"What do you want to do for the rest of your life?" Imagine in your young life just about starting your independent journey.... then you are thrown this "something to think about question". How would you respond? Here's a little inspirational testimony from a woman of GOD and how she answered GOD's calling ...and rose up to christian leadership all for the glory of GOD.
AND SO WE MEET
Coming to Golden Hills Community Church (GHCC) a few months ago, I was warmly welcomed as soon as I filled up the guest form. That same Sunday I received an e-mail from the “Welcoming Committee”. Scott graciously welcomed me and even called me personally to follow through and made sure that my experience at GHCC was fruitful. He also addressed any problems or issues I had during my visit and if there is any question I have. I was also properly introduced to the Women’s Ministry and the Kids’ Ministry for my Little Man. I was looking for a particular group and he went out of his way to point me to the right person too.
I got to meet the Director of Women’s Ministry. I valued that and it was life changing meeting for me. Not a lot of women leaders in that position that I have met or knew, would meet with new attendees and that has marked me in a very good way. If you are a leader in your Women's Ministry, take heed of this...this is a great benchmark for leadership. One that shouldn't go unnoticed!
I vividly remember, sitting under the shade of a huge, mighty tree in the church yard, sharing a cup of tea and coffee during a very nice spring day, I had the opportunity to meet with Ms Anna Beakhouse, the Director of Women’s Ministry here at GHCC. Everyone at GHCC fondly calls her Ms Anna Bee, so I shall use it here. It was a brief but very fruitful talk. She was also very encouraging, gave me a bird’s eye view of how to navigate in a big church like this one. The thing I remember the most, is when she said: "Yes, we go to church, we read the Bible, study His Words but doing life with other Christians is also essential in one's spiritual growth". I am sure she can feel my thirst and hunger for the Word of God and the curiosity I have with the groups that she has introduced to me. She also pointed out that “putting myself out there with other Jesus' followers will be a great opportunity to grow and be encouraged” (Hebrews 10:24-25). As we wrap up the meeting we joined hands in prayer and that was such a blessing for me at that very moment. I gave myself time to think and consider her words and prayers for me. I did miss a couple of events she invited me initially, then Fall came and all the studies were beginning. I signed up for the Women’s Bible Study for the first time!
Ms Anna Beakhouse: (1) Director, Women's Ministry (GHCC); (2) in action at one of the Women's Coffee Break Event; and (3) at the most recent "Ladies' Extravaganza" .
LEADERSHIP
I kindly asked Ms. Anna Bee, the Women's Director to answer a few questions for me about being a leader for such a huge community of women. She was most gracious to do it for me. So here we go...
First of all, she didn't really wanted this to be about her so I will use the quotation I found on her e-mail which strikes me with all humility. This is what the GHCC Women's Ministry stands by -
"Our purpose is to glorify GOD by participating in the process of making disciples of women who will impact their families, their church, their community, and the world for Christ."
In her 20's, Ms. Anna Bee was asked this trying question..."What do you want to do for the rest of your life?". This paved the way to God's calling, an inner conviction to surrender her dreams and personal pursuits, instead put Christ first in her life. She and her husband (Pastor Brian Beakhouse, our Global Outreach Pastor) in their early years as a couple ventured into a very different and outrageous calling. They went on a cross-cultural mission and worked in the African rain forest, then to Chad.
[Chad is an African country that is mostly populated by Muslims, where in some parts there is still unrest. There are still a lot of people unreached by the Word of God in this country despite the many missionaries sent out there. Life is not easy at all in Chad, especially for American missionaries and their families. Last month one of the Missionary Pastor just came back from Chad with his wife and seven kids who shared some of their missionary stories with us, and they are not the usual testimonies we hear most of the time. Pastor Jacob preached on Galatians.]
I can just imagine the culture shock, the adjustments into a totally new way of life, far far away from families and everything that used to be normal and easy life for them both. But Ms. Anna Bee and Pastor Brian fully embraced this calling, only equipped with faith and the joy of following Jesus, they went on with their mission to spread the gospel into all the world (Matthew 28:19-20) even in the face of near death, wars and loneliness they still manage to survive and with great joy and total satisfaction in Jesus Christ.
That was quite a bold testimony! She also served in an international missions for four years and then afterwards they were called to serve here in the US and became part of GHCC where she became the Director for the Women's Ministries. And here we are years on, they are now saying their goodbyes, packing up their suitcases and planning their next ministry back in their homeland in England.
Q: Can you describe the Women's Ministry in five words? A: "Women growing to know GOD."
WOMEN’S MINISTRY
The GHCC Women’s Ministry is HUGE! - in numbers, talents, leaders, activities and ministries too. It is composed of an array of women in different walks and seasons of life, but very welcoming to everyone.
This Ministry is very dear to Ms Anna Bee's heart, I can feel that from her. She has this big heart for serving, for modeling Jesus to all these women and for leading just like a mother to this body of believers. Seeing more and more women come to know Christ and serve God in their own special way is a great feeling for the Women's Ministry and its leadership.
Nothing comes easy with such a big group, and of course there are a few challenges in serving, leading and organizing. Through her years of leading this huge ministry, CHANGE has come up on top of her list as the most common challenge all in all. As there are members who have grown roots and at the same time young ones coming in, changes are sometimes seen as disruptions from their normal, hence change becomes a hard stumbling block at times. For every problem there is always a solution and one thing she identified that have helped them (the leadership) face this challenge is COMMUNICATION. Open communication between the leaders, between the leaders and members and between each member too. Time and time again, they make sure that communication is top most priority before any change can happen. The Ministry leaders do not get tired of communicating reasons for the change and providing them adequate time to process it before anything can take effect. This may sound like an easy read but it is a grueling process all together that may continue on longer than it ought to be. There are some tears during the struggles and Ms Anna Bee, as the director, is not exempted from this. At the end of the day, when all these are lifted up to the Lord, all we have to do is TRUST HIM FULLY. Trust GOD to do His will and His work, Trusting GOD in everything has been a life line for her personally and for the leadership too.
Planning and putting together year-round activities and events are not easy task for the Women's leadership. Keeping in mind that the Ministry caters to women with a wide range of age, culture, seasons of life with different spiritual needs and talents/time to serve GOD. It is just amazing as to how they have been so successful all through these years. How do they pull all these through? The leadership, together with all its members have one goal in common and that is "to do everything for the glory of GOD!"
Through her personal experience, Ms Anna Bee shared her 'life essentials' on how and why she can keep on going and giving for the ministry she was called for. Here are her "ESSENTIALS" and we can all glean from these...
Take regular time alone with GOD. Her first and foremost advice for all of us, especially essential for all leaders as exemplified by Jesus is quality time with Him. Remember how Jesus would pull away from the crowd and his disciples to go somewhere quiet to be with the Father and pray?
Humility. She said that when you are in leadership it is quite tempting to seek success and affirmation from others to be encouraged in ministry. I think for most of us who have been in leadership of any form or shape this is such an awakening truth that some of us dare not admit, but actually happening. Again to keep her grounded and not be taken away from the real purpose of serving is to keep in tune with Jesus and spend more time alone with Him and ask the question time and time again: "Am I more concerned with what GOD thinks I have said or done?"
The Women's Ministry is open to all women/ladies aged 14 and above. It is a very diverse group indeed and so they have set up teams to reflect this as well. They have planned out the activities and studies that are (1) Christ-centered; (2) Word-saturated; and (3) mission-focused in varying degrees so that it can cater to every woman, in every age and every background. Through this diversity, the leadership has found a gold mine of "women serving, learning and knowing together". And this is yet another milestone to this amazing Women's Ministry at GHCC.
"I have witnessed when older women model Christ, younger women can't help but want them to be a part of their lives. And young women too, have much to offer, and we can learn from them." - Ms Anna Beakhouse, Director of Women's Ministry (GHCC)
I am also in awe of their leadership, I mean the organizers behind this ministry are just some of the most dedicated and creative women for the glory of GOD. They are just …. awesome women of faith!
JOYS IN SERVING
All these works and challenges do come with a reward and that is the overwhelming JOY of giving glory to GOD by serving His flock of women. Ms. Anna Bee had her share of such joy in serving. She loves watching women grow in relationship with Jesus. From the moment they meet their Savior, Jesus Christ to choosing reconciliation over unforgiveness and this is the gospel applied in real life.
It is also joy for her to see the leadership team lead with "God's authority" and sacrifice like Paul (living the by-line "I die daily"). She had seen these leaders around her adhere to the principle of humility wherein "He must increase and I must decrease". This allows God to bring new life into the ministry while wrestling with their own heart issues. Ms. Anna Bee is most grateful as these women leaders are constantly teaching her.
Another joy she found in serving God through the Women's Ministry is the constant discovery of young women stepping up into leadership. She is like a Mom watching her daughters grow from strength to strength. Getting to share in the spiritual milestone of these emerging leaders and seeing their growth and maturity right before their very eyes are the leadership's greatest joy.
Not forgetting the population of mature women in faith from amongst them, Ms Anna Bee calls them "beautiful role models" of obedience, grace, kindness, joy and wisdom. They are women of God whom the younger generation can look up to in serving God and an example in their response to everyday situations.
LOOKING AHEAD
I asked her what the future might be for the Women's Ministry and its leadership in the next 5-10 years. More than anything, and I can feel a tinge of mixed emotions rising inside her, she feels an unexplainable excitement who God will choose to lead the flock to continue His great work. She is also looking forward to see how GOD will lead the whole Ministry into a new horizons!
Q: What will you miss the most with GHCC Women's Ministry? A: "I have grown to love the women I serve with and the women of this church."
Ms Anna Bee's leaving is bitter sweet for most of us, and it is a mutual feeling I'm sure. She has grown to love this church, especially the Women here. When I heard them (Pastor Brian and Ms Anna Bee) announced their plans of leaving GHCC it hit me in the wrong spots and thought "but WHY?". Later on going back to what they said, God must be preparing them for a new calling and all they need to do is follow HIS lead. It is undeniable that she will be missed together with her spirit for the ministry, her dedication to discipleship of more women and empowering a lot of women towards christian leadership...all these for the glory of our GOD.
I asked Ms Anna Bee to leave us some "Reading Recommendations" that are worth sitting down and enjoyable to read during the Holidays. Her obvious first choice and highly recommend to read is the BIBLE of course! She wants each and everyone of us to "read the BIBLE perpetually in and out of season."
Then we can look at some of these books she has read recently and learned from....
"CONFRONTING CHRISTIANITY" by Rebecca McLaughlin. Yes, she was the guest speaker at the Ladies' Extravaganza this year. She found that this book isn't afraid to ask the hard questions of Christianity. The author is very thoughtful and intelligent in her book that it helps you to think through those issues.
"AN UNHURRIED LIFE" by Alan Fadling. Ms Anna Bee must have finished this book by now. Like most of us, she found this book through a friend's recommendation. It is a timely book that reminds us to savor more time with Christ.
"LOST AND FOUND" by Collin Hansen. This one is a short, but beautiful and engaging book of testimonials of how people found God.
SEND OFF
Now, let me leave you with the same question we started with: "What do you want to do with the rest of your life?" Give it some thought. This paved the way for Ms Anna Bee to realize God's calling in her life. Not everyone is called to lead but I know that each one of us has a calling from God to serve and to serve Him well. So, what do you really want to do with the rest of your life?
When I asked Ms Anna Bee if I can write about her ministry she reminded and asked me kindly if this can not please be about her. I know I have for most of it, but I pray that the life she shared with us, the calling she followed, the Ministry she led and her abundant life testimony that all point us back to the greatness and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, may all inspire us to join a ministry in the church we belong to, encourage us to listen to God's calling, and to keep in mind that we are doing all these only for HIS glory!
And our dearest Ms Anna Bee leaves the women of Golden Hills with these words to ponder (it is for YOU & ME both):
"This message is for me too; that we might grasp the reality that Jesus died that we might die. By understanding that Jesus' death gives us life in Him we live a life surrendered to Christ. As such, we will know the incomparable joy of Jesus Christ in all circumstances. For Christian women to live out our identity in Jesus in a life surrendered to Him whereby He takes first place in every area of our lives. - Ms. Anna Beakhouse
Thank you Ms Anna Bee for all that you have shared through the ministry and your faith exemplified for us. We will remember you dearly and serve as an inspiration in doing life with all the other women in the Ministry.
God speed Pastor Brian and Ms Anna Bee! May our Lord God be glorified in everything you do.
/deeO/
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