Kristi Lounsbury - Digging Deeper To Find That Connection
Exploring faith journeys and hearing inspiring ministries that embody the good news of God, you are listening to The Cumberland Road. I'm your host, TJ Malinoski. Today's guest is Reverend Kristi Loundsbury, the director of Congregational Ministries for the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination. In our conversation, we talk about Kristi making a profession of faith at the age of 7 and growing up in rural Iowa. It is there where she found a congregation that embraced her family and cultivated a spiritual life. Kristi shares how life challenges help her to rely on God more and to dig deeper to find that connection. She shares what it is like assisting congregations and helping them discover their identity and their purpose and their ministry through the engage process. You were listening to the Cumberland Road Podcast, and here is my conversation with Kristi Lounsbury.
T.J.:Kristi Lounsbury, thank you for joining me on the Cumberland Road Podcast.
Kristi:Thank you. It's a joy to be here.
T.J.:You are the director of congregational ministries for the Cumberland Presbyterian
Kristi:Church.
T.J.:Detail detail what that is?
Kristi:Well, that's a good question because every day, it's a little different what I do. It's a supportive role for congregations and for other staff members because congregational ministry, it encompasses a little bit of everything. Like, specifically right now, I'm working on engage, which is a a new program that has been developed along with our DMT member, Christopher Fleming. And that is something that we go to the congregations and help them in a process that discerns where they should go, where they are currently, and how we might be able to provide resources for them. And that's that's just one thing.
Kristi:You never know what may come up as far as other things. We have convention planning. We have a mission trip in the works, working with our different ministry partners. Choctaw Presbytery is another area that I work with quite often, helping them with some leadership abilities and some restoration projects, things like that. So it it varies.
Kristi:I get phone calls almost daily about churches that need a new pastor, and we help with that through leadership referral services. Pam Phillips Burke and I work on that in tandem. And so it's it's a little bit of everything. This position for many years was part time. But then, about three and a half years ago, the ministry council decided to expand this position.
Kristi:And so it's been a growing position, and it's constantly evolving. So I do a little bit of everything.
T.J.:Alright. Let's, let's have a thought experiment. I'm a member of a local congregation, and I hear that the denomination has a director of congregational ministries. And I don't know what needs our church, my local church has. I just know that it needs something.
T.J.:How can the director of congregational ministries help my local church?
Kristi:Well, I get calls like that quite often of folks in a situation where their church is dwindling in numbers, but not spirit. And they want to change to grow both numerically and spiritually. And so we kinda have a a time of conversation asking a lot of questions to to kinda understand the history if I'm not familiar with the church. And there's a lot of them that I'm not familiar with. So we talk and we visit, and then, that's where engage can really come into play.
Kristi:We can come and visit your church. We ask a lot of pertinent questions. Some people might think they're nosy, but it's to get a good picture of the congregation and just to find out where they are. And based on that, we can help with the different resources that the denomination offers from elder training to, motivation, youth directors, you just name it, and, we probably have an avenue to help a congregation with the different services. So when we get those phone calls, we try to just evaluate as much as we can and help and then, encourage a congregation through the various ways that we have available.
T.J.:You have been talking about engage, and it is a discernment process for that local congregation. What kinda give a picture of what that may look like when you and a local congregation are working together.
Kristi:Okay. So recently, I traveled to the Little Rock area and actually worked with 2 different churches. And, ideally, it's kind of a the first time that we meet. It's a weekend event. We started out on Friday evening just introducing the program in general and talking with the 2 churches, kind of just giving an overview of things.
Kristi:And then the next day, we actually visited with each individual church, and we brought them through a lot of questions. Everything from the demographics of, you know, the age of the congregation, the area that they live in. And through those questions, we are able to help the congregation discern what their specific gifts and talents are within that congregation and how they fit into the community that they're serving. And so, for example, with with these two churches, we were able to to realize that one of the churches just doesn't have their name out there, that they're not visible within the community. And, ironically, the the church that was planted several years ago, none of the people that belong to that church live in that area.
Kristi:And so we have to look at new ways that those who attend can invest in that community. And so we we follow through with that after learning so much about the congregation, and it's an opportunity for them to learn as well. And some of the questions that they that they get asked, they're they're very surprised at the answers that come from one another. And this particular group, we worked with the elders primarily, and we were able to really help them have a new vision for the church, to encourage them and support them in different ways of bringing about awareness to their ministry. And so then on Sunday, we were able to worship with the 2 churches and kinda have a closing time.
Kristi:We spent this initial week, excuse me, weekend about 8 hours with each church, individually, and collectively, and and this is just the start. The the wonderful thing is that that we start out with discovery, and that's discovering the church, discovering the area, and then we move into that discernment process. And the discernment process can be a a day. It could be several weeks because we ask the church to to do some bible study and truly reflect upon what we've talked about. And then, we we move from there to support them in in what they decide to do, and we continue to follow-up with them and use that time to discuss and and different things and discover for them.
Kristi:And these this process of engage, it it moves back and forth between different areas and different steps. There's constant discovery, constant discernment, constant discussion, that kind of thing. And as the director of congregational ministries, then, of course, it's it's my responsibility to support this congregation as they continue to move forward, in their ministry and hopefully growing not only spiritually but numerically as well.
T.J.:Mhmm. And Engage is a relatively new offering within the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and so it's just a couple years old. Right? 2, 3 years old.
Kristi:Yes. We, Chris Fleming and I, when we were hired, were, given a task by the ministry council to develop a program that was primarily for our smaller rural churches. But what we found is that as we began our own discernment process and discovery process that it was more than that. That the congregations needed more. And so through the last couple years, we truly have been evolving the program into a process.
Kristi:We had a a former name for it. We've changed the name. It was care originally, which sounds like we are putting our churches to sleep or to rest, and we didn't like that concept. You know, it's kinda like, you know, hospice, you know, when you when you think about care. And so we were given the name engage, and it it's so much more appropriate for for what we're doing because we want the congregations to engage in ministry.
Kristi:We want them to look within so that they can look outside of their, four walls of their church so that they can go and do ministry in the community and be relevant. And so it's it has been a process for us as well. Thinking it was a program and ended up it's becoming a process that we can work with any kind of church, not just a small church. But yes, it is continually evolving and the unique thing about Engage is that each church's experience and the people within the congregation will have a different experience every time. There is some basic information available that we use as a skeleton, for our process.
Kristi:But then when we actually engage with a church, their process will be different from someone else. And we we saw that recently with the churches in the Little Rock area. 2 different churches, 2 different outcomes, and just different, different ways to to do ministry.
T.J.:We can come back to engage. I think we will later in the conversation. Okay. But I want to talk about Christy. You haven't always been the director of congregational ministries.
T.J.:You've served congregations in Tennessee, in Mississippi, and Texas. Your relationship with God, your relationship and profession of faith with Jesus Christ, let's go back to that time and and do you remember? And what was that like for you? And is that the turning point that kinda led you to where you are today?
Kristi:Well, going way back in time, I wasn't, my parents weren't involved in church when I was born. And we lived about 5 miles from a very rural church in Iowa. That's Cumberland Presbyterian. It's the only one that is is left in the state. And we had a wonderful, family that was in the community there.
Kristi:My it's a farming community that kind of adopted my parents. They were young and, had 2 small children, and and so they wanted to invite us to Sunday school and to bible school and and things like that. And, so I still remember the first time that I went to the Shiner Cumberland Presbyterian Church. I was 5, I think, and it was a Bible school. And our neighbor brought me to Bible school, and I knew that it was a place that I belonged.
Kristi:And before long, I don't remember all of the details, but my parents had joined the church and my brother and I went through a kind of a confirmation class with Reverend W. O. Talley. And he had served our church, I believe, like, 11 years. And he's the 1st pastor that I remember, and
T.J.:and
Kristi:the things that I remember about him are not the standing in the pulpit. The things that I remember were him coming to our place and playing softball and playing catch with us and and doing things that someone of that age didn't think a pastor could do. You know, it's it's kind of funny to to look back on that perspective. But as as we as we engaged literally in the congregation and and I remember being baptized, because I wasn't baptized as a child or as an infant. I was 7 and had joined the church and was baptized and made my own profession of faith.
Kristi:And, I remember that that experience and this church, a small little country church that realistically probably had about 40 members, It seemed so much larger as a child. But they embraced us as a family as they did so many others and truly cultivated that learning within my my spiritual life. And we had, Mary Lee Watkins, who is Robert Watkins' mother, was a Sunday school teacher for me. And I still have the Bible that was, from 1979 that she challenged us to learn the books of the Bible in order. And I liked challenges, still do.
Kristi:And she challenged us, and I had it memorized by the next week. And she said, I haven't even ordered the Bible. But eventually, I got to stand before the congregation and recite the books of the Bible and was awarded a Bible. And that that kind of thing. There were so many different people that were so inspirational in my faith journey.
Kristi:I knew when I was 8 or 9 that I was going to go to Bethel for my education. And that was because way back then, the Bethel Balladeers came to visit this little tiny church in Iowa. And I knew that I wanted to have a connection with the children's home because James Gilbert came to visit us as well and, that kind of thing.
T.J.:Just to interrupt you for a moment, so, for context. So Bethel is Bethel College, now university, and children's home is a Cumberland Presbyterian Children's Home in Denton, Texas. And so at a young age, you you were exposed to these connectional aspect of this denomination, Cumberland Presbyterian denomination, that came to your little rural setting in Iowa and exposed you to 2 other people of faith.
Kristi:Yes. You know, these people were celebrities to me, because who would come to a little church in Iowa? And when, Robert Watkins was in the mission field, and he's Bobby to me. And, because his parents were there and Bobby would come home to tell us about his mission work in Columbia. And it was really a wonderful experience to know the the connectionalism within the church.
Kristi:Learned it from a very young age, and it had a huge impact on me. So it I think that's so important for for now. And because of that connectionalism, I realize, you know, that we were a global church back then, maybe not as big, but, you know, we always have been. And that's just connectionalism is is one of our our positives.
T.J.:You mentioned earlier that you enjoy challenges. Life challenges come across to us, and and thinking of some of your life challenges, is there one that you would like to share? And how has your faith spoken to that life challenge?
Kristi:Oh, golly. A a life challenge. I think, you know, the biggest challenge was when I first felt called to the ministry because I'm I'm telling kinda my age. It was it's 30 years in May that I've been ordained. And 30 years, a lot has changed.
Kristi:Back then, my process to ordination was not easy. I was challenged by members of the committee on ministry as to why I would be someone called to ministry. And and that call was questioned many times to where I had to define it. And it was you know, now it's I think it's a little bit different. It's not changed totally.
Kristi:But even when I was recommended for, ordination, originally, there was a a clause on it, with reservation. And, you know, I think those who are called to ministry do have a challenge because not only do most of us not feel worthy of being called to ministry, so you have that challenge yourself. But then when others challenge that call as well, it makes it for a difficult road to begin with. And but, you know, challenges are to be overcome, and that's exactly, what I feel like I've done over the last 30 years is overcome that challenge and and hopefully, in some way or another, respond to that challenge to show that, yes, God did call me to ministry. And I'm hoping that I'm I'm serving the the denomination, and more importantly, I'm serving God to the best of my ability.
T.J.:Do you think that challenge came from being a woman, age, and the gifts?
Kristi:I I do. I think it was all of those. I was young. I mean, I was still at Bethel. I was in my 1st year.
Kristi:Mhmm. And, you know, a lot of people ministry is their second career. They they go ahead and establish themselves ahead of time, and then they go to seminary. And I I do think being a female 30 years ago, that was there there wasn't a lot of female ministers. There was a handful.
Kristi:And now we've got, like, 150 something, I believe, on our roles. And that's that's a big difference. And so I do think so. And even then it was like, well, you'll never be a pastor in a in a congregation even if you have the gifts. And obviously that changed over the years.
Kristi:And but I do think sometimes instead of us embracing one another with our special gifts that we have that can make the kingdom of God better, with our ministry, I don't know if it's a a jealousy or if it's, what it is, but instead of embracing our gifts, we tear each other apart. Or we are critical of one another and we question one another. And that's difficult. Ministry is difficult enough. We we need to be celebrating one another and and not competing with one another.
T.J.:Looking back during those dark times, those dark challenges, I'm calling it that you you didn't. Thinking back, how did your faith encourage you? How did it speak to you? When you're going through this process with other Christians and, you know, there's, apprehension, there's there's a hesitancy to help you along in in that journey and help you along in that path towards ordination. How does your faith speak to that?
T.J.:You know, what prevented you from just going, I've had enough and I'm not gonna pursue the ministry anymore.
Kristi:Mhmm. Well, and there were times that that actually I really truly did feel that way. But I think it's I think it's when we have those challenges in life that we rely more on God and we dig deeper to find that connection with God. Mhmm. You have to rely on your faith in those tough times.
Kristi:And I question sometimes if if I didn't have faith, where would I be? And I think knowing that God is in charge of my life, that I do my best to hear that still small voice, that leads and directs me. And during those those dark times, as as you put it, those that still small voice was always there. And, you know, I think of the Psalms, be still and know that I am God. And I think so many times that if we just take that time to sit and listen when we're in the middle of the highs and lows.
Kristi:God will direct us through those challenges. And it just for me, it just deepens my faith, and it it kind of gives me that extra kick, I guess you would say, to just face those challenges and and continue on.
T.J.:So not to harp on challenges, but, I asked a guest last week, Mitchell Walker, about clergy burnout and, you know, the reality of of that, you know, over the last 2 years.
Kristi:Mhmm.
T.J.:And, so, Christy, what are you doing to help keep healthy and mentally, physically,
Kristi:spiritually? Well, I think, first off, self care for everyone is really, really important. Right? Especially right now with the the pandemic. Everyone has been affected by it.
Kristi:And for me, staying spiritually and mentally healthy has been much easier than being physically healthy. What is it they call it? The pandemic 19 or something like that? It's, you know, instead of the freshman 15, it's the pandemic 19 or something like that anyway. But, so when I when I live this is a little bit of a backstory for you.
Kristi:Growing up, living on a farm, as soon as you're old enough to do something, you do it. You you have your role in things. And so as my parents and my brother were out on the tractor farming, I was the one working in the yard and, helping with that kind of stuff and and doing those things. And so that has followed me throughout my adult years. And so for me, working in the yard, mowing, gardening, things like that, that's when I am able to do a lot of my spiritual and emotional due diligence, let's call it that, so that I can dig deeper in faith.
Kristi:And, yes, there is a pun there. It's it's during that time, you know, when when people say, oh, I don't wanna go mow the yard. Well, for me, sitting on that mower, I'm able to think and pray and plan and it's it's that time of healing for me. And so being outside helps me with that part of it. Besides, you get the sunshine and and things like that.
Kristi:But I also do, when I do gardening, I grow my own plants from seeds. And to me, that's a spiritual process. That sounds kinda weird, but you can equate it to somebody's faith because to grow in our faith, we have to be fed the right way, right from the start. And in order for these plants to produce some kind of fruit, that plant has to reach a certain maturity level. And so, likewise, in in order for our faith to be productive, we have to mature too.
Kristi:And so for me, watching these plants grow and and being able to to see this, it's a spiritual process for me. And and it helps me realize that God is truly in the littlest of things, from a seed blossoming into a full grown tomato, things like that. And so that's I do things like that. I enjoy just reading devotionals and different things. I am I pray and I discern a lot for my own life and for for hopefully the future of the church as well as being in a a leadership position.
Kristi:And then I just like to capture God's beauty on on camera as well. I'm I'm big into photography and can take different things and turn it into a spiritual experience by having, pictures of God's beauty. So that's that's kinda what I do for fun, if that's fun for others. So
T.J.:So physical labor, manual labor, photography.
Kristi:Yes. Hard work. It's it's the Midwest farmer's daughter coming out in me. Can't help it, but it was instilled at me at a a young age to work hard and to to do it well.
T.J.:Those keep you centered in your relationship. I like asking most of the guests, in terms of their relationship with God, is experiencing and finding the presence of God in your life today. How would you articulate that? What does that look like for you?
Kristi:Oh, wow. God is ever present in my life. I I truly do my best to to listen to God speak to me. It's not necessarily this big booming voice or anything like that, but I see God in just about everything. And it's having the right focus and and centering my life around God instead of fitting God in when it's convenient.
Kristi:And obviously, it helps being in a in a position where you're doing work for the church each and every day, but it's so much more than that. Even if I if I wasn't in the work that I'm doing, God is the focal point in my life. And and I look back in history for my own life, and I see that throughout time. I've made decisions throughout my life based on what I feel God wanted me to do. And just keeping that as a focal point.
Kristi:It doesn't mean that it's not a time that we aren't challenged by those, you know, by the world regarding keeping God in our in our lives. But it's it's that focal point that God is ever present. And that's that's what I have to remember during any time in my life, the good and the bad and the ugly. You know, that that's just the way it is. So
T.J.:If somebody wasn't faith connected and, you know, they were listening to our conversation and our God speak, you know, and our vernaculars and things like that. How do we make a difference between, you know, the voice of our conscious and maybe the voice of god? Because other guests have shared that as well, you know, being in tune with god and and listening for the voice. But how do I tell the difference between, you know, maybe this is what I want and and and maybe maybe this is what god wants. And so I don't know.
T.J.:How would we share that with somebody who's, you know, just has doubts or is just not faith connected at all, and they were to listen in to our conversation and go, I have no idea what they're talking about.
Kristi:Mhmm. Well, I think that feeling in your gut, that butterfly feeling, that, extra pounding in your heart, those kinds of things that that many of us call our conscience can also be, related to God. I really I think, you know, I think God gives us wisdom in a variety of ways and helps us, to discern good from bad, that we often call, a conscience. But I also think that's the holy spirit talking to us. You know, I think we know right from wrong.
Kristi:We choose to do wrong sometimes. We're human. God knows that we're human. And I think God expects us to wrestle with those feelings. And so when when you feel that extra pounding in your heart or that gut wrenching feeling, I think that's a way that we hear from God.
Kristi:And if we open ourselves and have the right openness, the mentality that God will speak through those little tinges in our in our self, in our soul.
T.J.:Mhmm.
Kristi:And you just have to to kind of listen for it.
T.J.:Yeah. I think I think about stuff like that a lot, in trying to describe the inward access, the inward being of god, and then we'll wait. There's an external aspect of god. And how do you share that? How do you articulate that with like like a 6 year old to a 6 year old?
T.J.:And I think that's a challenge. I think it's can can be confusing as well that it's that there is a presence and a being that shapes my life and my choices and my thinking that is both internal and external, and trying to share that with another person, it must sound crazy for someone who is not at that level.
Kristi:I I think it's a it's it is. You know, we are a being that wants concrete. We don't do well with abstract. And I think we often hear from from people that that Christianity as a whole or any faith religion can be mocked. It can be, questioned because there's not something that is concrete that you can, necessarily put your hands on.
Kristi:But I think if we look for those moments with God, if we look for those, confirmations through different things, I'm a I'm a big prayer. I I pray a lot and try to stay in in that kind of, framework, that mindset. And, I think if we're open to hearing God's voice, then it's there. But if you need, you know, solid concrete examples, you know, look around look around at beauty. Look at the creation and, you know, how did this happen?
Kristi:How did, you know, the creation of another human being even happen? And there has to be a God out there. It has to be something that is ultimately in charge of our lives. I think we're given free will, most definitely. But, ultimately, there is somebody somehow in charge of our lives.
Kristi:And and for us as Christians, that's that's God. Our version is, you know, God the father, the holy spirit, and, you know, the trinitarian with Jesus. And it's just for me, it's hard to imagine not having God in my life. But at the same time, I understand how some people just don't get that abstract concept. And putting that into words, like you said, for a 6 year old can be a little tough.
Kristi:But you talk about creation and how things have been created, how certain moments have happened. And I think that's a way to to help people understand.
T.J.:I enjoy having these kinds of conversations, and, we're just kinda scratching the surface in terms of a theological discussion. But I want to broaden it a bit. And in terms of the church and the church's mission and the church's, you know, message, what are we getting right? And what is the church missing? And you have a unique perspective as a director of congregational ministries, so I'm interested in your take of what the church is getting right in 2021, 2022, the last couple years, and and what are we missing in terms of reaching others and, sharing good news in a time when good news is always needed?
Kristi:I I think the church is doing a lot of things right. They're embracing people that come into the congregations as as they find the congregations. I think we're very generous in our giving, to different things. And, you know, I think we're seeking the will of God as well as we can within congregations. You know, we're in we're in some tough times right now.
Kristi:A lot of things have changed, and so we have a lot of congregations that are looking at a new focus, post pandemic. Churches that have never thought about using Facebook are now on Facebook. Churches that have that are rural, that are now, videoing their services and that kind of thing. We're taking communion to to people and leaving it outside their doors. I think we're becoming an innovative group of people that are responding to the needs that have been created because of the pandemic.
Kristi:In fact, I would say that many of the things that our churches have done to to move forward in the last 2 years never would have happened had we not had the pandemic. And so I do think we're responding well. But I do think the church is missing a few things too. You know, I talked about being still and and knowing God. And I think sometimes our churches, in general, get too busy.
Kristi:And we're too busy doing the busy work of the church when if perhaps we just stop for a moment and and think about what is it that God really wants us to be doing. The first and foremost I think is, you know, loving one another unconditionally and unapologetically. We as a church, the Cumberland church in particular, are spending way too much time arguing on different issues. When I I really think that in the in the scheme of things, I wonder if if it's something that's really that important to God. You know, Christ calls us to love one another and to lift up one another and not tear each other down.
Kristi:And if I was an outsider looking in, I would think, man, these people talk about the love of God and and the love of Christ, but yet we're tearing each other apart. We're saying that people are are not worthy of of serving God and we don't have necessarily that right to do that. And I think if we could focus on loving one another wholeheartedly, not the ifs, ands, or buts, but just loving one another. That's something that we need to work on. And these other things that we are doing right, it would just only it would be such a blessing and not detract from the things that we are doing right.
T.J.:Have you seen a congregation, or how would you advise a congregation to let go of some of the busy work? And how how would you advise a congregation and its leadership to exhibit the love of god so that others may know and profess a faith?
Kristi:Well, not trying to promote engage, but engage actually helps a congregation, move forward through this process, through discussion, discernment, discovery, those kinds of things. Being able to have someone lead a congregation or even just the leaders of a congregation through a discernment process. But and people say, well, what exactly is a discernment process? Because that's a huge word, for people that may not be in church. And it's it's basically a reflective process where you go below the surface.
Kristi:You you find out the deeper theological thoughts, maybe your own thoughts, regarding the church as a whole. You're you're incredibly honest in that. And I think if if a congregation is sitting being vulnerable to the will of God, to hear God speak to them through this process, then they can move forward. They they will hear God speak to them. But we have to stop and listen.
Kristi:And a way to do that is is to ask these important questions of, you know, what what is the motivator? What is the mission of that church, that congregation? Why are we here? Why are we serving God in the way that we are? How are we modeling Christ in our behaviors?
Kristi:Those kind of questions is what we call big questions in in life. And when you can figure out the answer to those questions, that's a discernment process. That's that's a way to to kinda cleanse that process and and bring forth then the will of God because all of you together have witnessed this movement together. And you and you hear this and you think, okay, now what do we do? And sometimes you have to wait.
Kristi:Sometimes you don't always get that answer right away. But when you do, if you do anything and everything with the understanding that you're loving one another, then you've then I think you're reflecting, the love of God and and the and the will of God in modeling Christ like behavior.
T.J.:And things that have impacted your your relationship with God. Are are there books or the movies in your life that, you've watched recently or read long ago that are impacting your faith and and your journey?
Kristi:You know, I thought about that for a long time, because needless to say, right now, I I don't have a lot of time outside of work, and I'm I'm going to school, as well. And we can touch on that in a minute if we want to. But I think back to my childhood, and one of the the neatest books that I read and watched the movie was Corrie 10 Boom, The Hiding Place. And she and her family hid several, Jewish people in an attempt to to save them and those who were friends of of the Jewish people. And I watched that movie when I was probably 9 or 10, and it was it was really a situation that helped broaden my horizons towards the persecution of of people in general.
Kristi:And I think it it helped me to understand that, you know, we all love God, no matter what our faith is, that no one, no certain group of people should be shunned or killed for their beliefs. You know, history we have several dings in our history, and this is one of them. And to me, it was it was life changing for me, this little girl in Iowa that, you know, it's it's 99% white, average income folks, that there is a world out there bigger than us as individuals, and that there are people that are gonna be different than we are. And knowing that groups can be persecuted. And that was huge to me to realize that.
Kristi:And it, I think, it shaped my formation in faith that never would I want to be a part of a group that's persecuting another group. And another one that, a movie that we that we watched, as a kid, actually, I was a teen, we raised the money to get the old movie reel and the projector that we rented from the local library to watch. I mean, we're talking we're dated here, you know.
T.J.:Yeah. Yeah. You're showing your age.
Kristi:Yes. I know. Back in the eighties, okay, we watched the trilogy of the Left Behind series. And to me, I know what the impact was supposed to be for these movies. I mean, you've got your, Revelation series coming up and stuff.
Kristi:But it helped me personally to realize that scare tactics and literally scaring the hell out of someone is not the way to win people to Christ. For me, I think it's our actions. It's showing people that we have to love one another. And I keep coming back to that, but I think that's so important because if we if we aren't wearing a sign that says, hey. I'm a Christian, our actions are what people see.
Kristi:And in my, home church in the basement, there was a sign that said, be careful. You may be the only Bible your friend ever reads. And that hung there for years, and it may even still be there. But reading that and thinking about that and the actions that we portray as Christians are so are so telling. And if we're not acting Christ like, that is the perception that somebody receives.
Kristi:And so I do think that we we are the billboard. We are the spokesperson for our faith, individually and collectively. And so I think, you know, just just looking at that, it's not the movies that say you have to make a decision right here and now. And, you know, are you gonna be left behind as the the series tells us? Instead, let's, you know, let's model that love of Christ.
Kristi:So I haven't read anything other than my school books recently. So
T.J.:Yeah. Let's talk for a moment about, you're back in school. What are you studying?
Kristi:Yes. Actually, I am cross my fingers, I am going to be finished and graduate from Bay Path University with a second master's in May. And that master's is, Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy with a certificate in Strategic Fundraising. I've been doing a lot of classes in fund development and donor appreciation, donor motivation, that kind of thing. And this is after my my 1st year evaluation.
Kristi:My team leader, Milton Ortiz, he asked me if I'd ever thought about going back to school, and I'm like, no way. I'm, you know, I'm over 50. I'm not gonna do that. So it put the seed in my in my mind, and I eventually decided to to look at this, program. And it has been so helpful.
Kristi:And I I truly hope that it will be beneficial also to the ministry council and into the greater church as as a whole. I hope to be a resource for nonprofit, just nonprofit in general, because I can help a a church with, you know, their their fund management, things like that. I can help with assessments of churches and different things like that. So it's been a an interesting time. I think I'm probably the oldest in most of my classes, but it's it's been wonderful.
Kristi:You know, when we went to Bethel, the older students would be called adult learners. Well, I think I'm a senior adult learner. But it it taught me that you're never too old, to learn more. And I think if if we all could continue to learn, you know, life is an education. And so, with this degree, I I hope that it will only benefit the church at large, and that God will give me new gifts to to share with others.
T.J.:And you finish in May?
Kristi:In well, actually, not that I'm counting the days. It's April 22nd that I'm done with my coursework. So graduation's in May.
T.J.:Christie, if, someone wanted to know more about Engage and they wanted to know more about congregational ministries, ecumenical ministries, Where could they get that information? How can they reach out to you?
Kristi:They can, reach out via our website, which is, www.cpcmc.org, or they can call the center and my extension is 263 and I can visit with them. They can email me that that's on the website too as well and then I'm only a phone call away after we connect. And, of course, I'm on social media as well. With, Facebook, we have a page for not only our missions ministry team, but congregational ministries as well. So there's a variety of ways that you can get in touch with me.
T.J.:Christie, I have enjoyed this so much. We've known each other for quite some time. Yes. And it's the first time I kinda well, I learned about your background and and what led up to you becoming the director of congregational ministries. Thank you for sharing.
Kristi:You're welcome. Thank you.
T.J.:And thank you for listening to the Cumberland Road podcast. Grab a friend and travel with me on the next journey down Cumberland Road.
