No Questions Asked
You would have thought he was in kindergarten: (Hand waving frantically) “Me! Me! Send me!”
Who was this eager emissary? The prophet Isaiah. His story is told in Isaiah 6.
He had just seen the glory of the Lord, fallen on his face bemoaning his unclean lips—and had those same lips seared by an angel with a hot coal! So when God (Father, Son and Spirit) remarked, “Who will go for us? Whom shall we send?” Isaiah was the first to volunteer.
I might not have been so quick to respond. I’m sure I would have had a few questions:
Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on February 2, 2010 | Comments (5)
Modern Mentorship
My cell phone buzzes while I fix my kids lunch:
“omg my prof is telling us bout why Christians are judgmentl and there are many paths to God should I say something?? pls pray for me to b bold”
This is a text message I received from one of my favorite people: a bright-eyed, skinny-jean-wearing college senior named Jes. I think of her as my babysitter. I recently learned through a friend that she thinks of me as her “number one mentor.”
This is modern mentorship?
Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on January 20, 2010 | Comments (9)
Learning Curves
If my life had a theme for 2009 it was this: Learning curves. Specifically, learning curves of the steep and tricky, zippy, herky-jerky type. Though this theme wouldn’t have occurred to me if it weren’t for the sales guy at the Apple store yesterday. I had gone because the screen of my current laptop is sporting a nice crack that allows me to see only the top two-thirds diagonal of the screen. And everyone and their mother seems to be telling me now is the right time to switch back to the Mac.
So, anyway, yesterday as I quizzed the sales guy on exactly why the Mac would transform my life as I know it, I leaned in to hear his wisdom above the buzz of the crowds. After pointing out various features and “cool stuff,” the poor guy just said the wrong thing to the wrong person at the wrong time: “The learning curve can be pretty steep for those coming from PC to Macs….”
Ach. My body tensed. My heart raced. The sales guy lost his sale. While normally I am big on learning and while normally I would not fear the week or two “transition” it would take for me to get used to a new operating system (and frankly, while normally I would doubt it would take me that long), I could not deal with another learning curve. Not this year.
Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on December 29, 2009 | Comments (4)
Unconditional Love
As Christians we’re commanded to love our neighbors, our enemies, and—as leaders—the people we’re called to lead and minister to. But what does this look like when we’re not exactly loved in return?
By definition, of course, godly, unconditional love doesn’t require love in return. I know that. God loved me first—long before I loved Him, when I was definitely living in my sins. And even after I responded to that love and accepted his gift of salvation, I haven’t always loved him well—you know, by obeying Him. But he has never quit loving me.
Parents learn this early. Even before a baby is born, they love her. And the moment they see her, they are head over heels in love. It’s a good thing. Because that baby demands everything and gives no love in return for the longest time. Fortunately they grow up and learn to love. Unfortunately, when they become teens, sometimes they break our hearts with words like, “Leave me alone! I hate you!”
Our son has been God’s gift to me to help me begin to comprehend what it means to love someone unconditionally. He came to our family just before he turned 10, from a very difficult early childhood.
Continue reading...Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on December 12, 2009 | Comments (1)
Jesus in the World of Worthless Daughters
“Thank you, Mother, for raising a worthless daughter.”
These words , part of a lament of a bride going to meet her husband for the first time, summed up the experience of women in China in the 1800’s, according to Snow Flower and the Secret Fan. In this book Lisa See brings to light the reality of life for a female in that society: No value, no rights, raised for a husband’s family, enduring the years of footbinding torture and subsequent crippling, totally dependent on the desires of her parents/brothers/husband/mother-in-law. She had no purpose—except to bear a son—and no hope.
These words, sadly, have been echoed across countless generations and cultures. In many places a woman has a place in life only if she becomes the mother of a son. In some African nations female genital cutting is still practiced, creating unimagined agony for preteen girls and sentencing them to a lifetime of pain. In Southeast Asia and many other places children are sold—often by their poverty-stricken parents—as sex slaves.
In Half the Sky, Pulitzer Prize winning authors Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn horrify us with statistics like this:
Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on November 24, 2009 | Comments (13)
Re-Thinking Conflict
“If you had a whole day free what would you do?”
The question came to me in a small group setting, and the answer came immediately to mind: “I’d go somewhere beautiful to sit and think.” You see, I’m addicted to thinking.
Though I can’t go somewhere beautiful for the day right now I have been thinking. Thinking about conflict. I’ve googled for the definition, for quotes, and for concepts. I’ve asked people what comes to mind when they hear the term and interestingly enough there are a lot of different answers.
One insight recently came when I noticed the words combined with conflict like “manage,” “avoid,” “quickly resolve.” I bring this up because all writers and readers know that conflict is essential to the plot when you talk about story. Without conflict there’s no plot, no movement, and nothing interesting in the story.
But I don’t typically think that way about the story of my life or the plotline of my leadership. I’ve tended to spend large amounts of energy managing, avoiding, and quickly getting rid of conflict.
Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on November 17, 2009 | Comments (6)
Women: Mission Critical
Each of us wants to believe that we matter. That we have something to offer. That our contributions to building God’s kingdom are needed and valuable.
But as I travel the world speaking to women in ministry, I have found a substantial obstacle to seeing that happen. One might think the biggest barrier would be convincing men that women are needed for this assignment, but that’s not the most difficult challenge.
A greater challenge seems to be opening the eyes of women to see that we are mission critical. That the task of Kingdom building will not happen unless every daughter of God is prepared and equipped and given opportunity to make her best contribution to the mission at each season of her life.
Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on October 20, 2009 | Comments (10)
Get Ready!
At a multi-generation women’s conference in Alaska where I was about to speak, an older woman leaned over and whispered in the ear of the young girl sitting next to her, “Get ready!”
The young girl’s eyes widened. “Why? Where are we going?”
The reply? “To the edge of your chair!”
No one ever whispered those words in my ear, but several years ago, quite unexpectedly I found myself on the edge of my chair too. I was listening to an academic lecture on the Old Testament Book of Ruth. The need for a warning, in both cases, was warranted—not to brace us for a nail-biting cliffhanger, but to alert us that what we were about to hear would forever change how we view ourselves and our mission in this world. We were about to be called into the big story God is weaving, in a bigger way than we ever imagined.
For generations the church has tended to look at the women in the Bible through the wrong end of the telescope. Guided by the assumption that God does his most important kingdom work through men, we’ve seen women’s lives in a diminished perspective and, as a result, our own lives have appeared smaller too.
Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on September 29, 2009 | Comments (3)
Displaying God's Splendor
I am a Texan through and through. It has for years been my dream to move back to Texas, but I’m pretty sure that will never happen.
So I decided to bring Texas to Florida—to my family room. I have acquired several genuine Texas items, including an old tin Texas flag, bluebonnet coasters, a wild horse sculpture, a lone star paperweight and many others.
But I needed a just right piece to go above our fireplace. I found it when I was in Galveston with my mother and sisters. On the wall of a fabulous art gallery was an awesome G. Harvey painting called “Turning the Lead.” It portrays a dark and stormy night; the moon is breaking through the clouds, reflecting in the puddles on the red dirt. Two weathered cowboys are attempting to turn the lead steer and thus stop the stampeding herd of longhorns.
I ordered a print, and when it came, I spent hours picking out just the right frame and matting for the picture and for our home. The mottled rust colored frame picked up the red dirt. The beige, suede matting provided lightness and texture. Both were perfect for displaying the beauty of the painting.
Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on August 14, 2009 | Comments (0)
What God Can Do with Your Whole Life
The boy hesitated as Andrew pushed him toward Jesus. "Sir, I have only a small lunch, five loaves and two fish, but if this could help feed some of the people, you can have it." I'm sure Jesus smiled and said, "Thank you. I think this is exactly what I need."
The boy watched in awe as, with that small lunch, Jesus fed more than 5,000, with lots of leftovers.
"Wow," the boy responded. "If he can do that with my lunch, I wonder what he could do with my whole life!"
Each of us could wonder the same thing: What if I give him my whole life?!?
Continue reading...Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on July 14, 2009 | Comments (11)
Praying for Our Prodigals
Satan plays dirty. Really dirty.
He is so clever at finding our weak spots, to trip us up as we walk the paths God has for us. He whispers not-so-sweet nothings in our ears. He beguiles us with our best temptations. He spray paints the nearby grass a beautiful shade of green. He tells us we deserve the best. But we have grown strong and mature in the Spirit and we keep hanging on to God--and we don't succumb.
That's when Satan takes the gloves off. He goes after our children. If he can't cause us to stumble, he attacks those we love so much. He whispers and beguiles and spray paints lots of greener grass, laying his traps for our vulnerable loved ones.
Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on May 22, 2009 | Comments (4)
The Silent Retreat
I have a hard time "unplugging." My morning starts with a sleepy-eyed click on email, and most nights I turn in only after checking Facebook. Yet recently it seems God is calling me to spend time plugged in to him - only him.
Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love, throws down this challenge: "In our crazy world, silence and stillness are two of the true remaining luxuries. You have to work hard to create those sacred pockets of stillness for yourself." The impetus for her yearlong journey of self-discovery was a divorce and ensuing depression: "More than anything, I needed peace. And modern life, for all its conveniences and all its opportunities, doesn't offer that. We almost have too many options."
Last summer some friends and I read Ruth Haley Barton's Sacred Rhythms, which echoed Gilbert's findings. Barton invited us to "unplug" using the ancient spiritual practice of solitude. As a self-imposed assignment, we attended a silent weekend at Montserrat Jesuit Retreat House—a bold feat for three women addicted to technology. The retreat center has a "no electronics allowed" policy.
Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on April 17, 2009 | Comments (8)
8 Ways To Connect with Us
Did you know that Gifted for Leadership has several ways for you to connect with other women just like you? You can also easily keep up with what's happening on the blog. Don't worry; the purpose here is not to overwhelm you with more stuff to stay on top of. Instead, the goal is to offer you a variety of ways to join the conversation ? you can pick whatever fits best into your life and the routines you already have going. Here's a summary of ways to stay in touch:
1. The Blog. (Duh.) As always, we welcome your comments on blog posts.
2. RSS Feeds. Do you see the "RSS Feeds" link and logo in the upper-right-hand side of this website? If you click that, you'll see a list of the most recent blog posts and a few sentences of each one. You can subscribe to receive this list (called a "feed"). This is great if you follow several blogs and want to stay up on their latest content without actually visiting each blog.
3. Facebook. Over 175 million people are active on Facebook worldwide. We have a group where you can connect and discuss with others through a discussion board, pictures and video, and posted stories. There's also a Facebook event page for the Synergy Conference here.
Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on March 27, 2009 | Comments (2)
Live from Synergy 2009--Day 3
Well, Synergy 2009 is officially over, and we have to say we?re overwhelmed. Overwhelmed with the life-changing messages we heard this weekend, with the blessing of being surrounded by so many gifted women leaders, by the incredible calling God has placed on his people, and by the tremendous potential of what women can accomplish in responding to that calling.
Wow. So how do we summarize the experience? Well, maybe it will help to share a few of our favorite quotes from the plenary speakers at this year?s event:
On relationships between men and women: "What do people think about God
when they see how we relate to one another?" —Carolyn Custis James
On using gifts: "When women are not using gifts to the fullest extent, the
Kingdom of God suffers." —Alice Matthews
Posted by Amy Simpson on March 8, 2009 | Comments (8)
Live from Synergy 2009--Day 2
I wish it were possible to wrap up the thrill of a full day at Synergy in one blog post. But since that's impossible, I just wanted to share something from this morning's plenary session where GFL Editorial Advisor Dr. Lauren Winner gave a wonderfully entertaining and engaging talk on "The Perils and Promises of Being a Woman in Ministry."
Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on March 7, 2009 | Comments (3)
Live from Synergy 2009
Here we are at Synergy 2009, and as in previous years, this promises to be a weekend of rich encouragement, challenge, and connection. This year's theme is "The Blessed Alliance," focused on the healthy, productive, God-ordained partnership relationships between men and women in his service. What a refreshing conversation!
In this evening's opening plenary session, we heard from featured speaker Dr. Alice Palmer Mathews. She discussed the biblical basis for the Blessed Alliance and challenged us to see partnership with our Christian brothers as a biblical mandate, necessary for body of Christ to function as it should.
Posted by Amy Simpson on March 6, 2009 | Comments (1)
Lunching with the 'Blessed Alliance'
It's lunchtime at my local Panera. I'm here slurping French onion soup and conducting a sociological experiment at this popular lunch spot for the business set. Okay, so maybe it's more "eavesdropping on the people around me while my husband wraps up his phone call" than a scientific experiment, but still. I'm noticing something interesting: the differences in the way men and women do business lunches.
Two tables over we've got two men. Their lunch trays are pushed to the side, and they've each got their legal tablets out in front of them. The older one is talking ("Here's what you need to do?.") as his fancy-looking pen flies across his tablet - drawing diagrams, underlining words, and doubling back to circle something he said earlier. It's amusing because it could not be a more stereotypic picture of the Way Men Do Business Lunches if I pulled it out of my brain.
Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on February 27, 2009 | Comments (4)
Going Where God Wants You to Go
My grandsons, Carter and Aidan, are growing up in their young years with a surprising truth: Grandmothers drive red convertibles. Really - both of their grandmothers drive red convertibles. Mine is an awesome Mustang, and the other grandma drives a red VW bug convertible.
So why a red convertible? I've had several people ask me, "Aren't you a little old for a mid-life crisis?" But this isn't a crisis at all. It is a statement about the future. Over the years I have driven sedans, stations wagons, vans - all big and rarely a color I would prefer. Now my kids are grown and I don't have to be sensible in my car size. I love red and I love sporty and I love wind in my hair.
But my car reflects a much more important message to me. So often when women - mothers - finish their primary parenting responsibilities (we know they don't really end), and their bodies begin to betray them some, they think it is time to relax, take it easy, put their feet up. I think the opposite is true: It is time to put on my running shoes (or hop in my Mustang) and see where God wants me to go.
Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on February 13, 2009 | Comments (12)
Seeking More of God
The theme of my life and ministry seems to be MORE! That is, God has more for each of us. I can go way back in my walk with God to see his more.
Since I was eight years old I had wanted to be a writer and then a magazine editor. When I joined Campus Crusade for Christ staff, I gave up that dream - wanting God's will more than my dream. Two months later I was asked to begin working on Collegiate Challenge magazine. That began fourteen years of writing and magazine editing - for God and his kingdom. What he had planned, and the eternal value of it, was so much more than I had dreamed.
Or I can go to the past few weeks. The primary focus of my ministry has been our staff women. I love encouraging them and challenging them to believe God for more. But sometimes I miss working with young believers. Lately, not only have I had the privilege of watching my new sister in Christ, my daughter-in-law, Brandon, learn and grow, but my husband Steve and I are helping to plant a church primarily for college students and recent graduates. Every Sunday evening I am talking to another young woman about knowing and trusting God. God has more than I was expecting!
Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on January 30, 2009 | Comments (11)
Supporting the Surge
As I glanced over the last Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) alumni newsletter, my eye caught the announcement that the seminary had reached a significant milestone: 1,500 female alumni on their roster. As one of the first women to set foot on the DTS campus as a student, I admit my heart skipped a beat when I saw that number. The fact that DTS was celebrating this was even more satisfying.
Rock on DTS!
Here are more encouraging statistics: The latest Association of Theological Seminaries study (2007-08) reported 34% of seminary students are women. Interestingly enough, the same report indicates a significant rise in the numbers of women students between the ages of 40-64 - underscoring the happy notion that it's never too late to get started! Furthermore, women now comprise 23% of fulltime seminary faculty.
This growing trend is one of the biggest success stories of the modern church, and we should be making a lot of noise about it. I know there are still some who question (or flat out oppose) the decision to offer theological education to women and still some seminaries that refuse to admit them. Opinions divide over how far women can go with their theological training and whether or not seminaries are capitulating to the culture (and more specifically to feminist influence) by opening their doors to women. But there is strong biblical warrant for what is happening.
Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on January 27, 2009 | Comments (10)
Continuing Our Journey
All of us at Gifted for Leadership are so grateful so many of you participated in our Devotional Journey! We hope it's been a great one for you.
I hope you've been as encouraged and challenged and as blessed as I was. One of my favorite things about this journey was that we took it together - in community, even if it was virtual. I loved that we got to share our stories and insights together. This community and togetherness is really what drives the Gifted for Leadership team.
Our desire is to provide a place for Christian women in leadership to voice their frustrations and triumphs as well as to find encouragement and resources to help you in your leadership. Those resources include this blog as well as other downloadable resources. We WISH we could offer them all for free as we did with this devotional, but as a not-for-profit ministry, we rely on the sales of these downloads to support our ministry (and since most downloads are $9.95 and you can make copies for up to 1,000 people, this is quite a bargain!).
Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on January 21, 2009 | Comments (1)
New Year Expectations
In this space a year-and-a-half ago, I wrote about lowering our expectations - which, according to some, is the key to happiness. While I don't believe that happiness should ever be an end-goal in and of itself, since I first wrote about that - and tried to put the whole lowering of expectations thing into practice - I've actually seen some payoff.
But this is the time of year I have a hard time lowering expectations. After the "Christmas come-down," I always get antsy for the New Year, for yet another fresh start, for another go at my life. And I always get excited about what the year ahead may bring.
This year in particular, I've got some exciting things ahead: My first book, Mama's Got a Fake I.D.: How to Reveal the Real You Under All That Mom comes out March 17. My friend (and fellow GFL contributor) Carla Barnhill and I continue to grow our Mommy Revolution with great discussion and author interviews on our blog - and will even be guests on Moody Radio's Midday Connection on January 13 to talk about our fledgling Revolution. But that's not all I'm excited about.
Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on December 30, 2008 | Comments (1)
Brushes or Swords?
My friend and I sat on my patio, drinking tea and catching up with life. She had just moved to a new situation, away from familiar work, beautiful spaces and valued friends, and she was experiencing the exhausting emptiness of a job that was too full, a context where she felt undervalued and a place where friends were not naturally found. The tears filled her eyes as she spoke of her weariness, her disillusionment, and her anger. My friend is a fighter: she wants to right wrongs for herself and others, she wants to demand a human pace and human respect. She wants to know and be known. And she has been fighting hard for what she wants.
After the first cup of tea, I offered her this observation from Dorothy Sayers. "Life is not a problem to be solved, but a medium for creation." And I suggested, "Perhaps it is time to drop your sword and pick up your paint brush."
And we were off, exploring the internal battles that we so often fight with others even when they never experience the swordplay in our souls.
Continue reading...Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on November 21, 2008 | Comments (6)
The Woman Who Got It Right
Editor's note: Dr. Sue Edwards is one of the amazing women we met at Gifted for Leadership's Synergy conference last year. Hope to meet you there this March!
I'm one of three full time women on the faculty at Dallas Theological Seminary and during our weekly faculty meeting, I sometimes struggle to find my voice. I want to be like the woman in Mark 7:24-30 who found middle ground between silence and aggression. Her little daughter needed healing, and even though she was a Gentile, she was not afraid to tell Jesus exactly what she needed.
Jesus traveled to Tyre and did not want anyone to know he was there; yet he could not keep his presence secret. In fact, as soon as she heard about him, she fell at his feet, begging him to heal her child (Mark 7:24?26). However, he was not there to minister publicly but to secure private time to instruct his disciples - so he denied her request. Perhaps Jesus did not appreciate the interruption.
In ministry, we often find we must go to male leaders for what we need. For a variety of reasons, sometimes these men are not receptive. Back in the nineties, I served as volunteer director of women's ministries in a megachurch. I was at the mercy of the male pastors for resources. But I had not yet found my voice, so during the few meetings with the senior pastor, I clammed up and did not express my needs well.
Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on October 17, 2008 | Comments (1)
Recovering the Blessed Alliance
"It's awkward and uncomfortable - like a three-legged race. I'll have to learn to walk all over again."
I nearly fell out of my chair! Frank managed an uneasy smile. We were drinking coffee with a young friend who, in an unguarded moment, was talking with disturbing pessimism about his impending marriage. Neither Frank nor I thought of marriage as a three-legged race. For us it was more like a sprint. Astonishment turned to sadness over this young man's dismally low expectations of what a male/female relationship might promise.
Happily, not every prospective groom shares this gloomy perspective. However, his attitude points to a reality that not only characterizes a lot of Christian marriages, it spills over into working relationships between women and men in other venues. Even in Christian circles - even on ministry leadership teams - we joke uneasily about the "battle of the sexes" because, truth be told, even here relationships between the sexes can be as awkward and cumbersome as a three-legged race - or worse.
Whatever happened to the sure-footed alliance the Bible envisions?
Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on September 16, 2008 | Comments (9)
Needy People
Several years ago, I had a conversation with a woman whose grown children lived all over the country - or even the globe, I think. When I asked her if that was hard for her to be so far away, she said, "Not really. I guess I don't really like being needed."
At the time - as a new mom with one baby boy - this kind of appalled me. I mean, what kind of mom would miss being needed? Fast forward several years and a couple more kids, and I see where she was coming from. Never more clearly than these past first few weeks of summer. The weather's been beautiful and my kids and I have had a lot of fun, but the "neediness" of my kids has hit record levels. I swear I get "Mom, can you??" and "Mom, where's my?.?" and "Mom, help me find?." flying at me from three directions nonstop for what seems like all day - and a long day, that can be. If you have kids, I'm sure you've been there.
But what days like this tell me is that I - like the woman from a few years back - am not that much of a fan of being needed myself.
Continue reading...Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on June 20, 2008 | Comments (3)
Live from Synergy 2008: Who We Really Are
Fear not.
That was one message in today's final plenary session. And it was one overarching message of the entire Synergy conference. As humans, we tend to be afraid, to fear life's battles and even our own gifts. And as women, many of us practice fear our whole lives. But as women made in the image of God, created to fight the lifelong battle of the ezer, we need not - and must not - live in fear.
So how do we let go of the fears that bind us and keep us from fulfilling God's calling? We remember the God who created us and who he has made us to be. And we find our strength in him.
This morning, Carolyn Custis James reminded us of the ways we usually identify ourselves and introduce ourselves to others. We talk about our friends, our husbands, our jobs, our children, our homes. All important, to be sure. But all fragile. All can be taken away - as the lives of Naomi and Ruth demonstrate. Our value and identities come not from the roles we play or the people who surround us. Our identity as ezers - God's image bearers and indispensable warriors - can never be taken away. It's with us from birth. That's who we really are.
Posted by Amy Simpson on April 13, 2008 | Comments (3)
Live from Synergy 2008: Emotional Responses from Thinking Women
As I got ready for the final plenary session this morning, I had "chokey moment" - you know; where you get that catch in your throat and feel tears building a bit behind your eyes. I initially thought it was because I was going to see my kids this afternoon and just realized how much I had missed them. But then I remembered: This wasn't the first time I'd welled up over the weekend here at Synergy. And I'm not a crier.
At Friday night's opening session, I misted up during Carolyn Custis James's talk, "Inhabiting Your Story," as she walked us through Naomi's powerful story and opened my eyes and heart to God's love and redeeming power in ways I had never seen. I did it again during Leigh McLeroy's Saturday morning talk on the ways God can use brokenness for his story - and ours - and how we need to learn to "struggle well." Wow. That got me.
And I wasn't the only one I saw getting a bit weepy this weekend. Another woman cried while sharing her exhaustion and her fear of burnout leading a non-for-profit; yet another got choked up sharing her experience - and frustrations - in women's ministry.
Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on April 13, 2008 | Comments (5)
Live from Synergy 2008: What Is the Future of Women’s Ministry?
When I first read Amy Simpson's blog post Why I Don't Do Women's Ministry a short while back, I remember giving an enthusiastic fist-pump toward my computer monitor. "Yeah," I said, "Why do we always call it a luncheon instead of just lunch?" More than just noon-meal terminology, Amy's words resonated with me because, like many of you, I feel out of place in traditional "women's" ministries. And with only 10 short months of marriage to my credit, I've come to realize that this extends to ministries to wives or married couples as well. As a person who loves the Lord and wants to be involved with his church, these aversions sometimes make me feel abnormal, guilty, or petty, as if I don't have the right to find fault with what someone else had diligently planned for me. Thankfully, Amy summarized my feelings exactly and I realized I wasn't alone. Her comments responded to what many of us associate with typical women's ministry: home parties, dubiously-named luncheons, or crafts.
Maybe this sensitivity is why I gravitated so quickly to the theme of the Synergy workshop I attended this morning called "What Is the Future of Women's Ministry?" Our group was diverse in ethnicity, age, profession, and family status. The panel discussion aimed to discuss about five questions on the subject of the future of women's ministry, but our dynamic group only made it through the first and most fundamental: what is women's ministry? In other words, what do we mean when we use that term? And how does that inform how we think about our hopes and expectations of this concept?
Continue reading...Posted by Roxanne Wieman on April 12, 2008 | Comments (6)
Live from Synergy 2008: The Return of the Ezer
Synergy 2008 is off to quite a start!
First off, let me just say: it's so wonderfully warm here. Sunny and warm and humid?and there are flowers. Spring has been late in coming to Chicago (or at least that's how it feels to me), so I'm loving this!
Now on to the good stuff. Last night, Carolyn Custis James wowed us all during the first plenary session of the conference. She reminded us of our roles as ezers ? the word used to describe females in Genesis 2: 18: "The Lord God said, ?It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper (ezer) suitable for him.'"
But ezer does not simply mean helper?or not in the simple way we might define helper anyway. We were not made simply to help men clean up after themselves or to do the stuff they don't want to do. Ezer signifies a partnership beyond mere conveniences or even simple reproductive purposes. Ezer is not a word to be taken lightly; nor is it a word used solely (or even primarily) for women. Ezer is more often used in the Bible to describe God as Israel's helper. Or sometimes to describe Israel's war allies. This is a powerful word embodying so much more than our English "helper" would have us believe. Ezer: (pronounced azer with a long a, as in razor) is a powerful Hebrew military word. And yet it's the word God chose to twice describe the woman he created. This is not the image of a helpmate; this is the image of a compatriot, a fellow warrior in an all-important battle.
Continue reading...Posted by Roxanne Wieman on April 12, 2008 | Comments (4)
Just Like Summer Camp…Well, Sort of
When I was growing up, I went to Bible camp every summer. Going to camp was one of the absolute highlights of my year. It was right up there with Christmas, my birthday, the last day of school, and the first snowfall.
So what made camp so great? Well, it wasn't the activities. I could enjoy many of those things at home. It wasn't the sleeping accommodations - sleeping bags and 3-inch-thick noisy mattresses are a novelty for only a few nights. The food was?well, it was camp food. And I'm not crazy about marshmallows.
Posted by Amy Simpson on March 25, 2008 | Comments (4)
Savoring Synergy
If you want to go fast, go alone.
If you want to go far, go together.
- African Proverb
Several years ago, when I was facing major surgery, I learned just how alone a person can feel and also what it means to have someone come alongside you.
At the time, I was an employee of the hospital where I was now an anxious patient. When I awoke the morning of my surgery, both my husband and my boss (an amazing woman who was also to me both a mentor and a friend) were there for me. As I was wheeled up to the surgical suite, I had an IV on one side and my friend on the other. Her hand was gently resting on my shoulder pumping courage into me.
There's more than a little truth in the African proverb that we need one another to go the distance in the battles God puts in our path.
Posted by Caryn Rivadeneira on March 16, 2008 | Comments (2)
Synergy 2008 Conference
Friday-Sunday, April 11-13, 2008
Crowne Plaza Hotel - Orlando Airport
Orlando, Florida
Register
FINDING YOUR PLACE IN THE STORY: The Return of the Ezer
? This conference is the starting place for teaching and painting the picture of the ezer.
? The message: "God has created you as an ezer."
? God created a perfect plan, addressing creation and the fall.
KEY SPEAKERS:
Carolyn Custis James
Leigh McLeroy
Reggie Kidd
Rebecca Guillory Gilmer
Posted by Roxanne Wieman on March 13, 2008 | Comments (2)
Synergy 2008 Workshop Tracks
We are confident the workshops will be a high point of your conference experience. We offer three workshop tracks that will run concurrently during three different sessions on Saturday; check our Schedule for the exact times. These cutting-edge, forward-thinking, interactive workshops will be 1.5 hours each. Click here for full details.
You will have an opportunity to register for the three workshops you want to attend at Registration and also before the conference.
WORKSHOP TRACKS
Academic
Leadership Interests
Writing
Posted by Roxanne Wieman on March 6, 2008 | Comments (0)
Synergy 2008 Registration Information
Single Registration: US $195
Team Rate: US $175 per person - minimum 5 people
To register, click on this link: Online Registration
You will be re-directed to the Campus Crusade Conference Registration Tool where you will be required to set up a Login Profile with a password before you can proceed to register.
Posted by Roxanne Wieman on March 5, 2008 | Comments (0)
Synergy: The Vision
As an organization, Synergy is committed to the following...
VISION
To see women wholeheartedly following Christ and partnering with their Christian brothers and each other to build His Kingdom.
MISSION
To connect, equip, and encourage women in vocational ministry to be effective leaders and laborers for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Posted by Roxanne Wieman on March 4, 2008 | Comments (0)
Why I Like Conferences
I'm headed to a conference today ? thankfully, one in a much warmer climate than the near zero temperatures of Chicago right now.
I'm usually a fan of conferences. I enjoy the opportunity to hear great speakers, share insights with comrades in the field, and get inspired for another season of ministry.
With the 2008 conference season underway, I thought I'd put together a little top 10 list - the Top 10 Reasons I Like Conferences?
10. A hotel room - no laundry, no mess, no cooking!
9. Round tables - I love conferences that invite you to talk with other attendees. It always seems like the best encouragement and the most practical ideas come from round table discussions.
8. Worship - it's exhilarating to praise God amidst a body of believers devoted to a similar calling and ministry focus.
Posted by Roxanne Wieman on February 19, 2008 | Comments (4)
Synergy 2007 Wrap-Up
In my experience at Synergy 2007, my most significant impression has been a sense of awe at how much variety is in the body of Christ, how many ways God is speaking and working through women. The women at this conference have traveled so many different paths; for some of us these paths have taken us all over the world. God has called us to different ministries and given us different passions. And yet through the mysterious work of the Holy Spirit and the fellowship we have in Jesus, he makes us one body - the ultimate in synergy.
While I've been here, I've had the privilege of getting to know and hearing from some remarkable women.
Continue reading...Posted by Amy Simpson on April 15, 2007 | Comments (3)
Synergy 2007 Update
Saturday at Synergy 2007 has been a pleasure. I continue to be impressed with the group of women who have found their way to this event . Like Gifted for Leadership, Synergy is a community of gifted women who represent great potential for powerful ministry in the name of Christ.
In our plenary session this morning, we heard again from Dr. Alice Mathews. She talked about "synergy" - what it means and why it's important. Basically, to achieve synergy, you must have all the parts of a whole present and engaged and working together in unity. This certainly is true for the church. Synergy, she pointed out, is essential for our work of spreading the gospel.
Dr. Mathews focused especially on the importance of a specific synergy in our lives: synergy among Christ, the Living Word, and the Bible, God's written word. She challenged us as leaders to carefully handle the Word of God (2 Timothy 2:15).
Continue reading...Posted by Amy Simpson on April 14, 2007 | Comments (0)
Synergy 2007
Here I am at Synergy 2007 in Orlando. In a previous post, I mentioned this networking event, whose purpose is to connect women who are preparing for and serving in vocational ministry. This event is organized and sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ, The Impact Movement, Reformed Theological Seminary, and WhitbyForum.
I'm excited and privileged to be at this event. The room was full of gifted women--who represent so much life-changing ministry happening throughout the world. The session was challenging and inspiring. God is obviously at work!
Tonight, in the opening plenary session, we enjoyed a time of "speed networking," getting to know a little bit about other women and exchanging information so that we can resume our conversations later on.
We also we heard from Dr. Alice Mathews, who challenged us to be faithful in responding to God's call by using the gifts he has given us. She raised an interesting question: When women neglect their gifts, failing to develop and use the leadership gifts God has given them, are they sinning?
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this.
Posted by Amy Simpson on April 13, 2007 | Comments (3)
