Ministry Profile

My personality I am made in the image of God, displaying unique characteristics of who God is. I can feel emotions, have His understanding, and His wisdom. I’m a task oriented, type A personality. While I am generally led by the spirit, at times my flesh and soul take over. There are areas where my flesh and soul are not unified with God, and He is still working. God has given me a unique view of the world. I am opinionated, I have a strong personality and yet, I care deeply for others. God has tempered my personality of being a lion. I don’t mind taking a stand or standing alone. My outlook is generally positive, result oriented, and God-centered and people focused.

I need to continue surrendering my flesh to God, honoring Him with my temple. I need to surrender my insecurities and fear of failure, complacency and comfort to Him so that I can bear His image more clearly. I also need to allow others to love and help me, being vulnerable to ask when I need something.

My life story I’ve been called to teach and help others. From an early age, I was given a strong foundation in God’s Word and learned how to apply it to life. He taught me to use the Word to help meet the needs of others. I have always had a heart for worship, and making a joyful noise unto the Lord. In my teens, I learned about Holy Spirit being my guide and empowering me to fulfill God’s call on my life. In early adulthood, He taught me to use His word to stop foolish arguments when I was part of an online group of many denominations. He also taught me how seeking Him through His word and later about seeking Him in prayer. He has taught me He is my firm foundation. I thought all Christian therapists felt this, but I’ve learned that isn’t necessarily the case. My early foundation in His word, my experiences in life, my training and the unique person He made me to be has provided the platform of His calling on my life.

Call into ministry Although I have served a lot before, my first call into ministry was as a social worker. I started school with the idea of either law school or psychology. I took a social work class that fit into my schedule for electives. The values lined up with who God made me to be at my core and I never looked back. I love that the spiritual aspect is naturally part of my work, although the extent depends on the person in front of me.

The call to minister, although it’s possible I ignored it earlier as I wasn’t listening for a call, came later. I generally served in the church all my life that I’ve walked with Him. But that call came when I was in a prayer meeting. It was one of the earlier corporate prayer meetings I attended, but many pastors from the area were praying for revival. There were two things God spoke to me, although not audibly but very clearly. 1) God didn’t call the government or the nonprofits, He called the church to meet the needs of the lost and broken. 2) Before revival can take place there must be repentance. I spoke neither during the session. Instead praying boldly but silently. Afterwards, one of the church elders came and talked with me saying “you had something didn’t you?” As we talked, I shared openly. She confirmed the call of God on my life. She encouraged me to step out and embrace it instead of sitting back in uncomfortable silence. I began being more active in corporate prayer, teaching and learning on a deeper level.

I believe God has also called me to Native Nations in America. Although I am not sure what that looks like. When I learned we would be moving to New Mexico, a prophetic word was spoken that resonated with my spirit. I had never considered a ministry to nations before other than America.

I also feel like special events are something I’m called to help with and do. Part of my personality is to overextend myself. When I commit to things that happen long term, I find myself becoming easily overwhelmed and not enjoying the ministry. People are what my schedule is built around and people are unpredictable. Sometimes I find my schedule packed for a few weeks straight, and I am not designed to operate that way. However special events, even if they interfere with my calendar, I have the ability to pour into with 100% and then have time to recoup intentionally.

The Continuum of Spirituality I think it makes sense that our walks towards becoming a believer start before we accept Christ. I was in church six years before I accepted Christ as my Savior. It was another nine years before I received the baptism of Holy Spirit. Although I can see He guided and directed me before that.

The example given of the young man asking about Easter is a concern for the church in America. So many are deceived into thinking they know God when really they have just learned about Him. There is a lot of fellowship and not a lot of discipleship. Discipleship is something that is near and dear to my heart. I was in church many years before I understood that salvation was to go beyond a confession and that the Lord wanted a personal relationship with Him. Up until then, most of my relationship with Him was centered around the Church, not God. I feel we have to grow to know God more personally, to be more like Him and then to share Him with others.