SHAPED FOR A CALLING CATCHING THE VISION By Vicki Smith // Director of Women’s Ministries
Inspiring & Empowering Women to Find Their Full God-Potential
I was having a conversation the other day with a former pastor and lifelong friend of mine. We were reminiscing about our days of serving together. I made the statement to him that wasn’t it fun to be involved in ministry. He looked at me a little strange and said, “Well as long as everything is going well”. I knew what he meant but I could not help but find the humor in his reply. I spent thirty years as an elementary teacher. It was a profession that I took very seriously. I felt called to the classroom. I loved kids and had a desire to in some way make a real difference in their life. I always said that over the years they may not remember what I taught them but rather how I treated them. For my seventieth birthday my daughter reached out to seventy of my former students and friends and asked them to name something that they remember about me. I was blessed to read so many responses that referred to positive things I had said or things I had done for them. After I retired from teaching God called me to the mission field and as Sid and I answered that call and prepared to go I could see how God had been shaping me for that ultimate assignment. Over two and a half years ago when I stepped into the role of leading Women’s Ministries it again was the result of a calling that I felt. I can describe it in much the same way as my calling to teach. I love Jesus, I love missions and my desire is that all come to know Him in a personal way. At the Women’s Ministries board meeting in April the board voted to remove the interim title and give me the full title of director. I have never been concerned about titles and as one put it, we want our women’s groups and churches to know that Women’s Ministries
General Baptist Messenger Summer 2021 | 31
