A Leader Who Shines....Connects with Holiness

Leadership Development, Leadership Wednesday
Feb 162011

“Inwardly cleansed, interiorly enlightened and inflamed by the fire of the Holy Spirit, may we be able to follow in the footsteps of your beloved Son.”

This prayer by a fellow saint, Saint Francis of Assisi, is quite arresting isn’t it?

If we consider St Francis’ prayer we see that there is a lot going on inside that enables us to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. In 1 Peter 1:15-16 Peter implores us in our calling and in the light of our redemption, ”just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Jesus likened trying to be holy from the outside to whitewashed tombs  – appearing to be holy & righteous but with nothing inside but dead bones (Matthew 23:27).

The Holman Bible Dictionary defines holiness as “a work of the Holy Spirit on the basis of Christ’s atonement that calls for obedient submission from those who have been saved.” We are holy because of our calling in Christ, because of His atonement for our sins, and because the Holy Spirit continues to minister to our spirits – doing a work in us to make us holy and not just a beautifully whitewashed tomb.

Inwardly cleansed – That’s where our pursuit for holiness starts. As Christ followers “you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11). While we are called to holiness, it isn’t something we have to or can do ourselves.

Interiorly enlightened – Paul prays this for the Ephesians – “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better… that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” There is illumination in knowing our Lord and the hope within us that sets us apart, leads us and empowers us to lead others to and in Christ.

Inflamed by the fire of the Holy Spirit – There is Stephen – full of the Holy Spirit, Paul – filled with the Holy Spirit, and Peter – while speaking, the Holy Spirit coming on all who were listening to his message (Acts 7,10 and 13). These are examples of the Holy Spirit’s “inflammation” of the power of God – examples of holiness in action. It was this same earnest desire and infilling that brought martyred missionary, Jim Elliot, to pray, “Saturate me with the oil of Thy Spirit, that I may be aflame. Make me Thy fuel O flame of God.”

No whitewashed tombs here.

Will you approach our Lord with such prayers desiring His holiness to ignite you to follow in His steps?

——————

Submitted by Cinky Jones. Make comments on this post here.

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Leadership Tips for the Uniquely Unqualified

Leadership Development, Leadership Wednesday
Feb 012011

Submitted by De’Etta Goecker, President Asia Region

I can relate to Moses.

“Really, God? ME lead your people to freedom?”  Moses argued, feeling uniquely unqualified.

God spoke clearly, answered his fears, and then told him , “Now GO! “ (Ex 4:12)

Moses, being a man of great moxy, argued some more.

God got angry, but also told Moses (contrary to the movie Prince of Egypt) Aaron would rejoice to see him. (Ex  4:14)

Fast forward  four thousand years to the time God impressed on me  to submit a Request for Consideration for Asia Region’s board.  I, like Moses, felt UNIQUELY UNQUALIFIED.   I was new to Japan, didn’t know anyone, didn’t have a clue how to build a team as I DIDN’T KNOW ANYONE IN ASIA….see a theme here?  Like Moses, I was looking at my life situation, and all the reasons I thought this was NOT a good idea. I know me fairly well.  I’ve come to know God better through stepping out in obedience.

Like Moses, I forgot all God had done behind the scenes to lead up to this moment.   Instead I focused on being UNIQUELY UNQUALIFIED.   I was mistaken to see myself as the lonely “new kid on the block”.  There have been many Aarons who have rejoiced to serve alongside me.  It is very possible for our focus on being “unqualified”  to blind us from the very ways God has “qualified” us to serve.

I  am able to lead only as I humbly make myself available to learn from mentors, as I recognize those God has placed around me to assist with the mission, and as I focus on HIM and what HE instructs me to do in the position.  I really am uniquely qualified for this job. I was CREATED for this job.  Eph 2:10  tells me I am “…His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that  I (we) should walk in them.”  HCSB   I believe leading in PWOC is one of the good, beneficial, useful, excellent works that God created me to walk in.  I would have missed this adventure if I’d continued to focus on how uniquely unqualified I was.

We are entering PWOC’s Leadership Selection Season. Would you pray about serving  on a local executive board?  If you believe serving would be not only a good thing, but a GOD THING for you, contact your local Leadership Selection chair. Don’t make her hunt you down and  beg….Asia’s W.I.L.D. will equip you with many tools, and we’ll rejoice to see you.

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The Virtual Pony Express

Leadership Development, Leadership Wednesday
Jan 262011

Submiited by Jennifer Cook, PWOCI 3VP Communications

On April 3, 1860, two horseback riders left simultaneously from Sacramento, CA and St. Joseph, MO on a trek that would change history. Eventually the Pony Express mail service would consist of eighty riders and approximately 400 horses, deliveringcommunication at amazing speed:  a message which previously would have been in transit for three weeks could now cross the 2,000 mile trail in a mere ten days.

Only 150 years has passed since those horseback days, but the speed of communication delivery has increased at a whirlwind pace.   The use of the telephone, television, internet, Facebook, Twitter, IM’ing, and email has decreased those ten days on horseback to almost near-real time communication between people, near or far.

As tech-savvy person, I have a great appreciation for the strides that have been made over the past century. With so many platforms to choose between, the PWOC Communications Team has an excellent opportunity to research choices and determine ways our ministry can make a memorable and life-changing impact through technology.  Our first step is to seek the Lord’s will and be led by His guidance. I rely on His words in the book of Isaiah 55: 8-9:

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither

are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways

higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

As work proceeds, we pray for the Lord’s direction and specifically for “His thoughts and ways” to supersede our own.  Our current focus is the PWOCI website at www.pwoc.org. We are hard at work behind the scenes completely redesigning the site. The website will debut a bright, new look, improved maneuverability and will continue to provide useful resources for all levels of PWOC. We ask for your prayers for this project and for our future projects.  Another of our planned projects is to develop a stronger video presence on Youtube to share encouraging messages from the International Board and content from you. Yes, you! Your testimonies, as PWOC women from around the world, will encourage, build up, and strengthen women in their daily, yet unique, military lives.

Like the Pony Express before us, PWOC Communications has the opportunity to trek across the virtual miles, quicker and more effectively than ever before. We ask for your prayers as we embark on this new trail.

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Don't miss the blessing

Leadership Development, Leadership Wednesday, Seasonal teaching
Dec 292010

Kristin Hathaway

Kristin Hathaway

But although the world was made through him, the world didn’t recognize him when he came. ~John 1:10

Have you ever asked God for something only to miss the answer? One time my mom was in a gift shop in Mississippi, looking for a gift for a friend. She wanted something that was “uniquely Mississippi.” As she was looking, a man came in selling fresh pecans. My mom said, “No, thank you” and continued to try to find the perfect gift.

As soon as the man left, it occurred to my mom that the man with the pecans was the answer to her prayers. Anyone who has ever been to Mississippi knows that pecans are definitely a “Mississippi” thing. God had sent the answer and she had missed it!

That is exactly what happened when Jesus came to this earth. For years, mankind had been asking for a Messiah; we desperately needed a savior. God sent THE answer, but we had our own ideas of what a “uniquely God” gift would be like, and we almost missed Him.

Don’t miss out because you have your own ideas of what God is going to do. Salvation is the best gift that Christ gave, but there are so many blessings that he wants to give you while you are here on earth. Ask for them; pray specifically. Most importantly, EXPECT him to answer.

Submitted by Kristen Hathaway, PWOCI Central Region President

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With Hope and Perseverance

Devotions, Leadership Development, Leadership Wednesday, Seasonal teaching
Dec 032010

Submitted by: Jane Ahl, Assistant Conference Coordinator

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with god though our Lord Jesus Christ.  Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulations produces perseverance; and perseverance, character and character, hope.  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God   has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

Romans 5:1-5

Since the beginning of time, the children of Israel have looked forward to, with hope and perseverance, the coming of the Messiah.  Prophets throughout the history of Israel spoke of his coming and what it would mean to the people.  So Hebrew Literature, Music and ceremonies all gave indication of the hope they had in the coming Messiah.

Today we are not unlike the children of Israel.  We face trials and tribulations like they did.  For me, I face the unknown of the next duty station.  The unknown of what war will bring to me as my husband and children go to serve their country.  Will my children grow up to be Godly people?  Will I be the women God has called me to be as a mother and a wife?   When our Christian character goes through hardship, hope of receiving what God has promised grows stronger.  We know that hope of great future blessings will not turn out to be false because the Holy Spirit gives lavish evidence in our hearts of God’s love for us.   Now in James, it tells us to count it all joy when we face trials and tribulations.  In Thessalonians,  it tells us that even persecution will come.  So we are to hold fast to the hope we have in Christ.

After Christ birth, Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the temple e to be blessed.   On the way they met Simian, who had always prayed and hoped to see the coming Messiah.  He saw in Jesus the true and only hope for this world, the true Messiah.  God answered Simian’s prayer by allowing him to see Jesus, the messiah of the world,  before he went on to be with God.

So as we celebrate Christmas this year, and we go through the advent season, let us always remind ourselves that our hope is only in Christ, that not money, politics, medicine or anything will deliver our soul from despair, confusion, hatred, jealousy and strife.   With Christ in our lives, and the power of the Holy Spirit working in us, our hope in Him will reign eternal.

May the Lord’s Glory reign in your lives not only in this Christmas season, but for eternity!

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Sharing Christ with the NEXT generation

Leadership Development, Leadership Wednesday, News & Announcements
Nov 242010

The Communications Team worked with a couple of professional companies, plus some inhouse photography and editing, to produce a magazine called PWOC Next. This first edition of PWOC Next is a way to share with the Megan and Michelle generation the identity and essence of Protestant Women of the Chapel.

Each conference attendee that came to Dallas received one copy to use as a reference and to share with a neighbor. More copies of this valuable publication may be printed off our website at http://www.pwoc.org/Magazine.html. Local and regional PWOCs can print these in an inexpensive way at their chapels or send them out to a professional printer. Please inquire at graphics@pwoc.org for professional files. Local PWOC presidents and chaplains (or regional) may also add their own greetings and messages on the back cover of the magazine as that will personalize their outreach approach.

A third way to receive this publicity project is to offer it digitally.  Maybe you have seen other magazines or newspapers in digital form online. This will help us connect with the generation of women that receive their news and other information in this format on a regular basis.

Again, the purpose of this project has been outreach and evangelism from the start.

I also see it as a valuable tool for connecting with our chaplains, especially at the local level in our chapels and at the Armed Forces Chaplaincy Center, Fort Jackson, SC.

Please be in prayer about the distribution of PWOC Next and about those who will be drawn by God’s Spirit into our chapels and PWOC because someone invited them to attend worship and Bible study! Is that someone YOU?

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Presidents Farewell

Leadership Development, Leadership Wednesday, President's Pen
Nov 032010

Dear Beloved of God,

In my final letter to you as PWOC International president, please allow me the opportunity to express my heart to you one last time.

In this role, I have seen God’s hand move in incredible ways within PWOC.  Throughout this journey, my desire has been to help us connect deeply with the heart of God and communicate our need to return to our first love, Jesus Christ, so that we could be free to fulfill His plan for our lives.  As I have spoken with many of you through emails, Facebook and at many PWOC events, I sensed that as a group of women, we are desiring more than just a religious experience inside four walls, we are desiring a true and deeper relationship with our Lord.  Perhaps it is due to the pressure of the almost ten years our nation has been fighting the war against terrorism.  Whatever the reason, God knows the season we are in and will work it together for our good and His kingdom purposes.

Over these past four years, I have had the honor to work with two incredible international boards.  I appreciate them so much for waiting on the Lord with me, for being passionate about hearing from the Lord in His assignment for us and for their willingness to go the distance needed in order to accomplish God’s vision for His ministry.  As I have told them before, I love hanging out under their “fruit trees”.  I have learned so much from each of them.

I would like to thank the following people for blessing me with their support in this term of office:  first, our official PWOC sponsor, US Army Chief of Chaplains, Chaplain Carver for his support of PWOC. Your example of being a worship “warrior” and having a heart like King David has encouraged me and has caused me to press in deeper with our Lord; Chaplain Puchy for being our PWOCI Chaplain through the thick and thin.  Your spiritual leadership encouraged each of us.  You are a vision caster, who has a true pastor’s heart.  The PWOCI Executive Board:  Lucia, Cinky and Melinda, you three are incredible women of God!  It has been an honor to be a part of this team with each of you.  We have seen the Lord weave His message of love for all of us in such amazing ways.  You have helped connect our hearts to those who know little to nothing about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, much less the ministry of PWOC.  Thank you for your support.  I will never forget our times of prayer in seeking God’s face for the ministry and the work we did together.  “Align, Arise & Shine” was truly a God breathed vision for the work our board would do together.

To the PWOC International Board (aka the Glory Train ministry team), each of you helped put His vision for us into motion.  It has been a great adventure and I believe we have all been stretched in our gifts, relationships and callings while on this board.  But more than that, I believe we have become God’s beautiful harmonious symphony sound that I have spoken about.  You have heard His sound and are singing His song.  It’s simply beautiful!

To the PWOCI Titus II Advisors, Becky Shirey and Rhonda Mixon and our prayer coordinator, Dawn Kennedy, you three have been instrumental in helping me through the thick and thin.  You are true prayer warriors and advisors who walk in the love and wisdom of God.  Thank you for holding me accountable, teaching me so much and holding up my arms.  I loved strategizing with each of you and processing the revelation and wisdom of God for this ministry.

Thank you to our eight regional presidents and boards and Europe’s area boards who have been our feet on the ground, connecting with our beautiful local PWOC women.  You have each been instrumental in pushing out the vision of PWOC International.  I love how you each have connected with one another as well.  Keep up the great work.  I know you will be a wonderful help and blessing to our new PWOC International president this upcoming year.

A special thank you to Dutch Sheets, Lee Grady, Cheryl Wright, Chaplain Doug Castle, Chaplain (Ret.) Lou Shirey and Valerie Bixler who have personally come to help equip and teach the PWOC International Board more things about the power of prayer, our intimacy with the Lord, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the presence of God, the fundamentals of understanding forgiveness and trusting God, all of which are crucial teachings in this season we are in.   Also, thank you to Dustin Britt, Blake Howard, the team at Matchstic and Jennifer Cook for their help in providing our refreshed graphic look and helping us to communicate who we are.  I would work with all of you again any time.  Thank you again to Jennifer Cook and Jodie Brickson for your help with our PWOCI themes.  God has gifted you both with incredible creativity and talent.  I would like to thank Erin Nonaka for managing our PWOCI blog, which posts daily words of encouragement for our women.  And Shellie Kelly for the many hours she worked with us from the Army Chief of Chaplains office. And speaking of the Army Chief of Chaplains Office, everyone who worked with us, Chaplain Robinson, Chaplain Warden, Chaplain Lees, Nina Joyner and many others, we couldn’t have done all that we do without you.  All these amazing people and many more have blessed the ministry of PWOC in so many ways.  May the work of your hands produce a harvest of much fruit in years to come.

Thank you to each of my personal prayer intercessors, those I knew and those I didn’t.  Each of you served as a crucial part of my ministry team.  Thank you for praying for my family and I over these past four years.  I knew you were praying.  Any additional prayers you want to send on our behalf as I transition into my new role would be equally appreciated.

Thank you PWOC women for the many ways you bless our chaplains, our chapel communities and the many women within PWOC.  I know that this ministry will continue to take the love and good news of Jesus Christ to many more people than it does now.  It is His desire that we fulfill His great commission.

I want to thank my family for all their prayers, sacrifice and support.  I love each of you so much.  To my wonderful husband, David, who is truly my treasured gift from God, thank you!  You are the love of my life and my knight in shining armor.  Thank you for the many ways you have blessed the women of PWOC by praying with me for them. Thank you for always listening and encouraging me along the way.  I could not have done this without you.  May the Lord bless you for your great sacrifice in this season of our lives.

And to my Lord, Jesus Christ, I love you more than I ever thought humanly possible. You have given me the greatest treasure of all, a heart that is free to love You, to dance with You, to sing to You and to share that love with Your people.  Oh, how you have rend my heart for You. May your sons and daughters be open and unhindered in allowing You to do the same for them, for if they do, I know they will not be disappointed.

Thank you for the honor and blessing of being able to serve you as the PWOC International president these past four years.  May the Lord call each of you into a deeper relationship with Him.  You can never exhaust the depths of His love for you.

“…Arise My Darling, My beautiful one and come with Me”.  Song of Songs 2:10, 14 NIV

To God Alone Be All the Glory

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The Leader Who Shines.....Connects with Rest

Leadership Development, Leadership Wednesday
Oct 202010

Submitted by Victoria Robinson

The most effective spiritual leaders lead with a heart that has found spiritual rest.  To do this PWOC leaders must be willing to examine their inner life.  This involves examining priorities and understanding what the “rest of God” means.

This rest is not about inactivity.  It is about a heart that is surrendered to God.   Ministry is an overflow of that rest.

According to Francis Frangipane: “The Hebrew word for rest was “nuach” and among other things it meant “to rest, remain, be quiet.”  It also indicated a “complete envelopment and thus permeation,” as in the spirit of Elijah “resting” on Elisha. God seeks a relationship where he can “completely envelop and thus permeate” every dimension of our lives; where He can tabernacle, remain and be quiet with us.”

Jesus modeled a life at rest with His Father.   He encourages us to receive this rest in Matthew 11:28-29:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

#1- Come to me

As leaders we need to have a lifestyle of “coming to Jesus.”

This takes intentionality and consistency. Choose a time of day, a place in your home and have everything ready to meet with the Lord. A bible and maybe a journal can help our focus.

#2 –all you who are weary and burdened

When leaders are asked; “How are you?” all too often the answer is “fine.  What if the Holy Spirit asks you the same question?  If you are weary and burdened you need to be honest before God so that He can take the weariness and burdens from us and exchange them for His peace and rest.

#3- and I will give you rest

Too many leaders have a misconception that God wants them to take on more responsibilities, but the goal of the Christian life is to become like Christ.  Once we understand this we can receive the rest He gives.

#4-Take my yoke upon you and learn of me and you will find rest for your souls.

We are to live a life of learning more about Jesus, and then we find His promised rest!

Rest is not inactivity but a surrendered heart.  It is a holy habit of spending time with God.  We are then able to hear from God and order our priorities.  This results in a life of physical, emotional and spiritual rest.

The hymn “Jesus I am resting, resting” helps us know our burdens are lifted and we are leaders made whole by the rest of God.

Jesus I am resting, resting
In the Joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.

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A Leader Who Shines....Connects with Eternity

Leadership Development, Leadership Wednesday
Oct 132010

Submitted by Brenda Pace, SE Titus II, W.I.L.D. Leadership Training Team


Here’s the BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front): Leadership is about people!

It’s not about programs, activities, or events; it’s about people.  And, the BLUF about people is: they are eternal!

A good leader will place her focus on what is most important. If the topic were how to lead well in business, the important focus would most probably be a core product. However, we are talking about leading women in the ministry of Protestant Women of the Chapel, and the important focus for this ministry is the value of an eternal soul.

Practically speaking, in women’s ministry we often include components that are fun to do or appealing to the eye. These things are welcome and valued, but they should all be linked to what is most important—the eternal component. I encourage you as you begin this new PWOC year to evaluate leadership accomplishments for their eternal value.

Ask questions like these that will help in the process of evaluating this goal throughout the year:

1) Have the women who attend PWOC been strengthened in their faith in God?

2) Have they been equipped to deal with things that would discourage and defeat them?

3) Have they been challenged to glorify God as their highest priority?

4) And, the most important question: have they accepted Christ as their Savior?

For no one can lay any foundation other than what is being laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, each builder’s work will be plainly seen, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test what kind of work each has done.

1 Corinthians 3:11-13 (NetBible)

In this passage Paul refers to the many things we do that are of temporal value, as opposed what we build upon the foundation of Christ. He makes the point that sometimes we do things that will simply burn and be gone. Those things that withstand the purifying fire from a temporal to an eternal transformation are the things of real value. These are the things we are to build into our lives and the lives of the women we lead.

_________

Submit comments or suggestions to leadershipdevelopment@pwoc.org

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Teaching, Developing and Involving Michelle

Leadership Development, Leadership Wednesday
Sep 292010

Last month we talked about a group of young women who we are spending our time and focus on within PWOC. Remember her? We’re calling her Megan.

Well, what happens a few years down the road, and Megan is now ready to give back to the Lord, pouring back into the ministry that has mentored her in God’s Word and meaningful relationships? Through the discipleship process of Lead, Teach, Develop and Involve, now we see Michelle coming into play.

Michelle is a young woman who has been recognized by the local Titus II or maybe the president or advisor as an emerging leader.  She and her family have now moved a few times with the military. She volunteers. She asks questions. She seeks out those who can help her grow spiritually. Her kids are school-age, and she is realizing her giftings and talents can be used to help other women. Where is Michelle’s place in PWOC? In the chapels? In the communities?

Michelle is ready for local leadership and may be someone who’s identified as being on track for regional leadership, either on a board, a team or as a trainer. She seeks out some of the more seasoned women as mentors and is a quick learner. She wants to be discipled and will soon be ready to take other women through discipleship as well.

Michelle is ready to be used of God.

Does this sound like you? Or someone you’ve seen in your PWOC?

PWOC International loves to lead women to Christ.

But once she comes to Christ, there is a necessity for discipleship.

Michelle’s our gal. She’s ready to be taught the Word of God.

She’s ready to discover and develop her spiritual gifts, leadership styles, personality traits, even wants to know if she’s a Beaver, Otter, Lion or Golden Retriever! And she really wants to know what to do with all of those labels!

Michelle is ready. She’s ready to be involved in the work of her chapel because of the life, light and love of Christ poured into her through PWOC.

Are you Michelle?

Are you currently mentoring Michelle?

Let’s get on board with PWOC’s aims of progressive discipleship and train up the next generation of leaders within this ministry, to the Glory of God!

————–

The 3VP – Communications update is published on the fourth Wednesday of each month. Submit comments or suggestions to communications@pwoc.org

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