Greater Reach: Inspiring Women In Jordan

Kristin is finishing up her Jordan trip along with her husband, Fred this week. Here's an update I received from Fred on Saturday...

"Yesterday we went to the baptism site and were surprised to see a crowd of 1000 + in attendance. It was very cool to be right on the Jordan in the site many say is where John baptised Jesus. It was obviously more of a significant event than Kristin or I realized as both Tony Blair of England and the Royal Prince of Jordan werre in attendance and spoke at the dedication. Thanks to Nabeeh, we were given VIP seats in the second row. Very good day, but it was a 7 hour event and we were very tired by the end.

Today Kristin headed off for Aqaba with AWT to do her two days of teaching. She called tonight and said the first two sessions went very well. A woman came up to her after she spoke and said: "This is a very important message and we need to hear it. Even though we are from the Christian church we live in a Muslim culture and community. Our town and our country are Muslim and our husbands are more Muslim than Christian."
The message of the incredible value these women have, created in the image of God and loved by Him is life giving and so needed for their soul care."

Praise God for His work in Jordan!
(Posted by Alyssa)

"Insights for Strengthening the Blessed Alliance": Conference Recap

I just returned from Florida where I taught a workshop titled, “Insights for Strengthening the Blessed Alliance” (the “blessed alliance” refers to Adam and Eve in Eden when God blessed them and commissioned them to form an alliance to rule and subdue the earth) at the recent Synergy Conference in Orlando. Synergy is a networking conference for women in vocational ministry, and has been in existence for about 5 years now. I have taught there for most of those years and they always want me to teach the same thing: how men and women can work together in ways that are biblical and that strengthen their ability to work effectively together in ministry. The need for believers to learn how to affirm one another and develop healthy, godly relationships never goes away! So it is my privilege to join these fine women each year with a practical message on developing healthy interpersonal relationships.
Though I love to teach women, I also love the opportunity to develop ministry relationships and deepen budding friendships. Most of these women I only see once a year, so I look forward to times to visit and share highlights of our lives and ministries. The photos here just capture a glimmer of the fun that was had connecting with like-minded women. Maybe I will see you there next year! Mark your calendar: March 5-7, 2010. It should prove to be stimulating as next year’s theme will be: “The Shaping of a Leader’s Soul”.

Photos from Synergy 2009 Conference

Caye's Lesson Learned

I spent 2 weeks last month helping a friend's dad roof their house on Manasota Key. It was hard work but I was grateful for it. It was probably the hardest money I have earned since college, and I was excited to deposit it in the bank. While I’ve been support raising, I’ve felt like I’m often living out of my car going from place to place. I made the mistake of putting my roofing cash in my glove box one night, so, I’d remember to deposit it. I arrived home from a long trip around 10 pm and forgot to take out the cash. Sometime that night my car was broken into and a few things stolen….one of them being most of my roofing money.

At first I was beating myself up, as most anyone would do. How could I make such a stupid mistake, especially at such a crucial time? I felt like a bad steward of an opportunity God had given me. Well, after the Officer finished fingerprinting my car I came back to the Lord to get my heart right. “Father, what would you have me learn from this? I feel like the cash represented very hard efforts on my part. It normally wouldn’t hurt so badly except it was back breaking work.” In that moment, I felt God saying….”That’s it. I wanted you to see how hard people work for the gifts they are giving you. I wanted to remind you never to take it for granted and to feel the sweat from their sacrifice.”

Somehow knowing that God was using it to teach me something very profound made the loss so much more endurable. It also helped me forgive myself and move on, knowing that He will continue to provide for all my needs.

I think I will always look back on this experience and remember how much people are giving to me. It’s so humbling. May God continue to remind you that He ultimately is the Biggest Giver of all. He has always given us more than we could ever offer Him. And He has always sacrificed more than us as well.

John 15:13,
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friend" NIV

Written by Caye Siller

(visit her blog: CayeSiller.blogspot.com)