A Mother Who Dwells: The Ministry of Being with the Ones in Our Laps

by Christina Fox, in category Motherhood

RACHEL CRADDOCK|GUEST My bare soles felt the hardwood floors under my feet and my hands poured over the third load of laundry for the day. My son played in the family room and my daughter had three rows of dining room chairs lined up in the office. I watched her drive a minivan full of… Read More

Nov122018Nov 11 2018

Your Season of Life Does Not Disqualify You to Serve the Body

by Christina Fox, in category Ministry

LAURA BOOZ|GUEST Three years ago, I felt called to start a Women’s Ministry at our local church. I dog-eared a stack of Susan Hunt’s books and studied the material on the Committee on Discipleship Ministries website. I prayed and talked with other women about it. I presented a thoughtful proposal to our elders: they were… Read More

Sep172018Aug 13 2018

Grace Opens the Door: A Story of God’s Grace in Ministry

by Christina Fox, in category Prayer

LEAH FARISH|GUEST There I was in a bustling Middle Eastern city, and I had somewhere I needed to go. I was busy—or, as my Syrian friends say, “buzzy.” Maybe even a little bossy. I was getting ready for a conference for women who are leaders in their churches in Syria. Our American team was gathering… Read More

Aug302018Aug 13 2018

Where Ya Headed?: The Heart of Biblical Leadership

by Christina Fox, in category Leadership

KAREN HODGE|CONTRIBUTOR Where ya headed? I get asked this question on a weekly basis. I spend a lot of time in airports because I love moving towards the women in our denomination. Airport terminals are a fascinating leadership lab. I have seen a mother of five lead like Moses parting the Red Sea as her… Read More

Aug62018Aug 6 2018

Healthy Heads, Hearts, and Hands: Preparing to Teach Bible Study

by Christina Fox, in category Ministry

SARAH IVILL|CONTRIBUTOR Many of us will begin leading or teaching Bible studies this fall. It might be our first time or fiftieth time, but one thing is certain—we all need to step into our teaching or leadership role with prepared heads, hearts, and hands, so that our teaching, by God’s grace, will be fruitful and… Read More

Jun112018Jun 8 2018

Why Should I Go?: The Need for Missionaries

by Christina Fox, in category Ministry

SUE HARRIS|CONTRIBUTOR "If every Christian is already considered a missionary, then all can stay put where they are, and nobody needs to get up and go anywhere to preach the gospel. But if our only concern is to witness where we are, how will people in un-evangelized areas ever hear the gospel? The present uneven… Read More

Apr232018Mar 27 2018

Why We Do What We Do

by Christina Fox, in category Ministry

PATSY KUIPERS|GUEST The church I attend recently initiated several outreach ministries. I chose to join the Welcome Team since I want to help visitors feel at home and encourage them to return. At our first meeting, I agreed to lead the team as I generally enjoy dealing with details and organizing activities. Unfortunately, I also… Read More

Apr92018Mar 27 2018

Planted for a Purpose

by Christina Fox, in category Ministry

RENEE MATHIS|CONTRIBUTOR “When in April the sweet showers fall…” Chaucer was right. He knew something about April. He knew that after the bleakness of February and the bluster that is March, that we could use some sweet showers in our life. Have you ever felt like that? Have you ever wondered if your current season… Read More

Dec72017Nov 14 2017

Disabilities and the Gospel: An Interview with Stephanie Hubach

by Christina Fox, in category Ministry

EDITOR|CHRISTINA FOX Editor's note: the following is an interview with Stephanie Hubach about her new role at Covenant Theological Seminary. Christina: What is your new role at CTS? How is it different than the role you had before at MNA? Stephanie: My role at MNA (for almost 10 years) was serving as the founding Director of… Read More

Nov22017Oct 24 2017

We Never Serve Alone

by Christina Fox, in category Ministry

ELLEN DYKAS|CONTRIBUTOR Several months ago I smiled as I sat on the front row alone, again, while at my home church. As one of the lay leaders in our church family, I have the honor of leading our congregational prayer at our worship service a few times a year when our elders don’t. I smiled… Read More