Two years ago today, 276 girls were abducted by Boko Haran. Fifty-seven escaped, but from the rest ... silence. The world stood in horror. The Church prayed. The First Lady got involved. And we all cried out "Bring back our girls!" And the mothers are still crying. With gaping holes in their hearts they wonder if their girls have been raped, sold, wrapped in explosives and used to bring terror and death to others. A proof-of-life video has surfaced showing 15 of the girls. Two … [Read more...] about 6 Ways You Can Dare to Care
Property Rights and Other Practicalities of Real Life Parenting
When my kids were little, I said that if I ever wrote a book about parenting, this would be the title. I gave birth to six kids within seven years. Here they are. Aren't they the cutest? With this many "littles" around, I had days that I called "Moses Days" when it seemed like all I did was listen to the complaints one had against the other. Most of them revolved around property rights. "That's mine." "She took it." "I had it first." Even today with my precious … [Read more...] about Property Rights and Other Practicalities of Real Life Parenting
What Can a 49-Year Old Female Learn from a Young Guy Like This?
A whole lot. Several years ago I met with this young guy. Art Rainer is the VP of Institutional Advancement at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. I was doing contract work for a variety of nonprofits and unsure about my next steps. I got together with Art and shared my story, my passions, and my key vocational milestones. Art gave specific encouragement and laid out several possible scenarios. Several months later, we connected again. During those months, I had taken his counsel to … [Read more...] about What Can a 49-Year Old Female Learn from a Young Guy Like This?
Because the Children Need a Bridge to Hope
When I was in Zambia a couple of weeks ago, what I heard again and again is this. "Sexual abuse is real. Sexual exploitation is real. It is happening all around us." That's what our founder, Susan Vonolszewski, heard from orphan caregivers around the world and was the reason why five years ago she initiated the project we now know as Holding Esther. It was my joy to take Holding Esther to Zambia a couple of weeks ago. We trained 14 facilitators and they, in turn, led 88 participants … [Read more...] about Because the Children Need a Bridge to Hope
Reconnecting with the Marathon
Do you know what it's like to run a sprint so hard that when you cross the finish line all you can do is lay down in the dirt and look at the clouds? To pour yourself out and feel so good about what you've done, but feel the weariness in your bones? To wonder if the tired you feel is your new "normal?" That's where I've been. Zambia was AMAZING. And I have SO many beautiful stories to tell about healing, and hope, and the HEROES. Oh. My. Goodness. The HEROES. The women and men who came … [Read more...] about Reconnecting with the Marathon
Greetings from Zambia!
On Sunday our RiverCross Team had the opportunity to worship with the church of my friend Martha. I was honored to be invited to share with the congregation. So, enjoy this little clip. It's under 2:30 minutes! And includes a taste of the worship we experienced. We begin two days of training with twelve Zambian leaders today! And on Wednesday these leaders will equip around 70 caregivers of vulnerable children with best practices, trauma healing, and biblical principles. We would all … [Read more...] about Greetings from Zambia!