University to watch her graduate and who should show up to her graduation, but the President of the United States! Ok, President Trump wasn’t just there for Lauren…but still, hearing and being in the same vicinity as a sitting president was pretty cool.

Following graduation, Lauren moved in with me for the summer in Nashville. She served as the intern of my church’s special needs ministry. She got to plan a couple of events, as well as work with special needs children, which of course you know she loved! It was such a blessing to have a family member close by this summer and I am so grateful that we were able to share the summer together (when we were both in town, of course)! Following the summer, Lauren got a job as an event coordinator for Liberty University and moved back to Lynchburg to begin her new job there. She hit the ground running and has been super busy planning and organizing various events for the school (especially weddings).

The biggest family change this year was that we got a dog! Ollie (Oliver) has been such a blessed addition to our lives and we all love him so so much! We got him in May and Lauren and I raised him over the summer. Puppy raising is H.A.R.D., but the kisses and snuggles make up for it!  Ollie loves to be around people (not so much dogs) and so Lauren and I found that it would be better off for him to live in a place where he could get a lot of attention. Since I live alone, and Lauren has roommates, it was decided Ollie would live with Lauren in Virginia and I would have visiting privileges J We own him equally, but this is honestly, the best arrangement for him right now because he would be so lonely in Nashville with me gone all day until late afternoon. As I write this, however, I am spending some quality time with this sweet one and he is snuggled against my leg taking a nap with his little tongue sticking out – it’s soooooooo cute!

I wish my whole entire family could be together more often, but we make sure to make the most of each moment that we are together – most recently at Christmas (which I hosted at my place). It was such a special time of being together, remembering old memories, making plans for the future, and of course, loving on sweet Ollie! I look forward to the next time we are all together and hope that it will be very, very soon!

Thirty

This year I turned the big 3-0! Gosh, that doesn't even seem real, but it is. I had a wonderful birthday and my sweet friends took me out to get a makeover. Ollie was also a sweet part of my birthday gift, and later in the year, I traded in my car for a really cute, used, blue Honda HRV (since my old car had been around in my life for 10 or so years). I'm so grateful for all God has done for and in me these past thirty years and look forward to what He provides for me, especially in this new decade!

Prayers

As always, I greatly appreciate your prayers as I continue to serve the Lord in all I do. Pray for inspiration and determination in my work at the SBC, as well as for our 2018 summer annual meeting that the Lord will give us all strength during those long days, but that He will ultimately be glorified and exalted in all that happens. Pray for me as I continue to teach kids at church and that they will have mission-minded hearts and minds to reach their friends and neighbors for Jesus. Pray for me as I take a step back from the ministry I have been a part of for a couple of years; please pray for a renewed spirit and that God will show me the next path he has for me in serving Him outside of work and church. He is such a good God and I cannot wait to see the doors He opens for me in the coming year; pray those doors will be evident to me.

Thank you for your prayers for my family; they mean so much and I hope that you will pray with me that our East TN house will sell soon so that we can close that chapter of our lives.

Word of the Year

I attempt to choose a word each year that sums up the ending year; it’s always interesting to look back at the words I’ve chosen and see how beautifully they summed up that year’s events. I’ve thought a lot about this year’s word and what I have chosen is the word “FOCUS.” This year I placed a lot of focus on my job, on the various classes I have taught at church, on the Begin Anew ministry I worked at, on raising and watching a puppy, on living life on my own in a big city, and much more. I have also focused a lot on my relationship with Jesus. I have more to focus on in my journey with Christ and I plan to carry this focus with me into the new year.

I will say this about focus. It’s important to be focused on what you do because it helps you to constantly examine what is going on around you. When you focus, you evaluate things and strive to make them better. I have to have focus quite a bit in my job at the SBC because I am responsible for publications in which things need to be accurate and complete. There are times that my focus falters and mistakes happen, but it’s through those mistakes I learn. In life, it’s the same way. Being focused in life means that you pay attention to the things going on so that your life (especially in Christ) is of one accord and complete in Him. There are times that your focus may falter, but it will be through those seemingly tumultuous times that you learn and grow in your knowledge and your faith in Christ.

Remember the verse at the beginning of this blog? “He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it!” He’s going to complete the good work in our lives…we just have to stay focused on Him and keep on keeping on! 

In 2018, I plan to keep on keeping on in the Lord and I know that the desires and dreams that I have, He will be faithful to complete; I just have to wait upon Him and stay focused!

Here’s to you 2017…2018, I’m focusing in on you!

Waiting in {Life's} Traffic

“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks Him.”

- Lamentations 3:25

An overturned garbage truck shut down the interstate this morning and made a normal 30-45 minute commute a right-at-2 hour commute to work.  Needless to say everyone did a lot of waiting on the Nashville roads this morning.  As one of the people stuck in the crazy traffic this morning, I …along with the rest of Nashville…can be witnesses for the fact that waiting is not fun! 

It’s like that in life sometimes too, isn’t it?  Waiting can be very hard and not fun, especially when it’s something that you want so terribly to happen.  Before I got my job in Nashville, I waited for a long time until God gave me this gift that is my dream job.  I applied to job after job within organizations of the SBC because I felt like that’s where God wanted me, but none of them ever panned out.  That time of waiting was hard because I felt like I was missing out or that I wasn’t hearing God correctly; I doubted myself and my capabilities; I even just thought about giving up on the whole thing.  Through it all though, I kept hearing a still small voice – not even audible – that told my heart to wait and keep doing what I was doing because even better things were in store.

Waiting may be wearisome, but God gives us strength (Isaiah 40:31).  Waiting may be confusing, but He will direct our paths (Proverbs 3:5-6). Waiting may be hard, but God gives us courage (Psalm 27:14).  What He asks of us in the meantime is to trust Him and to keep on following and serving Him day after day after day until the He gives us what we have waited so long for (Psalm 37:4, Proverbs 16:3).

After a few years of waiting, God, out of the blue, gave me the gift of my job with the very SBC organization that helps every single one of the other organizations I applied to – I call it my dream job because it was something that wasn’t even on my radar, but as it turns out was the exact, perfect fit for me!  Lamentations 3:25 says, “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks Him”… and oh, how good He is to me!

So…don’t get frustrated or start blaring the car horn if you are stuck in a “life traffic jam” right now, just keep waiting on the Lord and before you know it that road ahead of you will clear out and God will take you to who knows where!

Shaped by the Cooperative Program

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith. – Galatians 6:9-10

I may be a young Southern Baptist, but my life has been shaped by the Cooperative Program – an initiative begun by the Southern Baptist Convention in 1925 to help support missions and ministries locally, nationally, and internationally.  When people, through their churches, give to the Cooperative Program, the money doesn’t just go to one specific area or place, the money is sent to state convention missions and ministries and then a certain remainder of that (depending on the state) is sent on to the national level.  Once that money reaches the national level, it is then portioned out to five different areas of Southern Baptist life.  See the chart at the end of this blog post to understand exactly what these five areas include.  It is in some of these different areas where I see the story of my life and realize just how much the Cooperative Program has shaped me. 

Theological Education: Without the Cooperative Program, my dad would have been unable to attend seminary.  When I was six years old, my family moved from western North Carolina to Louisville, Kentucky so that my dad could pursue a Master of Divinity degree at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; something he had dreamed of since he was a teenager.  It was there he was able to learn and develop a passion for ministry; later passing that knowledge and passion on to me.  The Cooperative Program made it possible for tuition costs to be reduced for him so that he could attend and have a solid education at a seminary, and still be able to support and provide for me, my sisters, and my mom.

My family at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary ('97)

International Missions: Without the Cooperative Program, my family would have been unable to go to the mission field.  When I was ten years old, my family was called to Hong Kong as missionaries; a calling that my parents had since childhood.  At the time, many people questioned my parents as to why they would move themselves and their three daughters to a completely different country, away from family and friends.  Their response – “It’s the best thing we could do for them.”  They were so right.  Living overseas and watching the Great Commission being literally lived out before my eyes changed my mindset and my heart most definitely for the better.  The Cooperative Program made it possible for the International Mission Board to send us overseas and provide for us halfway around the world.

My family as missionaries in East Asia ('99)

SBC Operating Budget: Without the Cooperative Program, I would not have the opportunity to be in the job in which I currently work.  I am employed by the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention as the Publications Specialist, a job that I regularly call my “dream job” because of how much I love this denomination.  When I was a younger adult, I didn’t really know about the Executive Committee, but came to learn about it through attending the SBC Annual Meetings and volunteering as a Page.  The Annual Meetings helped develop my knowledge of the Southern Baptist Convention and invoke an even greater passion for it.  The Cooperative Program makes it possible not only for me to have a job here, but it also makes it possible for events like the Annual Meeting to happen so that the denomination can continue to grow and flourish.

Volunteering as a SBC Page at the 2012 Annual Meeting in New Orleans

It’s so humbling to sit back and look at the short story of my life and see how the Cooperative Program has shaped it.  Without the Cooperative Program, so much of what my life is today would have never been possible – I wouldn’t know the things I know, love the things I love, or dream the way I dream without it. 

We young people may not say it enough, but thank you Southern Baptists for believing in and giving to an initiative where you may be unable to see the fruits of your gifts.  Still today, your gifts are making dreams for theological education, international missions, operations of the denomination, as well as national missions and representation in the political arena, possible and able to continue. 

What kind of legacy will you leave behind? One where God is a close second or where He is number one? One where you go to church whenever you feel like it or one where you invest yourself in His work in His house? One where you keep to yourself or one where you shine His light in your words and actions? Let’s be resolute in continuing to support and uphold a legacy of giving so that the Cooperative Program has the chance to do and shape even more lives for the furtherance of the Kingdom.

Galatians 6:9-10 says, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.”  Your gifts to the Cooperative Program allow good to happen all across this world.  Don’t grow weary in your giving; you are making a difference, you are impacting lives for the Gospel, you are shaping lives – just like you have shaped mine – and one day we will all reap the gift of gathering together in heaven to worship the God we serve as one body, united in Him.  What a day that will be!

2016 in Retrospect

“Let your roots grow down {deeper} into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” - Colossians 2:7

It's been about 365 days since I last made a blog post similar to this, which must mean that a new year is upon us! At the end of each year, it always does my heart good to take time to stop and reflect about the year that is ending and look forward to the one that is coming. 2016 was a year of so many different experiences, opportunities, and challenges. Looking back, though, I wouldn't trade them – even if at the time I may have wanted to – because they have grown me deeper in my relationship and walk with the Father. So, as I take a few minutes to look back, I hope you will rejoice with me at what God has done and pray for me at what He will do as 2017 dawns in just a few short days.

Work

Now that I am coming up on 2 years in, everyone asks me how I like my job. The answer? I wholeheartedly, absolutely, positively, without question, LOVE it! You wouldn't even need to ask me. You could ask any of my coworkers at the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Executive Committee and they would know how to respond....because they think I'm a little crazy (maybe even obsessed) about it...ha ha! I accept that. Truly I love going to work every day because of the blessings and opportunities that abound there. To be a part of Kingdom-building work, see things first-hand, and to be a part of planning some parts of the denomination that I was born and raised into is literally my dream come true and so humbling.

The biggest part of my job centers around the Annual Meeting of the SBC. If you're not familiar with it, this is an event where pastors, church leaders, and more come together to conduct the business of the denomination as well as worship as a body the Savior who unites us. Each year the meeting is in a different US city and so this year we traveled to St. Louis, Missouri. I am responsible for the publications that are a part of this meeting and so I spend half of the year compiling, coordinating, and putting together the items that make up these publications. These items come from all of our various organizations (mission boards, seminaries, etc.) – located all over the US – that make up this denomination and so it's a lot of organizing and keeping track of things. There is one publication that I work on while at the Annual Meeting and it's one that has to happen fast and accurately – think of it like a newspaper where things are dependent on what occurs earlier in the day. It may sound overwhelming, and it is, but it's still fun. At the annual meeting, I am also the Page Coordinator and I make sure all the pages are where they need to be when they need to be there. (Pages are volunteers who assist at microphones during business sessions.) I still have many of the same duties I had when I was a page and I actually prefer it that way because #1) I love it and #2) it is such a reminder of God's faithfulness in bringing me to the SBC Executive Committee.

An Executive Committee Meeting at our SBC headquarters in Nashville

This year I have also had the opportunity to also work on various other projects for my department as well as the Executive Committee President – Dr. Frank Page. I’ve enjoyed creating and researching, it adds a little more flavor to the job! Although I said the exact same thing last year, my coworkers make my job all the richer and it’s such a joy to share these experiences with people who think the same way I think and love the things that I love. I’m literally living my dream by being here and I can’t thank God enough for it!

Ministry

There have been new opportunities for ministry over this past year. The biggest opportunity has been with Christian Women's Job Corps of Middle TN – now called Begin Anew. In last year’s retrospect, I mentioned that I was volunteering with the CWJC childcare program towards the end of 2015. At the beginning of this year, however, I was approached with making this volunteer position an actual employment (part-time, two nights a week) position. This was something I did not see coming and I was so humbled that I would be considered for the opportunity. Since January, I have been the coordinator for the childcare program at the Downtown Nashville CWJC (Begin Anew) site. I am responsible for the children, childcare workers, and also for the programming. While these children's mothers are being tutored to pass their GED tests, I am making sure their children are getting homework help, playing a game, making a craft, and hearing about the Savior who loves them. It's the perfect use of my undergrad degree in elementary education and my passion to reach children who need to know that Jesus loves them. My favorite moments of this ministry are the sweet smiles and hugs I get each night and also the engaging conversations I have with these children about God and Jesus. I won't lie, though, and say this has been an easy position – there have been intense challenges and spiritual warfare wrapped in this position as well. I constantly and consistently have to remind myself that these children did not grow up the way I did or even the way many church kids do now. This means cursing and physical fights happen sometimes, tantrums get thrown just about each night, the race card gets tossed around more often than not, and older children, especially, laugh in my face because I believe in a God I can't see. Some nights I've been able to hold it together and other nights that has been easier said than done. It's in those difficult moments, however, that I hear the words of Jesus remind me that I am His light (Matthew 5:16) and I am here to shine it bright, even in the midst of complete darkness. Although it is hard sometimes, I'm thankful for this opportunity and for each and every child that I get to interact with and love on.

My Begin Anew kids

Additionally, I have been a part of a few children's events with the TN Baptist Convention in which I've traveled around the state of TN teaching about missions – which does my children’s missions leader heart good. One of these events was JAM (Journey Across Missions) which is basically a missions conference for kids and the other was a weekend, Christmas day-camp at one of the state Baptist retreat centers. These were so much fun and I enjoyed teaching the kids about missions.

JAM Missions Conference

Church

In February of this year, I officially became a member of Brentwood Baptist Church. What a joy it is to be a part of this congregation and watch the church continue to flourish and grow through multiple campuses and missions work. I have been heavily involved over the past year with the Children's Ministry at the main campus. As I mentioned last year, I am the director of the 5th Grade 9:30 Life Group. Because it is the biggest Life Group hour and because 5th grade is where all the three separate graded classes combine, this class averages about 40-50 kids per week. It does seem like a lot, but with my incredible team, we have a good system of managing and teaching this big group. I'm always intrigued by the questions that come up in my Sunday School class – makes my seminary degree come into play quite a bit!

I also continued working in the kids program on Wednesday nights – helping out in the 2nd grade class; and yes, I most definitely notice the age difference on Sundays versus Wednesdays! There have also been opportunities to be involved in other Children's Ministry events, the most recent being a Journey Through Bethlehem event where we dressed up in Biblical costume and walked parents and children through the story of the birth of Jesus. It was a lot of fun and I love how my church values the spiritual growth of children and provides innovative ways for them to learn about Jesus.

It may sound like I do a lot with kids ... and I do ... but I also make time, spiritually, for my own walk with God in a community of those my own age. I attend a wonderful Bible Study each Sunday evening and we have a great time learning from the Lord, as well as from one another. I recently hosted a Pumpkin Painting Party for my Bible Study group and we had a great time hanging out and having fun. I'm thankful for these friends who pray and encourage me each week.

Family

My family has gone through transition and change this year. At the beginning of the year, my grandfather (my mom's dad) passed away from complications from Alzheimer’s. He went down pretty fast at the end of 2015 and so we had a feeling it was going to happen at some point this year. God was so good and allowed me to see him about two weeks before he passed and I'm so glad I got that special moment with him. His funeral was fit exactly for him and, as a veteran, he got a military burial with the folding of the flag and 21 gun salute. I had never been to a service like that before and so it was quite different, but certainly memorable and emotional. I miss my Papaw, but am thankful he has been restored to full health and memory…and because of Jesus, I will see him again one day!

The second transition happened with my parents. In the late half of the year, my dad got a job in Enterprise, Alabama. He is now the Church Administrator for the First Baptist Church there. After 11 years in Morristown, TN, God called him and my mom to this new location where they fit in perfectly. God couldn't have provided a better place for my dad to be. The church is growing so fast and so much that my dad's organizational skills are coming into play quite a bit. I had the opportunity to go when he was presented in view of a call and I was so impressed by the welcoming and warm body of believers. I know God is going to do some amazing things in my parents’ lives through FBC Enterprise and I look forward to seeing what those will be!

My sisters are doing well and staying busy. Meredith became a senior auditor at her accounting firm this year, and Lauren is in the final preparation stages for graduation from Liberty University next year.

As a family, our time together is few and far between. We had the opportunity to gather together for a few extended periods this past year – my grandparents’ house in KY, summer vacation in Atlanta, and the recent holiday gatherings – but we definitely don't see each other all together like we used to due to distance. Next year it may be even fewer due to the distance my parents will be. I am 6 hours from Enterprise so weekend trips may not be doable like they had been when I was traveling to Morristown. If there's one thing I've learned from my parents, however, it is that following the will and way of God is far better and fulfilling than following our own will and way, so I trust and know that God will fill my heart with His blessings in those moments that I am missing my family. I will say, however, thank you God for the person who invented FaceTime ... not quite sure how I'd go extended periods of time without seeing my family!

Home

One of the biggest events that happened to me this year was that I bought my first home! Last year I did the apartment thing, but decided that this year I was ready to make the leap! Thankfully my time living with my parents in Morristown had given me the opportunity to save for this purchase – it would've been honestly impossible without them...so thanks mom and dad! 

It was exciting...and stressful at times...to look at homes and imagine what I would do with the space. I had an amazing realtor, though, who treated me like one of his daughters and made sure I was in a safe location and getting a good deal. After about 2 months of looking, he came across a condo in a neighborhood that I had really wanted to be in, but that was really hard to get into. I went at lunch one day, walked in the first two rooms nearest the front door and immediately told my realtor that I wanted to make an offer. At first he said that we would begin the paperwork when we both got back to our respective offices, but a few minutes later asked if I'd be willing to make an offer right then. I'm so glad I said yes, because as I was signing the official papers, in walked another buyer who was ready to purchase it! I'd already signed my name, though, so it was mine!

I absolutely love my home and can't believe I live there. It suits me perfectly and I've had a blast making it my own by adding furniture and decoration. My sweet coworkers even threw me a surprise housewarming party earlier in the year and provided me items that fit so beautifully in my home!  One of my parents Christmas presents to me was helping me hang pictures on my wall. These pictures are scripture and quotes that are meaningful to me and honestly have made my home feel complete and officially mine.

I love living in Nashville (minus the crazy traffic days) and, with the addition of my beautiful home this year, I feel like I officially can call Nashville, TN my home.

Challenges

Emotions have been raw this year and stem from experiences of 2015 which included major life change, homesickness, hurt, and loss.  Sometimes my feelings would manifest in tears and sometimes they would manifest in anxiety attacks. I had the opportunity this year, though, to talk to a Christian counselor at my church who helped me walk through my feelings and come to a place of peace. I don't share this with you lightly. I haven't shared this with many people because of the thought that maybe people will think I can’t handle life’s challenges or that I’m weak. But you know what, I feel so led to share this with you, my dear blog readers, because it was one of the best decisions I made for myself. Seeing and talking through your feelings with a counselor or someone you trust (who is not necessarily your family) is nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. They can help you recognize your triggers, listen to you, and also give pointers on how to combat those crazy emotions that come at the most inopportune times. One of my favorite pointers was one that I came up with through the help of my counselor – it’s called the Philippians 4:8 technique. How it works is that when things come up that cause me to feel down or anxiety-filled, I simply recite Philippians 4:8 and do exactly what it says, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” When I start to think of all the things in my life and around me that meet these qualities, my mind and heart calm down and I begin to feel so much better. It’s really a great technique and I recommend it! My favorite parts of the counseling sessions were the last 2-3 minutes where my counselor prayed over me. To have someone pray over you and to actually hear them do it is such a moving and humbling experience. I’m in such a stronger place because of these sessions and I’m grateful I didn’t listen to the enemy telling me that I was weak for doing it.

Prayer

I have so appreciated your prayers for me and my family over this past year – please continue them! For my family, pray especially for my parents’ house to sell so that they can be together in Alabama. Right now my mom is still in Morristown, TN until this happens. Pray also for their ministry in Enterprise and that God will be honored through it.

As for me, pray for God’s continued guidance at my job with the SBC. My busy season is the first half of the year where I am preparing, at the same time, three publications for the Annual Meeting in June. Pray that everything will come together expediently and efficiently and that God will bless our time at the Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona this summer. I ask for your prayers also with my job with the CWJC Begin Anew childcare program. Pray that God will give me wisdom and patience as I interact with these children. Pray that God will give me the words to say when they ask questions about Him and that they will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus. Lastly, pray for me in the coming year that my heart will continue to have peace and also that God's blessings will continue to abound in my life.

 
Word of the Year

If you’ve followed my retrospect blogs over the past years, you know that I like to close each retrospect by summing up the year in one word. This year my word of the year is … “DEEPER”. Over the course of 2016, I have grown so much deeper in my walk with the Lord, in my job, in my ministry, and in understanding myself more than ever before. Colossians 2:7 says, “Let your roots grow down {deeper} into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” As I read this, I can’t help but smile because I see my 2016 year wrapped up in every word of this verse. Instead of uprooting when the challenges arose, I dug deeper into my faith and the truth that I have been taught these past 29 years of my life…and you know what? Not only am I overflowing with thankfulness, but I am also a stronger and more mature Christian because of it! 

It’s ironic that my word of the year is “deeper” because I have spent most of my time writing this blog on a Florida beach in front of the deep, seemingly never-ending ocean. Every time I hear the waves crash on the shore, I think about the song “Oceans” and the stanza that says, “Your grace abounds in deepest waters. Your sovereign hand will be my guide. Where feet may fail and fear surround me, you’ve never failed and you won’t start now. And I will call upon your name, and keep my eyes upon the waves, when oceans rise, my soul will rest in your embrace for I am Yours and You are mine.” It’s such a peaceful feeling to know that even though oceans will rise in my life, I have the hand of the Father to walk with me and guide me through them and onto the shore. This view is also an amazing reminder of God’s faithfulness in leading and guiding me through this year because the same magnificence He has shown in my life is the same magnificence radiating from the crashing of the waves to the sunshine reflecting across the water.

Blogging on the beach

As the new year begins, I pray that I will continue to walk in the will and way of the Lord and grow even deeper in Him than I have this year. I know there will be blessings. I know there will be challenges. But as 2017 dawns, I carry with me Psalm 37:4 in which the psalmist says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Delighting in Him is what I plan on doing. He is good. He is faithful. He is true. 2016 has taught me that. 2017, now it’s your turn.