Intentional Influence

Hope
Excitement
Joy
Fear
Change
Renew
Transition

All of these words were used over and over during our staff retreat this week. It was so refreshing and so needed for all of us as a staff to come together, pray for all of you and to seek the face and the will of  the Lord together. I'm hoping in the next few days\weeks all of you will be able to get a more detailed account of the few days but, I am still processing and unpacking it myself. It was such a time of communal sharing, loving and praying and it had been yearned for from all of us.

As ChristChurch is moving forward, and literally building the foundation from the ground up- I want all of you; parents, grandparents, elders, deacons, committees and members of the congregation to keep me accountable of this one thing. If you're wondering how to pray for me and this precious ministry that the Lord is literally molding and conforming to my heart, this is how: I want every contact I make with these kids, with all of you, and with those on staff who I'm trying to serve, to be very intentional. The Winshape Retreat staff spoke of "Intentional Influence" when they were welcoming us to their beautiful facilities. It's stuck with me the past few days and I've been fleshing out and unpacking that a little bit in my mind. Pray for Intentional Influence  over this ministry for all of our leaders, teachers, and all of those who are coming in contact teaching your kids about the Gospel and about the grace and mercy Jesus Christ pours out on us!

If all of our teaching, loving, playing, praying and conversations become intentional on showing the Lord's love to our kids AND intentional in building trust and relationships, we will not be able to keep our kids out of our doors! They will know the community of the Church is different and the Love of the Lord is something to be longed for and desired. I'm praying this boldly and habitually for myself, for all of you and for any of those who are yearning for deepened faith and relationships in our community. Please, please check in with me and ask me how this prayer is being answered. I need accountability in all areas of my ministry but I'm asking you to partner alongside of me to pray this over our children. May these sweet kids who are engrained onto my heart be drenched and covered with prayer. Stay tuned in the next few weeks about how YOU can help pray for our kids by name! I'm so excited about all the new things that are going to be happening in the next few months in this ministry!

I am so thankful for all of you, for your kids, your devotion to our church and for you faithfully loving and supporting me as I'm walking through this brand new phase of my life! Never in 5 million years would I have imagined to be in Dalton, Georgia- but, the Lord has changed me from the inside out from being in this precious community. I'm overwhelmed by all of you who have come alongside of me to walk beside me and to support me all along this exciting walk. I'm overwhelmed, humbled and so, so grateful.