A Mom (and Her Kids!) On a Mission

Tell me a little about yourself!
Here's a little bit about me: http://mamaof2greatkids.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html

What makes you a Missional Mom?

One thing that my husband and I feel strongly about is that our kids have thankful hearts. We feel that merely saying, “I am thankful.” or “Thank you, God!” is not enough. We need to, as Christ-followers, express our thanksgiving to Him by pouring out and living it out.

One way to do that is to intentionally and tangibly be involved in local and global compassion initiatives, giving ourselves away in Jesus’ name to people who are the last, the least, the forgotten and the forsaken in our society!

Read more here: My Missional Mom story.

 

From One Study, Many Missional Moms Emerge!

Tell me a little about yourself!
I am a Christ-follower and mother of three beautiful children - 6, 4, and 2. I just finished leading a study at my church on Helen's book. What a powerful experience!

What makes you a Missional Mom?

I just finished up a study on The Missional Mom and WOW did God move! It’s the first Bible study I’ve led at this church, and I had no idea what to expect. I had six women, and we went on a phenomenal journey together! The book, along with the movement of the Holy Spirit, really spoke into the lives of these women. We watched one woman make a commitment to Christ and were all witnesses to her baptism a few weeks ago…another woman submitted an application to Safe Families (www.safe-families.org) when she finally felt God speak to her after years of prayer. Another woman made brown bags and passed them out to the homeless last weekend. Another woman is hosting a World Vision Christmas party with her son’s classmates. Another is launching a ministry called a Soft Place to Fall…and yet another is geting baptized with her husband this Sunday.

We stressed very clearly in our study that this was NOT about serving for the sake of feeling good about ourselves or filling some void. It’s not another thing to add to our calendars and “busy up” our lives. We embraced that being “missional” is a mindset which really just pushes our calling as Christians to the forefront of our minds. Doing this opened our eyes to all of the ways we can live this out…it all unfolded very authentically and nothing felt forced at all. Again, I’m BLOWN AWAY! We’ve cried together, laughed together, and we’ve all supported one another as we’ve re-discovered our purpose!

We are continuing to study missional living this upcoming semester and this time we have 19 people signed up! The word is getting out!!!!

Pursuing One’s Calling–With Fear and Trembling!

Tell me a little about yourself!
Hi, I'm Brandi McDaniel and I have been married to my husband Michael, whom I truly believe God chose for me, for 18 years. We are the proud parents of 4 terrific kids. We are blessed that I am able to stay home with the kids and even have become "accidental" homeschoolers as well! I am head over heels in love with Jesus Christ and through my great desire to be drawn closer to the Lord wish the same for all people.

What makes you a Missional Mom?

Mike and I have served God in just about every way we can. For years we were tireless volunteers signing up for every (and I really mean EVERY) activity, event, occasion there was to serve at our church. From volunteering in the nursery, to teaching multiple classes, coaching basketball and cheerleading, local missions, to organizing projects for the homeless we did it all.

But God is funny because just as we thought we had it all under control and we were “sailing” through our life HE showed us that we didn’t have a clue where we were going! In April of 2010 I created a site on a social media outlet designed to support and encourage women. With no real direction I began to post a few things here and there including Scripture and chatted a bit in the little community of followers. I’m not sure why exactly but I got scared. It was my “Jonah” moment! I literally fled from the site too afraid to do what God was asking me to do.

But as we all know, there’s no hiding from God and HE never just leaves us alone. So in December 2011 God placed a call on my heart to start an on and offline women’s ministry. In absolute trembling fear but having a strong heart for women I obediently stepped out and began to post Scripture, daily encouragement, and messages grounded in biblical wisdom with conviction and direction on my social media site.

It hasn’t been long but the emails are already pouring in daily. Women whose lives are already changing as they turn their hearts and their minds to the things of God. Letters from women who are recommending their friends to come and hear the message God has for them. Women who DESIRE love, support, and encouragement in a community of godly women seeking to do the Lord’s work in their hearts, their homes, and our world. It has been so encouraging and a reaffirmation to stay the course God has designed for me without fear. Praise God.

A Mom AND Clean Water Advocate

Tell me a little about yourself!
Hello! My name is Morée Scofield. In true twitter profiling style here's the short of me: I'm a wife, a mother of 3 (2 boys and a girl), a lover of Christ, a believer in redemption and an advocate for clean water for the world. My husband has introduced me to your blog as he's a follower and likes to keep me up-to-speed on all things momma-blogging and progressive. We like to laugh about the fact that I've basically been under a rock the last 6 years raising our children (6,4,2), growing our food and tending to our home. He's been the go between for me and reality. After a short trip to Haiti last year my life got rocked and I came out from under "my rock" to explore the world of entrepreneurism and social justice! Now I spend my days growing my business, dLO water, and telling myself it's okay for the kids to eat a pop tart sometimes because darnit I don't have time to make breakfast from scratch anymore- I've got more important fish to fry like helping those darling kids in Haiti get clean drinking water! My husband and kids have joined me in this venture and together as a family we have embraced the world's water crisis as a cause of our own and seek to help put an end to it. dLO water is a for profit company I founded. We sell (at retailers) a 100% biodegradable bottled water and the profits go to our charity, dLO charities, where funds are delegated to communities in critical need of clean water. We help drill wells and provide purification systems.

What makes you a Missional Mom?

My passion to see an end to the world’s water crisis and the fact that my children have come to share that passion with me. They are a part of the story.

Hosting Trunk Shows, Helping Orphans

Tell me a little about yourself!
My mother was the crafty kind. While she spent hours making wreaths, flower arrangements, and Christmas bells, I worked beside her making bandana banana clips and silver conch earrings (did I mention this was the 80's!) Most little girls had lemonade stands. I, on the other hand, had jewelry stands. At age 14, I took a trip with my church to help with a VBS in the inner city of Washington DC. It was there, 2 miles from the White House, that I witnessed injustice for the first time. I knew then that my life would be spent working on behalf of the oppressed in some way. 1 year later, I traveled to Kenya where I walked through the Nairobi slums and witnessed first hand what life was like without running water, toilets, and hope. I also held my first orphan. Much to my mother's displeasure, I came home a hippie. Where was the little girl interested in jewelry and makeup? Instead, I held rallies at school to raise money for education in Kenya. Somewhere along the way, however, I rediscovered my joy in fashion and style. Too well trained in the art of shopping, the hippie phase couldn't stick forever. After college, I volunteered in Bolivia and Guatemala with Food for the Hungry. This is when I discovered that entrepreneurship was as old as the garden of Eden when God told Adam and Eve to produce bounty from what He had given them. I spent days walking beside Quechua women hand spinning yarn from wool. I fell in love with the vibrant markets of Guatemala. I learned that all people were created in the image of God and had the ability to take a seed and make it grow. I learned that entrepreneurship was sustainable and aid was not. Fast forward through my inspiring marriage and 2 kids to a trip to Uganda with my husband in January of 2010. We visited several friends working there, volunteered at a couple of children's homes and rafted the Nile river. In Uganda, we heard the call to adopt internationally. We were also given the opportunity to sell African Style products in America. The gracious founders, Downie and Bobbie Mickler, donated product to help us raise money for our Rwandan adoption.

What makes you a Missional Mom?

My first Noonday Collection trunk show was so much fun, it was like I discovered a dream I never knew I possessed. And for a planner, that was a pleasant surprise! I love helping women feel beautiful and have fun, I love giving other women a voice, and I love getting to share God’s heart for the orphan.

The hilarious part is that, before this, I had never hosted a trunk show in my life! What I love about direct sells through trunks shows is that I get to invite other women into the story of satisfying the needs of the oppressed. I get to help women like you live out what God calls all people to do, “plead the cause of the orphan.” Plus, I get to help women look really stylish along the way!

While I am no longer raising money for our adoption (though more adoptions may come), the vision remains the same. We advocate for the orphan by:

• Providing jobs that create a pathway out of poverty for women. A stable income means a family is less likely to abandon their child.
• Helping families fundraise for their own adoptions. We give 10% of trunk show sales directly to the adoptive family when they host a trunk show.

Aside from donating 10% towards qualified adoptive families, Noonday Collection gives net proceeds towards orphan care and prevention. Watch the video to see one of our main beneficiaries.

The dream: Take YOU on a trip to visit artisans and visit orphans in their distress.

Moving to My “Nazareth”

Tell me a little about yourself!
I am the mother of two wonderful boys, James (21 mos.) and Liam (2 mos.) & my husband is on staff with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at ECU. Through the generosity of a close friend I'm able to stay at home with my kids during this season of my life but I'm searching for ways to serve that will also supplement our income. In the past I've worked at a daycare but I'm hoping that I'll be able to bake for a local coffee shop & avoid enrolling my kids in daycare for now.

What makes you a Missional Mom?

My husband I feel like God is calling us to move to West Greenville. West Greenville could be described as a Nazareth. The people who live there are lower-income and many would describe that part of town as “the bad part”. Hurricane Irene recently made her mark on our part of the state. Unfortunately while the local news station gave a lot of coverage to a nearby house that had a tree come through the roof of a bedroom whose owner had evacuated, no coverage was given to the many trees that caused destruction in West Greenville. When the university decided to “revitalize’ downtown, they focused on the main strip parents might drive down toward campus, pushing lower-income families back. Every week at church I feel like the songs we sing are reminders of God’s faithfulness. I have to ask myself, “did he conquer the grave, or didn’t he?” Reading The Missional Mom helped me put into words what I’ve already been thinking: following God doesn’t guarantee safety & God protecting us doesn’t mean that nothing bad will happen. But if the unthinkable happens in my family, “did Jesus conquer the grave, or didn’t he?” And he did. And I have to trust him. And mostly, I have to obey.

My husband already knows people whose hearts are tender toward West Greenville. We’ve been in contact with them and are hoping they’ll be able to help us chose exactly where to move. Our current apartment’s lease ends November 1st and we’re hoping to give our 30day notice October 1st.

Mostly, I’d say that reading The Missional Mom helped me put my finger on why I was feeling discontent in my role as a SAHM, something that I always thought I wanted. I’ve begun to pray that God will show me where to serve & in response He’s softened my heart & pushed me toward obedience. I have more grace in supporting my husband as he serves IVCF & I’m more at peace at the prospect of working wherever God calls me, knowing that I won’t just be paying the bills, but serving the Kingdom.

Christmas and Easter Parties for a Purpose

Tell me a little about yourself!
I am married to Dwayne and am a stay-at-home mom to 4 kiddos, ages 8, 7, and 5 1/2 year old twins. I taught in the Texas public school system for 8 years, taking a year off after the first 5 years to join staff with East West Ministries, Int'l. There, I coordinated short term mission trips and traveled to Spain, Russia, and a socialistic island in the caribbean. In 2003, I resigned from teaching school to stay at home with our first son. Before he turned 3 years old, we had a daughter and our twin boys....4 kiddos under the age of 3! Our lives have been rather BUSY ever since!

What makes you a Missional Mom?

During our oldest son’s kindergarten year, we began hosting Christmas and Easter parties in our home, inviting the kiddos in his class. At the parties, we do some fun activities, and also each guest leaves our home having heard the true meaning of the holiday as well as a clear Gospel presentation. We’ve been doing this for the past 3 years, and I have also been training/teaching/encouraging others in doing the same. I also began a Good News Club at our school, a ministry of Child Evangelism Fellowship. We’ve had the program for 3 semesters and have grown to having about 80 in attendance. The word that would best describe a theme in my life the past few years is ENGAGE. With the encouragement of my prayer partner of almost 16 years and a friend whom I met on our school’s playground, WeeEngage was launched in mid-January. I am praying to be able to get into churches and women’s groups such as MOPS to speak and encourage women in hosting simple parties with a significant impact. I am currently writing a book about how all of this got its start as well as basic steps in hosting these kinds of parties. My website is www.weeengage.com.

Taking Small and Giant Leaps for God

Tell me a little about yourself!
I am a mother of three small kids - 5, 4, and 1. I actually never set out to have the life I currently have! God decided it was time for me to change directions and in a few short years, my life changed drastically from a corporate, full time employee to a stay at home mom! Though feeling like a fish out of water, I took on my new role with as much gusto as I could muster and tried everything to be a great mom. And somewhere along the way, I completely lost sight of my primary calling as a follower of Christ. Especially in those early years, motherhood can consume us. It becomes EVERYTHING. And somewhere I think I learned that it was supposed to be...the world certainly supports that message. I LOVE that Helen has come out with a book to help moms get back on track! It was exactly what I needed to hear at exactly the time when I was beginning to question everything about the way I was doing motherhood. I am excited to live a life of adventure and purpose that pours out of a love relationship with Christ. When he gets a hold of your heart, you are no longer satisfied to live like the world!

What makes you a Missional Mom?

I am taking some small steps to begin living more missionally. I am starting a study at my church on Helen’s book. My intention is that, as I lay the foundation and remind mothers of our primary calling, we will be able to begin living it out in our lives. I have some projects lined up that I will be doing with the moms as we go along in the study. My long term goal is to start a Kids Care Club at my church in which I’ll be organizing projects where families can serve together.

I will also be taking on GIANT leap this summer as I am going to be jumping out of an airplane for the very first time!!! I have a friend with TWO children who are terminally ill. They desperately need to raise funds to build a home more suitable for the devastating effects of their childrens’ disorder. As a creative way to raise money, I decided that, instead of running a marathon, I’d go skydiving! I am taking the leap on July 23 and hope to raise 1,000 dollars for my friends.

Thanks Helen for reminding us that life and faith are to be LIVED OUT with Jesus at the center. Our kids will only be better for it in the end when we get our priorities straight!

A Missional Writer-Mom in Arkansas

Tell me a little about yourself!
I am a stay-at-home mom. My husband is a youth pastor and worship leader for our church. We have two boys - Breckon (23 months) and Kian (4 months).

What makes you a Missional Mom?

I was so encouraged by reading “The Missional Mom.” I had been frustrated for the last two years, because I had been trained in missions and theology in college, and I have such great passion for so many things that God is doing in our world. I couldn’t wait to do so many of the things that I had learned about to further God’s Kingdom. Then, three months before I graduated, my husband and I found out that we were pregnant (surprise!). 19 months after Breckon was born, along came Kian. My husband and I both felt that the Lord wanted me to stay home with our boys, but I became so frustrated that I had so much I wanted to do, but couldn’t because someone was always taking a nap (or desperately needed to!). We also live in the rural South (2 hours from the nearest large city), so opportunities to become involved with the homeless or helping with already-established ministries simply aren’t there in many places. Even recycling isn’t available! I love my boys and I am so thankful for the opportunity to stay home and pour into their lives, but I felt as if I had no ministry outlet for all of the things that I cared so deeply about. For a long time, I accepted every ministry opportunity that anyone threw at me – teaching Sunday School for the high school girls, childcare ministry, helping with the youth group, mentoring a teenage girl – I was gifted for none of it, and I felt frantic all the time. I was thankful for the birth of my second son to get a bit of a maternity leave from all of it!

Two months ago, my husband asked me to write the curriculum for a spiritual retreat/roadtrip he was planning for the youth group. I ate it up. I wrote four full sermons, study questions for each one, and group activities to build community among the group – he is actually on the trip now and says that it is all going so well. I was finally able to use my skills in a way I hadn’t expected – by writing about the very things I was passionate about. So I began a blog (http://myofferings.wordpress.com) to help educate the Church. I had one foot in the academic world by my education and what I read, and I had the other foot in the world of everyday church life. I sought to bridge the gap between the two. In the South, intellectualism and theology are regarded as highly suspicious. But many in my church have read my blog and then accidentally found out that they were getting a dose of theology! I write on a wide range of topics – racial reconciliation (a HUGE issue here), Bible translation, living justly in various ways, living counter-culturally, worship, family discipleship, etc. It has been such a fulfilling outlet to get many in our church (and elsewhere) to think critically about and discuss the traditions they have, the ideas they hold tightly to, and how we are called to live counter-culturally. Furthermore, writing helps my introverted self to process the many things I have running through my head all at once!

It may be a somewhat unconventional way to be a missional mom, but while my children are so small and we live in the middle of nowhere, it is the perfect way for me to connect the Church to the work that God is doing throughout the world, and to encourage them (and ourselves!) to participate.

Rediscovering a Missional Urge

Tell me a little about yourself!
I'm a stay at home mom of two little boys, 4 years and 8 months.

What makes you a Missional Mom?

I wouldn’t call myself a missional mom yet, but after reading your book, I am inspired to start taking steps towards this. I am so thankful that God used your giftedness to touch so many moms. As a side note, I didn’t realize until I read your book that we have a lot in common. I am Chinese American, grew up in North Potomac, MD, graduated from Wootton High School, and then did my undergrad at Wheaton College, where I worked in Resident Life too, as a Resident Assistant, and then later, an Assistant Resident Director. So many of your stories resonated with me! After I graduated from Wheaton, I was working with Missions organizations in Taiwan for three years. When I came back to Maryland, I got married and then had kids. I must say, that with the days of Wheaton and Taiwan far behind me now, I long for those days where being missional seemed to come so easily. But thanks to your book, I am really convicted now to make that my first priority regardless of my stage of life or vocation.