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Category: My Life

Covers what I’m learning, what I’m reading, and posts of a more personal nature

From the Archives: Ministry and Motherhood

Kathie Phillips 1 Comment

Note from Kathie:  As Mother’s Day is rapidly approaching, I thought I’d pull a post from my archive to share with you (again).  If you are a KidMin ministry mom, please consider joining my Ministry Moms group on CMConnect.  You can find the group here.

Balancing ministry and motherhood is something that I’ve tried to manage for the seven years that I’ve been on-staff in Children’s Ministry.  It hasn’t always been easy.  Sometimes I feel like I pour too much of myself into my work while neglecting time with my children and vice versa.  Instead of thinking of it as either-or, I have tried to intertwine the two.  Here’s how:

I involve my children in my ministry.  This won’t work for every family (my children are teenagers) but my children actually enjoy being a part of my ministry.  In fact, they call it “our ministry”.  They are able to offer great insight into music choices, games, events and resources.  My little test group, if you will.  Not only does this help me stay relevant and “cool” with the kids at church, but it helps my children feel like valued members of our ministry (which they are).

As a result, I’ve seen them use their gifts and talents.  My son has seen me lead Sunday School and is now a teen small group leader for 6th grader boys at our church.  He not only prepares his lessons ahead of time but he finds ways to shepherd the boys as well as provide an atmosphere of community within the group.  He has also taught me a thing or two about technology (namely how to design a PowerPoint presentation).  My daughter is extremely artistic.  She has helped design brochures as well as sets and bulletin boards.  She has also researched craft projects and has written skits for the children.

I ask their permission before signing them up for events, etc..  I value my children and their need for personal boundaries by not signing them up to help me at events.  I don’t automatically assume that they will be present or fill open slots.  Because of this, they look forward to going to church and volunteer to serve in various ways.

I value their opinion.  When I was presented with a new ministry opportunity last year, I talked it over with my children (and my husband).  Because the opportunity would involve changing churches, their opinion was vital to my decision.  Talking it over with them and getting their insight strengthened our family and helped them to love, not resent, moving to our current church.

I am aware of negative talk about the ministry.  Volunteers don’t show up.  Someone may disagree with a decision I’ve made.  Someone may complain about this or that.  But my children don’t need to hear that.  It’s not their burden to carry.

As often as I can, I take them along with me when I travel for work.  My children are unsung heroes of my ministry, so taking them along with me is a reward for them.  Those trips have been some of the best times we’ve had as a family.

I value them by leaving work at work.  I love Children’s Ministry.  I love to read about it and talk about it.  But I also love my family time and try to protect that at all costs.  Saturdays and Sunday afternoons are reserved for family–movies, good conversation, a delicious meal, a road trip.  Just good, quality time to connect.

Although I love Children’s Ministry, motherhood is my most important ministry.  But having my children integrated into my ministry is the best of both worlds!  I could not imagine ministry life without them! 🙂

If you are a mom in ministry, how do you make it all work?  Share your thoughts below!

Easter Reflections

Kathie Phillips 2 Comments

This week, I am in total “chill” mode. Since our children are home on Spring Break, my husband and I took time off this week to have some good quality time as a family. This time together is precious and priceless to me because, if you work in ministry, you know that preparing for Easter keeps you very busy. Now that things have settled down somewhat, I’ve been reflecting on the flurry of activity I’ve experienced over the past 10 days.

Here’s a peek into what my world has looked like recently:

For the past several months, we have been busy preparing for our church’s annual Easter Egg Hunt. This year, I provided oversight for the Registration Team. As a team of nine, we welcomed over 120 families and over 200 children to this highly anticipated event. This year’s event included four activity areas: games, 4 “Journey to Easter” stations, refreshments and the actual Easter Egg Hunt. It was a lot of work but seeing so many faces, especially new ones from the neighborhood, made it all worthwhile.

Good Friday was the next highlight for me. My entire family and I (16 of us) attended my parent’s church because my mom was participating in the service. The scripture passage for the evening was Isaiah 53:1-5. Five different members of the church leadership (including my mom) took one of the verses and shared their gained and personal insights into their assigned verse. My mom did a fabulous job – she made us proud! The evening was also special because I served my 5-yr old niece her First Communion. I will never forget sharing that special moment with her.

By the time Easter Sunday rolled around, I was in overdrive mode. I had tidied classrooms, recruited additional volunteers to serve, hung banners, and set up various activity stations for our elementary and preteen students. After church, we hosted a family dinner for 20+ family members at our home.

While the season was busy, we are now thankful to take some time for much-needed rest at one of our favorite vacation spots. School and work resumes next week, but for now, we rest.

Are you taking some time for rest this week? What restores your soul?

Thankful Thursday: Week 4

Kathie Phillips

A few weeks ago, I planned to set aside every Thursday in November to share some of the many things I’m thankful for.  

You can read about Week 1 here, Week 2 here, and Week 3 here.

“Give us today our daily bread.”

Matthew 6:11

As I type these words, the smell of sweet potato pie and pumpkin crisp fresh from the oven is permeating throughout the entire house.  Those are two Thanksgiving traditions that I bless my family with.  That’s what I’m thankful for today…tradition.

Growing up in my household meant that we celebrated everything.  My mom celebrated big events (such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Easter) as well as smaller events (such as good grades on our report cards, special awards and milestones reached).  Celebrating these special moments are memories that I still hold dear today.  It’s only natural that I passed along these traditions to my own children.

As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving today, we will weave years of tradition into our festivities.  Our day began with a big breakfast that I prepare each year–bacon, eggs, breakfast potatoes, toast and juice.  Afterwards, my daughter and I baked 2 sweet potato pies and 2 pumpkin crisps.  Now we are relaxing until we head out to family dinner, which will include lots of laughter, games (and prizes!), good music, fellowship and of course, great food.

A few weeks ago, I read an article by Anne Lamott called “Counting Our Blessings“.  In the article, Lamott shared why she says grace before her meals.  I found the article to be very enlightening because saying grace seems like second nature to me.  It’s not something that I have to think about doing.  My husband and I have raised our children to say grace before their meals.  Whether you’re at the cafeteria table, the food court at the mall or at a friend’s house, we pause to thank the Lord for the food that He has provided for us.

As you gather around the Thanksgiving table today, be sure to pause to thank God for the delicious food you will consume.  Ask Him to not only bless the food but also the hands that prepared it.  Pray for those who are less fortunate than you.  Pray for those struggling with their first Thanksgiving without a loved one.  Ask God to bless the conversation and memories that you’ll share.  Enjoy making new memories while savoring honored traditions.  As a friend mentioned this morning, “Thanksgiving is what comes out of the heart…not the oven.”

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful Thursdays: Week 1

Kathie Phillips 4 Comments

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us–they help us learn to endure.  And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation.  And this expectation will not disappoint us.  For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.  Romans 5:3-5 (NLT)

A few weeks ago, I planned to set aside every Thursday in November to share some of the many things I’m thankful for.  It is no coincidence that today, the first Thursday in November, I would initially struggle to find one thing to be thankful for.  You see, for the past two weeks, we’ve experienced setbacks of one kind or another.  This morning at a glance:  we overslept, rushed out the door to get my children to school on time (with 2 minutes to spare) and on my way to work, my van broke down (the third time in 2 weeks that something on the van has needed major repair).

Lately, it’s been feeling like one backwards step after another.  Today I felt like I reached my breaking point.  As I was about 1/4 way through the box of tissue in my van (waiting for the tow truck to arrive), I began to ask God why He continues to allow things like this to happen to me and my family.  Not that I was expected an audible answer.  I know that tests and trials are good for us (that’s what God’s Word says–and I believe it) but a series of tests and trials feels a little like, well, punishment.

After I had some time to reflect and allow the Holy Spirit to calm my nerves, I began to think about the many ways God has blessed me.  Today, I am thankful for Jesus.  I am thankful that He loves me more than I’ll ever know.  I am thankful that He sends gentle reminders through adversity that He’s there and still in control.  (He sent a very friendly tow truck driver to rescue me, family and friends offered to come and sit with me while I waited for the tow truck, my husband called me every 10 minutes to check in on me, and I was able to pull off of the main road and not block traffic.)  I am thankful for the promises of Scripture.  I am thankful that nothing can ever separate me from His love.  I am thankful that while situations change and tests come, He never changes.  I am thankful that while I don’t know “why”, He uses all things for my good.

What are you thankful for today?

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