Your Comments

July 29, 2008 | ministry life, your comments

I am blogging quarterly for Christianity Today’s Gifted for Leadership. This was a comment I received from a reader in response to my post, Service Beyond the Pew.

Dear T Suzanne,

I find it surprising that you say that your community work is not faith based! Are you kidding? It is SO faith based and I think an encouraging example of true faith based ministry that is a model to others. I think you are meaning that your work was not birthed through the regular route of church culture. Reminds me of someone else 2000 years ago. I would so like people to wake up to the difference between christian culture and true christianity. Please forgive my bluntness. I would like to simply encourage you. Thank you from those young people & me. Anthea

Dear Anthea,

I love that you took the time to reply. While I know that mentoring through the Woman of Vision is one of the best God-things that I get to do, it’s not faith-based in that I can’t mention God in my talks and the foundation of it is not based on faith or religion. It’s a community venture created by several women who wanted to impact freshman-aged girls. Those women have very diverse beliefs. Our commonality is we care about teens and their future.

On a personal level, it’s amazing because I have connected with a group of strong women who have become good friends. I meet girls in area high schools who know that I’m a Christian who writes books and speaks, so they are free to follow up after at my website or in person if they see me hanging at the mall or in town.

On a faith level, I agree with you. I feel God in this every time I speak, every time I meet with my friends, and every time I get to encourage a girl. We often define ministry in very narrow terms and sometimes that creates a bubble where everyone we know believes and thinks the same. That’s what I don’t want, and this is just one way to step out of those confines.

I appreciate your honesty, and loved that you took the time to comment.

Suzie