If you are here to enter the She Speaks scholarship contest, please comment at the end of Wednesday's post.
I guess the beginning of the end of this story is kind of obvious. After some encouragement from my speaker evaluator at She Speaks, Charlene Kidd, I prayed and applied for the team. I'm continually amazed to be part of such a supportive and loving group of women.
Here's some things that I'd love to pass on from my years on the P31 team:
- Gather a team around you. You may not be part of a formal ministry, but everybody needs support. In addition to our P31 family, I have a prayer team of friends who pray for all of my speaking events. They are as important (or more!) than my part standing in front. Ministry is a blessing but can be hard. You'll need people who love and understand you to have your back.
- Find a place of "holy confidence". One of the writers in The Reason We Speak used this phrase, and I've come to love it. There was some part of my that embraced my insecurities as a sign of humility. I agonized over those insecurities for years. I've recently realized that so much of that was actually a form of pride. I was so focused on myself that I didn't embrace what God intended to do through me. I am now embracing confidence IN HIM that is bringing a new joy to ministry.
- Walk through the open doors. I'm not at a place yet that I have to turn down ministry opportunities because I'm so busy. Although it's important to pray for each opportunity, I'm trusting God (and I pray this) that each door that's presented is provided by Him. That means that I take opportunities that may not always "suit" me. For example, a local band director asked me to teach a group of his students about leadership. That's not usually my thing, and a group of teenagers actually scares me to death! I said "yes", though, and received a huge blessing and learning experience from teaching that group.
- Learn everything you can from others. Really listen to the sermons at church. Download podcasts and listen while you clean or exercise. Attend conferences. Watch videos. Read books. The most helpful book I've read on structuring my messages is Communicating for a Change by Andy Stanley. It has dramatically changed and improved the way I teach.
Our whole P31 team has been completely overwhelmed by the response to the She Speaks conference contest. Our hearts are joined with the longing that we hear in each comment. I'm praying this weekend that the right woman is randomly chosen but that God encourages each heart and provides supernaturally for many of you to come.
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6 comments:
Amy,
When I was struggling with God's calling in my life, my argument was I'm not equipt or qualified, and then I heard a wise lady speak, and she said, "God doesn't always call the qualified, but He always qualifies those He calls." That shuts me up every time.
It's good to know that others struggle with their calling too.
Thanks,
Kristy
I am so excited for the contest. I am not a speaker or writer but feel that God is calling me to speak for women that are going though a divorce. I was emailed Proverbs 31 about a yr. ago from a friend haven't missed reading one. Can't wait to read them each morning. They encourage me so much and most days I will see what each of the other ladies have written . I will be going to Haiti soon with my church I am so excited to be doing Gods work over there. I hope it is Gods will for me to attend your conference one day. Thanks Tara
My God has great plans for me and my family, it has been a desert walk for about 10 years but He has been so faithful taking me step by step in the direction He desires for my life. It was just impressed upon my heart in the last weeks about public speaking and been confirmed by God through someone else. I truly desire to share more of Him and less of me. Thank you for this awesome opportunity.
Barbara Martin
First of all thanks to all of the servant hearts at P31 Ministries. You are honest and encouraging and I hope to have the opportunity to meet you soon.
God has placed a strong desire in me to share His love, hope and faithfulness with others. Though I've faced, wrestled, and walked through many trials, I have this uncontainable JOY in my heart!! I'm ready to share if God's ready to use me!!!
Pamela
pamela.north@seahec.net
I'll just add my "ditto" to all that you said....
Being chosenfor the Cecil Murphy She Speaks scholarship would be an honor. I am a 44 yo woman, married for 22 yrs, mother of 4, major bread winner, employed full time outside the home & own a small business as well. People look at me and see a completed woman living a blessed life. They seek out my advice and compliment me on "doing such a great job". What they don't know about are the events in my first 22yrs that occurred that have made my into the woman I am today. Some things I was so shameful of that I didn't even share with my husband until we had been married for 10 yrs. The people that know even part of my testimony are shocked that me, Little Miss Homemaker with the great husband, beautiful children and such talent in so many areas could actually be the same women I have just finished telling them about. Some have asked me to share my story with their church or small group but I know the Lord wants me to share it with large multitudes of women. He has set aside the precise place & moment. Being chosen the receive the Cecil Murphy She Speaks scholarship would allow for me to receive the instruction do just that. Thank you ~ Kelly Cooke Psalm 40:2 & Psalm 37:23
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