Update on Impact for Life Book Drive

October 3, 2008 | community, ministries

Mel Goebel, Director of Impact for Life, was excited to receive 100 copies of The Mom I Want to Be:Rising Above Your Past to Give Your Kids a Great Future to distribute through the Library of Hope–sending books to women’s prisons all over the nation. This will put 100 copies in 100 different prisons. But I’m praying for more.

My prayer is 1,000 books. Seems impossible, but it’s not!

I am able to purchase them at a great discount by turning down the royalties so 100% of the donations go toward placing the book into the hands of women who desire a second chance with their children, who are asking God if He sees them, and who desire healing from a painful past.

Will you join me in this drive? You can donate through paypal (donate to tseller@daretobelieve.org) and 100% goes to the drive. $7 buys one book. $10 buys 2. $15 buys 3. $275 buys a whole case!

I’m not good at raising money. I don’t like selling candles, Avon (though I did once to go on a missions trip), candy bars, or anything else. I am terrible at it and yet I love what Impact for Life is doing so I’m excited to ask you to join me. Thank you to those who helped with the first 100. I’m humbled and grateful!

Want to check it out for yourself or donate directly to them?

Impact for Life Book Drive!

September 3, 2008 | books, community, faith, mentoring, ministries

UPDATE!

Three checks have arrived: $25, $21, $35 (THANKS!)

Mel, Director of Impact for Life is excited that the news of this amazing ministry to women in prison is being shared. My hopes are for a miracle - the five loaves and fish kind — will you join me? 

It’s rare that I step outside my comfort zone to ask anyone to help with a cause. It’s a hard thing for me to do.

But last February I traveled to Denver, CO to a conference. While I was there, I checked out a ministry in The Springs called Impact for Life. It’s a ministry to men and women in jail, but also to their families, especially their children.

Impact for Life believes that when an inmate is freed, that there must be a support system in place to help them, and their families, succeed. They start inside the prison, holding mini-conferences in prisons across the nation. They work with chaplains to create libraries and to provide books, audio materials, and support material to help them grow as a person, as a mom or dad, and in their faith. This is a complete volunteer nonprofit organization.

And it’s changing lives!  (more…)

Comments from She Speaks

June 27, 2008 | calendar, ministries, writing

At the She Speaks conference, I shared my normal working attire: blue jersey shorts, a tank top or T-shirt, barefoot, no makeup, and my hair in a ponytail.

I wish you could see me now. The only thing is that I’m not wearing a ponytail. Otherwise, dead on.

Some professional, huh? : )

But it’s the words that flow and the work ethic that matters, and I can dress up when I’m traveling to conferences, eating out with my hubby, or stepping outside the door into the real world.

Here are a few of the comments from friends made at She Speaks (who thankfully don’t care what I’m wearing right now). Love you girls!

From Tammy: Your workshop was outstanding! One of my absolute favorites! Thank you for your “tips” and your “transparency.” I smile as I sit here with glasses on, hair in pony tail, wearing sweat pants! (more…)

That thing that HE does

June 25, 2008 | calendar, faith, ministries

What a wonderful weekend!

I love it when God does His thing. I spoke twice at She Speaks (a conference for women who want to write and/or speak). I shared the message of making your faith your own with a group of beautiful teen girls, and then I was scheduled to speak at an after-dinner coffeehouse writers’ event.

This is the deal. It was the worst hour of the day. The women had just eaten dinner. They got up that morning at 7. They went to bed the night before after midnight. It wasn’t a fascinating topic, though it is one that I’m passionate about - The Things I Wish I Had Known When I First Started Writing.

So the odds were stacked against that presentation. And yet something very cool happened.

God showed up.

Don’t you love it when that happens? Somehow, out of a writing topic, He gently ministered to a woman who is a breast cancer survivor, to a mom of teens, to a woman estranged from her loved one, and to many more. After the presentation, many women lined up to share their story.

Have I mentioned how much I love hearing your stories?

This is the one thing I really have learned. It’s not about the woman with the mike, or even the carefully prepared and prayed-over presentation. Somehow, some way, God can take ordinary words and place them in the hearts of His girls — the women sitting in the audience with their private joys, their private pain, their secrets, and their dreams.

Because He knows them and loves them.

I walked away this weekend in love with Jesus all over again.

Leaving on a jet plane

June 17, 2008 | calendar, ministries

It’s been wet and soggy here in beautiful Green Country. I leave tomorrow for Charlotte, NC.

The ocean.

Friends.

Fun!

I’m speaking at She Speaks, a wonderful ministry that trains women and young women who desire to speak or write. While I’m there, I’ll take a side trip to the beach and hang out with a few good friends. (more…)

Life Impact Ministries

February 29, 2008 | community, ministries

I was in Colorado Springs three weeks ago as a mentor for Jerry Jenkins’ Christian Writers Guild. It was a great week. But the highlight was when I stole away for a few hours to meet the founder of Life Impact Ministries, a nationwide ministry for inmates and their families.

(more…)