One of a kind!

This Sunday will mark 5 yrs since we started a Women's Ministry Team at WABC.

I love working with these ladies! When I first brought this idea to them they were use to committees. Marc and I both want people to stop looking at themselves as "church members" with a title and start to embrace a "team" mentality. We are all in this together. I may "direct" the team but when it's time to work I want them to know that I will be down in the trenches with them working beside them and not just "directing".

There are so many stereotypes in the African American church of what a First Lady should look like, what do should do, how she should act, and carry herself. But especially what she should wear! When I came to WABC I wanted the women there to get to know "me". Not some facade or image others labeled me with. Five years later I'm sure their are many who still don't understand who I am but most seem to respect me anyhow. I know that there are some who still don't "get" me all the way but love me anyhow. 

That's really all we can do when it comes to this ministry stuff. We have to try and be out most authentic self and hope that people will learn to love us, or at the least respect us. But even if they don't we still have to love them because that's what God commands us to do.

There are some "traditions" in our church that I don't agree with but I've learned its not all about me or what I want. Sometime have to let people bring their own ideas and yes even traditions to the table.

This weekend we host our annual Women's Day celebration. It's the one time of the year where the women are in complete and total charge. It doesn't mean that we aren't in charge of some things year round but its a opportunity for us to lift up the women in our church with a message specifically geared towards them and in our case honor our women who have given service to the church and who sometimes are not noticed any other time ( think of it as a one day Mini Women's conference). Not because they aren't worthy any other but because this just happens to be the day we have set aside to do it. Many of these ladies have or are busy going around doing what they can do not thinking about being "recognized". 

This weekend in honor of our 5th year as a ministry team we will honor 5 women who definitely are not use to receiving the spotlight. And in honor of these "seasoned" women of the church I'm going to wear the "official" First Lady attire! Not because I have to but because I want them to know that even though I may not fall into the stereotypical  "mold" of a "traditional" First Lady doesn't mean I don't have respect for those who came before me. Women like my godmother and grandmother who many times didn't have the choices and freedoms that I do as a pastors wife! 

I can't very well expect them to step outside of their comfort zone and look at ministry as more then just a title if I'm not willing to step outside of mine. This will more then likely be the only time they see me in a hat...not because I'm opposed to it but because it would not be me being my authentic self. But having said that I don't want them to think that if they love hats and suits that they shouldn't. I want our women to be themselves. That's how God made us.

I say all the time I'm just trying my best to be the me God created me to be. I want these ladies to know that they should do the same. If they love wearing hats, then wear them. If the fancy suit is what floats their boat then do that! We should be willing to accept people as they are because we are uniquely made! That means we are one if a kind!