Stories Of Influence- A Woman Leads The Journey

If you've met Clark Millspaugh, you've met an amazing man.  It was Clark, Jim, Chris, Bryan, David, and several other men I met in my comings and goings in Tulsa that made me really curious just what this Journey was all about.  I used to get somewhat irritated at David because he often declined my "invitation" to serve on a church project because of his commitment to his Journey group. However, now I'm the one reigning in my schedule to keep time freed up. Seeing these men not just attend church, but be the church made me desire Journey for ladies. I organized a dinner where several people who were serving in Tulsa in very impactful ways gathered around the table to share their stories. It was obvious Journey was making a significant difference in Tulsa.  I wanted in.  Within 48 hours Bryan emailed and invited me to sit in on a Guide Meeting held downtown for men who were either considering guiding or who would be guiding for the first time. Now in Tulsa, Journey is an integral part of Tulsa Men of Christ.  I am not a man!  I eagerly accepted the invitation and arrived early to the meeting. (There is a first for everything...)  I was directed to a room and was the first to arrive.    As men began arriving they looked at me with great curiosity, assuming I was probably there to help set up the room.  Bryan Craig arrived and welcomed and introduced me.  Though there was some surprise, I was mercifully overwhelmed by acceptance.   Long story short, the first Oklahoma ladies group started a few months later.  I guided the first group that began with 20 ladies on my own as I had no clue how to even ask someone to co-guide with me quite yet.  We graduated about a dozen ladies in October of 2012.  What transpired the months leading up to that graduation was beautiful to behold.   In the early weeks an idea I still claim as divine led me to ask the ladies to write a few paragraphs and share how they had seen God prove Himself able in their lives.  I tucked them away in my guide manual notebook for the next many months.  As we gathered for our graduation ceremony I pulled them out and handed them to the ladies and asked them to read what they had started with nearly nine months previously.  I know we are women and cry easily, but the tears of transformation absolutely baptized our time together. The difference between where these women started and where God had brought them to was indescribably satisfying for me personally - and spiritually.   We are now on our second Journey and it is proving to be completely exhilarating.  Honestly, the first one was a whirlwind of discovery. This second trip holds familiarity that allows me to take in more of the view as I now have a co-guide and a smaller circle of women. I've learned to recognize where God is pruning me and am learning how to offer my branches to His loving shears in order to bear more fruit.   My favorite discovery so far this Journey is that the word abide and abode are from the same root word.  To think of not just living with Jesus in me, but with me, causes me to want to be somewhat more of a homebody!   I am so grateful Bryan Craig took a chance on inviting me to be a part of Journey.  I hope to make the trek many times and pass friends along the way who have journeyed with me before and are now guiding their own group of ladies.