What are your experiences and areas of service that you believe will be valuable in your role as a General Conference delegate?

I am a retired Counselor and Play Therapist. As a teenager, I knew that one of my gifts was the ability to listen and ask questions that others may be uncomfortable in asking. My husband is a retired Elder in the GMC, but before he was ordained an Elder, he served as a Youth Pastor in several different churches for 29 years. My calling, then, is the same calling I experience today. Youth would often share things with me that they didn’t feel comfortable sharing with their parents. I have served on the mission’s committee at several churches. I also spent 2 weeks in Tapachula, Mexico with Mission on the Move, using my play therapy skills with the children and youth there.

I am currently serving as co-leader of a Family Support Group for NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness ). I have led youth “Disciple” Bible study as well as “Disciple 1 and 2” studies. I am in a prayer band that meets every morning at 7:00 am to study God’s Word and pray together. We have been together for several years and I am blessed to have my Friends in Faith as we seek God’s will in our lives.

Describe why you believe that God has potentially called you to serve as a General Conference delegate.

I am a group-project type person. I see myself as a supporter and an encourager. As I stated earlier, I am a listener and am unafraid to ask clarifying questions that may help others understand their purpose or direction.

I am excited about how God has worked in the GMC and how God is continuing to work in making disciples. I am thankful for the GMC’s stance on the Holy Scriptures as being the foundation of our faith and God’s work in the church.

I witnessed how God worked through the laity in our church during the disaffiliation process. Our pastors stepped away and encouraged the laity to research, discuss and present their findings to the congregation. It was truly remarkable.

As a youth pastor/pastor’s wife, I have witnessed many youth who have responded to God’s call into ordained ministry through their service in their local churches. I am excited about the growing number of young people who are committed to Christ and committed to their local churches. I look forward with hope and anticipation of how God will show up before, during, and after this upcoming General Conference.