Hello Alderwood! This month I (Lisa) wanted to update you on one of the important aspects of our ministry – that of mentoring and coaching. One of our major desires is to help the body of Christ have an impact for Jesus where God has placed them. Sometimes that’s lay people in the church and sometimes that is to help other missionaries deepen their walk with God and skills for the Kingdom. Let me tell you about one of the women whom I regularly coach:
Shirley is a Brazilian young woman who came to the U.S. as an international student in her early 20’s. She studied at the U. of Tennessee as a young believer. She met Cru staff there and started growing in her faith. We met Shirley shortly after in 2014 at a Cru summer mission project at UCLA and the Lord knitted our hearts together. Since then we have been in close touch doing several ministry mission trips together which eventually led her to join Cru staff, first in Brazil and now in Sydney, Australia reaching out to international students with the gospel. I recently asked Shirley to share how our coaching times have impacted her life and ministry. This is what Shirley said:
Having someone like Lisa in my life helps me to keep going. She always has wise words that help me in my times of doubts and struggles. She prays for me and gives me good biblical reflection every time we have a coaching time. Her love and care are so genuine. I know I can always count on her for all the support I need. She has helped me so many times to see more clearly God’s direction in my life. She has lots of knowledge and experience as a cross–cultural missionary. So many times she helped me to process and better understand my cultural shock. She helps me to get closer to God, to understand my struggles on the mission field and in my personal life in a biblical way.
She inspires me as a role model. Because she is mature, has so much love for God, so much experience, but at the same time she is not afraid to share her vulnerabilities and struggles as well. So she helps me to have a more realistic goal on what a woman in ministry looks like.
Thank you Alderwood for allowing me to help women like Shirley have an impact for Christ.
Rick & Lisa
Shirley & Lisa in 2018
Shirley & Lisa in 2022
Shirley’s birthday in January 2022
Shirley & Lisa online in 2024
