Ministry F.A.Q.
Where are you willing to travel?
Currently I am able to travel locally within SC and surrounding states and regionally.
Why do you talk so openly about domestic violence, depression, Caregiving, the Prodigal life and other issues you share?
I’ve had my own journey and struggled from each of these issues. I share my experiences in hopes that the lessons I’ve learned will help someone else. I long to show that no one is alone in their journey and there are other people that have travelled the same road and understand.
My advocacy with cancer comes from the loss of my father and a young cousin from the disease.
When Were You Called to Ministry?
In 2003, I was serving a church as Minister of Music. Over the course of six months, I had three different people approach me and tell me that I should be a minister. At that time, all I thought was of my Dad who had been a Baptist Minister. I knew I did not want to be a preacher.
I ran from this calling, lived a life of disobedience and became involved in a relationship that resulted in domestic violence. God used this relationship to completely break me. God used this time to show me that the ministry he had for me included writing, singing and inspirational speaking.
On August 10, 2008, I was broken and had nowhere to turn. That Sunday, I entered a church in Scotland and spent two hours on my knees in prayer. I surrendered my life to God and answered his call to ministry.
God has spent the ensuing years healing me and preparing me for the purpose he has for me.
In 2011, I had the privilege of attending the Christian Communicators Conference where I met other like-minded women. We continue to learn from one another and share our trials and triumphs even today.
While I don’t know how my call to Christian ministry will unfold, God reminds me I am serving Him in all aspects of my life, including as I caregiver, work as an Activities Director and go about my day to day life and friendships.
What do you mean by Sharing His Kind of Love?
The term His Kind of Love comes from the song of the same title. Daddy and I often performed this song together.
God tells us that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our hearts and love others as ourselves. He reminds us that we are to love our enemies as we would love ourselves. Finally, he says that we need faith, hope and love but the greatest of these is love.
Sharing HIS Kind of Love is a reminder to fulfill these commandments and of the love Jesus showed us on his death on the cross. Thankfully He did not stay dead, but rose the third day and one day we will be with Him again. HIS Kind of Love reminds me of this.
How did you get started writing?
As a child I would write and act out stories. Sadly, this was squelched by extended family members who did not understand my creativity. While I was in college, I thought about writing a book but considered it a pipe dream. Then one evening, on August 4, 2004 I had an argument with a family member. I went to bed angry and planning my next step. As I calmed down, a story began to form in my mind. I got up at 2am that morning to write the summary. The next day I said, “I can’t write that” but a voice said “you never know if you don’t try.” I wrote that novel within the next six months. Ironically, I lived much of that story after I wrote it.
From there I began writing and pushing myself. While I dealt with domestic violence, writing was the main outlet I had to express my feelings and deal with the trauma.
After I left the domestic violence situation, I began studying the craft of writing and attending writer’s conferences when I was able and have the finances. I continue to write and study the art of writing. I’ve been published in a handful of anthologies and look forward to the day my books are published.
How did you get started musically?
I began playing the piano when I was four years old. I took lessons for years. By the age of ten, I was the pianists for my father. He was musically trained and often ended his sermons with a song. We sung our only duet together the Easter when I was eleven years old. In high school I played the clarinet, xylophone and marimba in the school band. For years I longed to be a music therapist {and I provide music sessions today}, but never finished my music therapy training. Daddy encouraged me to pursue my love of music. I returned to college a week before Daddy died. I was horrified when I was informed I would have to study voice, along with piano. However, it was a blessing in disguise. A year later, a back injury limited the amount of time I could spend on a piano bench in one sitting. I turned to voice and began to work hard on learning to sing properly. I love singing as much, if not more, than I love playing the piano.
What sparked your interest in genealogy?
I’ve always loved history. By the age of five, I often read history books and conducted historical research. At the age of 12, a researcher in the family discovered we were related to Davy Crockett. This sparked my interest, but I did not pursue the subject. When I divorced my husband, at the age of 20, I needed something to take my mind off of my heartache. I began researching my family history. I was blessed to be able to start with all 8 of my great-grandparents. {I knew all 4 grandparents and 2 of my great-grandparents}. Starting at such a young age, I was able to talk with many older family members, work with researchers on various family groups and developed my skills to break through a number of brick walls. Over the years I began teaching classes, blogging and speaking on family history. I love delving into the past and bringing to life the people who were my ancestors. I’ve been told that I even talk to them in my sleep at times.