Are you a women's leader in your church? Do you sense God calling you to be a leader in your women's ministry and just don't know where to begin? Whether you have been in leadership for a short time or you are seasoned veteran, our S.W.E.E.T. Saturday event is just for you!
For years I've searched to find quality leadership training. While there are a lot of great opportunities, there are very few conferences which specialize in reaching the women in your church and in your community. That's why our office is sponsoring S.W.E.E.T. Saturday. S.W.E.E.T. stands for Statewide Women's Enrichment and Education Training and is coming Saturday, August 29 at Del City, First Southern Baptist Church.
The registration cost is only $35 (if registered by August 10) and includes the following: general worship sessions featuring Dr. Rhonda Kelley and Paula Hemphill, 20 seminars and forums with specific missions and ministries training, lunch and breaks, and two great resources: a customized flash drive which will contain the handouts from most seminars and the Bible study, A Woman's Guide to Servant Leadership, by Dr. Rhonda Kelley.
Because this is a power-packed day of learning, we suggest you bring an entire ministry team to attend. This gives you the opportunity to scatter for various seminars and then sit down and collectively share what you've learned.
Want to hear more? Go to our website at www.bgco.org/women and click on the SWEET Saturday button. You'll see a detailed schedule, descriptions for seminars and an online registration form.
We hope to see you and your friends there! Look for more blogs this week which will give you a preview of what to expect at SWEET.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Happy Anniversary Baby: Got You On My Mind
It's hard to believe that today I have the privilege of being married to probably the nicest guy in the world for 21 years. I'm not sure why I get to be so lucky, but God gave me a great gift when Vic King entered my life. So, here's the top 10 reasons why I'm glad I'm married to Vic.
10. Without Vic, I would have no Conner and Courtney. And I honestly can't imagine life and love without these two precious gifts.
9. Vic can grill the best onion burgers around. He is the master of the onion burger, which is probably why I don't weigh the same as I did when we got married!
8. If you look on Google images of a golden retriever, I think there's a photo of Vic. He is truly one of the most loyal men I know. He's loyal to his job, his family and most importantly, to God.
7. I've never heard him say a bad word about a person. Seriously. He always see the good in people and he is a true friend.
6. He is generous. I've seen him give money to a homeless man, pledge way more than I thought we could afford in a church capital campaign, and always be the last in our family to buy for himself. If you look in his closet, he has one suit. Seriously, the man probably needs to shop a little more.
5. He gives me many illustrations for speaking topics. Vic has given our whole family many stories that keep people laughing for a long time. My mom says I should write a book about "Vic antics." Latest this summer: shaving his chest in the ocean right next to the yacht club where we were staying.
4. He's content to be the husband of a woman in ministry. That may seem weird, but how many men do you know who have a wife in full time ministry? I truly could not do my job if it weren't for the support of Vic.
3. He loves children and youth. For the past 21 years, I have seen Vic be a volunteer church youth worker for 20 years and a children's Bible Study Fellowship leader for more than 10. Not many men will get up on Friday mornings and be at a BSF training meeting at 5:15 a.m. for more than 10 years!
2. He lives on Frederick time. Frederick is a small town in Oklahoma where Vic served as a youth pastor before we were married. You can get anywhere in town in 5 minutes. We have lived in Oklahoma City all 21 years and Vic still thinks you can get anywhere in 5 minutes. That's why we're always late. But, he definitely doesn't get stressed out about time.
1. The top reason I'm glad I'm married to Vic is because he is a man after God's own heart. For all my weaknesses and faults, he still loves me with the love of Christ and I believe he would do anything for me. That's a love worth finding.
Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her."
10. Without Vic, I would have no Conner and Courtney. And I honestly can't imagine life and love without these two precious gifts.
9. Vic can grill the best onion burgers around. He is the master of the onion burger, which is probably why I don't weigh the same as I did when we got married!
8. If you look on Google images of a golden retriever, I think there's a photo of Vic. He is truly one of the most loyal men I know. He's loyal to his job, his family and most importantly, to God.
7. I've never heard him say a bad word about a person. Seriously. He always see the good in people and he is a true friend.
6. He is generous. I've seen him give money to a homeless man, pledge way more than I thought we could afford in a church capital campaign, and always be the last in our family to buy for himself. If you look in his closet, he has one suit. Seriously, the man probably needs to shop a little more.
5. He gives me many illustrations for speaking topics. Vic has given our whole family many stories that keep people laughing for a long time. My mom says I should write a book about "Vic antics." Latest this summer: shaving his chest in the ocean right next to the yacht club where we were staying.
4. He's content to be the husband of a woman in ministry. That may seem weird, but how many men do you know who have a wife in full time ministry? I truly could not do my job if it weren't for the support of Vic.
3. He loves children and youth. For the past 21 years, I have seen Vic be a volunteer church youth worker for 20 years and a children's Bible Study Fellowship leader for more than 10. Not many men will get up on Friday mornings and be at a BSF training meeting at 5:15 a.m. for more than 10 years!
2. He lives on Frederick time. Frederick is a small town in Oklahoma where Vic served as a youth pastor before we were married. You can get anywhere in town in 5 minutes. We have lived in Oklahoma City all 21 years and Vic still thinks you can get anywhere in 5 minutes. That's why we're always late. But, he definitely doesn't get stressed out about time.
1. The top reason I'm glad I'm married to Vic is because he is a man after God's own heart. For all my weaknesses and faults, he still loves me with the love of Christ and I believe he would do anything for me. That's a love worth finding.
Ephesians 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her."
Monday, July 6, 2009
Wild At Heart
I'm just returning from two weeks of vacation. Ah, but it's good to be back.
Each summer, my family has the privilege of traveling to Westcliffe, Colorado, where my husband's family owns a cabin in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. It is always a refreshing time and one we anticipate each year. The past few years we've only been able to squeeze in about 10 days at the cabin, but this year we had two full weeks. And by full, I mean "full."
The first week we hosted 13 graduating seniors from our church. We kepts six boys, our high school minister and his wife in our cabin. Seven girls slept in a cabin across the street. But, Vic and I were entertainment directors and cooks for all of them for four days. Let's just say I made a lot of trips to the grocery store.
The second week we enjoyed with just our immediate family. I now have a better understanding of why I work with women though. I just don't have the "Wild At Heart" spirit that men possess. My husband had decided we needed to take the old 1970 something Jeep up to the top of the mountain one day. While we had very beautiful views, it was a several hour bumpy ride to the top. My daughter and I kept saying, "Really. You can stop now. We've gone far enough." But, ladies, you know that's never enough for men. We only stopped when the road was too narrow to drive and snow was blocking us.
While we looked below at where we had come, my 18-year-old son, Conner, saw a frozen lake. He made the comment, "I'm going to go hike over there." Yeah, right. There was no way he was going to hike to that mountain lake.
As we ventured back down the mountain (bumping all the way), we decided to stop and fish at one of the mountain lakes. I could tell Conner had something else planned though. He told Vic and I he was headed to the frozen lake that was over a ridge where we had stopped. So, off he went before we really had the opporturntiy to say "no."
An hour later, I was beginning to get that mother worry. I had not seen Conner and had no idea where he was (by HIMSELF!! Yes, you too, can panic) I was trying to tell myself that he was a big boy and knew what he was doing. I was close to Vic when we heard it. Rocks falling. Yes, a rock slide. We looked at each other and simultaneously said, "That's Conner!" (panic again)
I ran to the other side of the lake trying to see if I could see any glimpse of him. No Conner. Nothing. For 30 minutes I looked up at the mountain praying that either he was fine or that I would have the opportunity to kill him when he returned. After 30 minutes, a miracle happened. In an area where there is no cell phone service, I heard my iPhone go off alerting me to a text message. It was from Conner. He had made it to the top and was fine. He just needed to find a different route down because of the danger. Really? Now he decides there's danger.
After 30 more minutes, we were finally within eye sight. Let's just say I was pretty quiet on the trip home. There was a lecture given about never going off alone in the mountains. He should have known this from getting separated on a mission trip in the mountains of Jordan. But, boys are wired differently. They really do long for adventure, even to the point of danger. They are truly wild at heart and we should be glad.
So, today, I'm thankful I get to work with women. I'm thankful for the two non-scheduled appointments with women. I'm thankful that I'm getting to spend next weekend with 115 moms and daughters at CrossTimbers Camp. In fact, there's still room for you and your daughter! Go to www.bgco.org/escape24 while you have time. It will be a weekend with adventure--but probably no rock slides.
Psalm 121:1 "I lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from?"
Each summer, my family has the privilege of traveling to Westcliffe, Colorado, where my husband's family owns a cabin in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. It is always a refreshing time and one we anticipate each year. The past few years we've only been able to squeeze in about 10 days at the cabin, but this year we had two full weeks. And by full, I mean "full."
The first week we hosted 13 graduating seniors from our church. We kepts six boys, our high school minister and his wife in our cabin. Seven girls slept in a cabin across the street. But, Vic and I were entertainment directors and cooks for all of them for four days. Let's just say I made a lot of trips to the grocery store.
The second week we enjoyed with just our immediate family. I now have a better understanding of why I work with women though. I just don't have the "Wild At Heart" spirit that men possess. My husband had decided we needed to take the old 1970 something Jeep up to the top of the mountain one day. While we had very beautiful views, it was a several hour bumpy ride to the top. My daughter and I kept saying, "Really. You can stop now. We've gone far enough." But, ladies, you know that's never enough for men. We only stopped when the road was too narrow to drive and snow was blocking us.
While we looked below at where we had come, my 18-year-old son, Conner, saw a frozen lake. He made the comment, "I'm going to go hike over there." Yeah, right. There was no way he was going to hike to that mountain lake.
As we ventured back down the mountain (bumping all the way), we decided to stop and fish at one of the mountain lakes. I could tell Conner had something else planned though. He told Vic and I he was headed to the frozen lake that was over a ridge where we had stopped. So, off he went before we really had the opporturntiy to say "no."
An hour later, I was beginning to get that mother worry. I had not seen Conner and had no idea where he was (by HIMSELF!! Yes, you too, can panic) I was trying to tell myself that he was a big boy and knew what he was doing. I was close to Vic when we heard it. Rocks falling. Yes, a rock slide. We looked at each other and simultaneously said, "That's Conner!" (panic again)
I ran to the other side of the lake trying to see if I could see any glimpse of him. No Conner. Nothing. For 30 minutes I looked up at the mountain praying that either he was fine or that I would have the opportunity to kill him when he returned. After 30 minutes, a miracle happened. In an area where there is no cell phone service, I heard my iPhone go off alerting me to a text message. It was from Conner. He had made it to the top and was fine. He just needed to find a different route down because of the danger. Really? Now he decides there's danger.
After 30 more minutes, we were finally within eye sight. Let's just say I was pretty quiet on the trip home. There was a lecture given about never going off alone in the mountains. He should have known this from getting separated on a mission trip in the mountains of Jordan. But, boys are wired differently. They really do long for adventure, even to the point of danger. They are truly wild at heart and we should be glad.
So, today, I'm thankful I get to work with women. I'm thankful for the two non-scheduled appointments with women. I'm thankful that I'm getting to spend next weekend with 115 moms and daughters at CrossTimbers Camp. In fact, there's still room for you and your daughter! Go to www.bgco.org/escape24 while you have time. It will be a weekend with adventure--but probably no rock slides.
Psalm 121:1 "I lift up my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from?"
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