LeadHer.org LeadHer.org

Growing Women God’s Way

by encouraging and equipping them

to impact the world for Christ

Publisher

LeadHer Ministry

Founder and

Executive Director

Christie Love

Photography

LeadHer Ministry

Cassie Duckett Photography

Hazel Brogdon

Correspondence and

Questions should be

directed to:

LeadHer Ministry

3763 N. Highway H

Springfield, MO 65803 USA

Web:

LeadHer.org

Email:

info@leadher.org

LeadHer Local chapters are free

to join and open to all women

(high School freshman age and

above). Our chapters meet twice

a month to discuss a different

biblically based topic and learn

how to apply it to their lives and

their communities. Learn more

at LeadHer.org

© 2014 LeadHer Ministry

CONTENTS

LEADHER DIRECTORS

ADVISORY BOARD

Christie Love, Founder and Executive Director

Dianne Guthmuller, LeadHer Local Director

Holly Kurtz, Director of Chapter Development

Monica Atkinson, Director of Development

Jenn Taylor, Communications Coordinator

Melissa Heiland, International Program Coordinator

Barbara Hemphill, Board Chair

Mary Margaret Gibson, Board Secretary

Beverly Anderson, Board Treasurer

4-5 Lasting impact made by LeadHer Local

6-7 LeadHers share their stories

8 LeadHer reaches internationally

9 Enlist in LeadHer Boot Camp

10 Sharing the LeadHer vision

11 Support Us

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Ericka D. Jackson

Halee Gray Scott

Shauna Storey

Saundra Williams

Geneva Yourse

A special thanks to Erika Whitby for designing

our LeadHer and LeadHer Branches logos.

A Love Letter

3

I will never forget the day God planted the vision of LeadHer in my heart. I was away for a weekend, attending a large women’s conference. On the final day of the event I stood, surrounded by thousands of women, worshiping together, when a difficult reali-

zation suddenly hit me…I had to go home. For me, this meant returning to face a new life as a single mother with three children under the age of five. I was uncertain about what my future held and I was afraid I did not have the strength to face it alone. Faith has always been a part of my life. I grew up in the church, giving my life to Jesus at Vacation Bible School when I was seven years old. However, my faith up until this point in my life had been shallow and self-serving. In many ways, my divorce forced me out of the baby pool of being a “church girl” and forced me into the deep end of learning to be a “Godly woman.” I was not sure how to make this transition. That day as I looked around the auditorium full of women from all ages and stages of life, I felt a deep craving in my spirit to go deeper in my faith, my under-standing of the Bible, and my ability to apply it to my life. I felt a longing to seek out mentors and listen to other women share their wisdom and experiences with me. I longed for a group to provide me with these things that I could plug into on a regular basis in my community. I wanted more than I could get at a weekend event once or twice a year. On the drive home, I began to pray that God would somehow make this

vision a reality in the world for women somehow through someone. It was a long road from that day to the day when I finally realized I was that someone. I was the person He had entrusted the vision with and He was asking me to help him fulfill. I struggled because I felt unqualified and unworthy for this work. Yet, God assured me He did not call me because I was qualified, however, He would qualify me because I was called. In the last three years, God has led amazing women in and out of this journey to help build LeadHer. Each has been instrumental in helping to make God’s vision of encouraging and equipping women of the world through Local Chapters now a reality not just in my area… but all around the world. I hope as you read the stories, testimonies, and ways God is calling us to work that you will be prayerful about how God may be inviting you to be involved in this powerful movement He has started in the women of the world!

from our Founder and Executive Director

4

LeadHer Local unites women of different ages, stages, and church affiliations togeth-

er through local chapters in their communities. These chapters use God’s word as the foundation to challenge each woman to see the influence and impact that she is able to make in the world around her as a LeadHer.

All Women- All walks of Life Picture women in their fifties and sixties gathered around tables with teenagers as they discuss the LeadHer topic of the month. No matter what the topic is — forgiveness, time management, how to handle conflict— both generations find that they grow when they listen and learn from one another. Imagine a young mother walking into a LeadHer meeting, tired and worn from a long week. You can see the joy as she receives a hug from a woman whose youngest son just left for college. The older mom encourages the new mom that though the days seem hard, they go by quickly and need to be treasured. Think about a corporate CEO sitting at a table with a retired school teacher, a stay-at-

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We help women discover the truth about themselves, and then develop that skill each month through discussion in our local

chapters and topical teaching videos.

home mom, and a recovering alcoholic all discussing the topic of patience and finding out that they have much more in common than they would have ever imagined. As they begin to find shared hurts and struggles, they are able to share ideas and experiences with one another. Afterwards, they pray for each woman’s ability to be more patient in her daily personal situations. The titles may be different and the roles may be different… but often the struggles are the same. All LeadHers We once asked a group of 100 women how many saw themselves as a leader. Only 33% of them said that they did. Sadly, every-one of those women were making a difference in the lives of others around them somehow. Some were teachers, mothers, wives, friends, sisters, aunts, volunteers, business owners, mentors, and church leaders. Everyday, each woman was impacting and influencing someone. All 100 should have said, “I am a leader.” We want to help them all become a LeadHer!

5

Bring a Chapter to your Church or Community!

Checklist to start a chapter: — Find a Co-Coordinator to lead with you — Fill out your applications — Ask people to submit references — Complete our online Jump Start training program. Jump Start guides you through the details of setting up your chapter– from finding a meeting location to securing your local sponsors. We help you every step of the way.

“EVERY Woman has the potential to be a LeadHer because EVERY

woman influences or impacts someone each day. A LeadHer sees

that impact and chooses to be intentional about using it to impact

the world around her for Christ. “

~ Christie Love, LeadHer Founder

In November 2011, I was on a journey in my spiritual life where I had decided I was

going to say yes to whatever God called me to do. As a recently widowed, now single

mom of two young children, caring for my elderly parents, and working in full-time

vocational ministry, I seemed like the least likely candidate to add "LeadHer Local

Chapter Coordinator" to my already very full plate. Not to mention, I have had zero

experience with women’s ministry. However, the Holy Spirit had other plans and I be-

gan to take those first baby steps of obedience.

God equips those He calls, and His first provision came in also calling a good friend to

join me as co-coordinator. While we recognized our God is big, our faith was

small. When we were preparing for our chapter launch, we hoped five women would

join us. However, the God who does immeasurably more than we expect brought us

more than 20 women during those first several weeks.

LeadHer Seattle recently celebrated our one year chapter anniversary by hosting a

night of praise in a local coffee shop, and we have had

the opportunity to speak into the lives of almost 50

different women.

Because we said yes to God and went outside our

comfort zones, we have been blessed to see women

enter into an authentic and safe community with other

women where each one of us is challenged to see how

we can continue to say yes as we have an impact

where He has uniquely placed each one of us.

— Katie Goldsmith

Seattle, WA LeadHer Co-Coordinator

LeadHer Stories

6

Have you ever been happy but not really happy?

I was sad, mostly lonely. If I were diagnosing myself online it would either be pan-creatic cancer, birth control symptoms or depression. Whatever. Fresh from the big city, I had few contacts and no social life when I moved back home. Work, the local grocer and church were my only stops. Boring. LeadHer, introduced to me at the church I grew up in in Alabama, was the answer to my prayer for friends and fellowship. Here, I learned joy is a choice, something one must decide to walk in. Changed my entire way of thinking. Things started pick-ing up and blessings came down in the form of a promotion and new freelance opportunities and... more moments of joy, actual organic joy. I have new relationships with people I've known for years, developed unexpected friendships and found women that celebrate and support me. But LeadHer isn't a book club. Not just fun and foolery. In this sisterhood, we are growing in God. That's one of the best things about LeadHer. We are all everyday women dealing with kids, school, spouses, singleness and not wanting to eat less sweets and our foundation is Him. I love this organization and know it's

something women worldwide need...

sisters in Christ.

— Erika Whitby

LeadHer Opelika, AL Member

7

Each month, LeadHer is blessed with

the opportunity to send our lessons to

women in seven other countries around

the world. The lessons challenge women

to go deeper in their faith with God,

while also sharing the love of Jesus with

women who have yet to accept Him as

their Lord and Savior.

In 2013, we were excited to send five

LeadHers to the Dominican Republic for

LeadHer’s first mission trip! From June 24

to July 1, we saw many responses to the

hopeful messages of passion and purity

shared by our team. Forty-two made

professions of faith in Christ as their

Savior; 76 made commitments to purity;

95 ladies expressed an interest in joining

a women’s Bible study, and LeadHer

planted eight new local chapters to

speak love and truth into their lives.

We were also blessed with a beautiful

testimony from a Kenyan coordinator in

January 2014:

“Greetings from Kenya, it is a blessing to

have people who can create time to

change the lives of others. The lessons

we have received from you have been of

great value to us. You may think you are

just sending lessons to women some-

where, but the truth is, the contents of

these lessons remain in us. We Listen,

Learn, and Live THE LESSON.

Last year, I was able to share the

lessons with more than 1,000 women

who are divided into 15 groups from 15

different churches here in Kenya.”

Visit leadher.org to learn more about

how LeadHer is Growing Women God’s

Way Worldwide.

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International

Bahamas * Colombia * Mexico*

Kenya

Dominican Republic * Haiti * Togo

As LeadHers, we have each

been called to serve God in a way only we can serve. Our passions and gifts are crucial pieces of this calling, but so many shy away from the life uniquely created for them. The struggle is often not in our willingness to serve, but in how to do it. We allow our fears, our routines, our uncertainties and our busyness to stand in the way of God’s unique purpose for our lives. We often settle for a good enough life when God has called us to a great life. However, LeadHers are not settling in 2014. We have realized that we are called to action and we are enlisting in training to prepare for the callings and purposes He has given us. We are bowing our heads and digging deep, gaining strength and wisdom to grow and conquer the tasks He has laid before us. This year, LeadHers are focusing on getting themselves in shape to serve as they prepare themselves for big decisions that will lead to radical transformations in their lives spiritually, physically, mentally, financially and relationally. Our verse, Hebrews 12:10-11 MSG reads, “For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening-- it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” As we dive into 2014, we are excited to challenge women to practice discipline, to build endurance, to release the fears and burdens holding them back and to recognize those around them that have been called to fight with them. It will not be an easy year; however, we anticipate a year full of growth as LeadHers all over the world get themselves in shape to fulfill God’s callings and purposes.

2014 LeadHer Theme

Christie Love, Founder

9

LeadHer Local Chapters do not charge

membership fees. Not a dime stands

between a member and her ability to hear

the truth of who she is in Christ, and

access the teaching and training she needs

to develop as a leader to impact the world

around her. This allows us to minister to

ALL women — not just those that can

afford it.

“I am so thankful these chapters are free

because on my budget I would not have

been able to attend otherwise.”

~ LeadHer Member

We are able to keep our chapters free for

women to join because of our sponsors

and supporters. These people and organi-

zations understand that making a gift to

LeadHer is making an investment in the

life of a woman in the world. They know

that there is no limit to the return on that

investment because of the immeasurable

ripple effect that occurs when a woman’s

life is changed and her heart is challenged.

One woman literally has the

opportunity to touch and

impact hundreds of lives around her

through direct and indirect influence.

There are several ways you can give a gift

to support our ministry and sow seeds of

growth and development in LeadHers all

around the world:

Become a regular monthly donor by

giving a gift of any size to our ministry

on a monthly basis. You can sign up

to be a monthly giver at our website

www.leadher.org

Give a one time gift of any size to our

ministry. You can give this gift online

or by mail. You can mail your gift to:

LeadHer

3763 N. Hwy H. Springfield, MO 65803

Help Plant New Chapters so we can

grow more LeadHers!

Each new chapter costs $2,000 to start in

a community. We ask local coordinators

to raise half of the expense in their

community by securing four local

sponsors each giving $250.

The other half comes from a matching

$1,000 gift from a 26:12 Council member.

These individuals are passionate about

seeing women grown and equipped as

Godly leaders through new LeadHer Local

chapters and are willing to sow seeds of

support into our ministry.

To learn more about any of these ways

that you can support our ministry visit

www.leadher.org 10

Support LeadHer

11

Three years ago, my life

changed forever. I was

living my fairytale.

Married to my high

school sweetheart,

raising my daughters as a

stay-at-home mom; we

were living the dream.

That all came crashing

down when my husband

of 12 years asked me for

a divorce and moved out

of state. So I went from stay-at-home

mom to full-time single mom.

My life came crashing down around me.

From that point forward, my life took

some sharp turns and jagged corners but I

leaned on God and knew He had a pur-

pose and plan for my life. About a year

later, I learned about LeadHer. I joined as

a Director and Co-Coordinator of my

LeadHer Local Chapter and finally found

my passion in life!

I started coordinating LeadHer’s confer-

ences across the U.S. and internationally.

The teachings we discussed every month

as a chapter were deepening my faith in

ways I never knew existed. I was being

challenged in ways I never had before.

LeadHer changed my life! I went from not

knowing what

my purpose was

to knowing ex-

actly what God

called me to do.

Within a year of

working with

LeadHer, God

called me to

start my own ministry, SingleMomzRock,

which is a local outreach for single moms.

If I had not been pruned by LeadHer to be

the woman God made me to be, I never

would have had the courage to step out in

faith and build this ministry. Because of

LeadHer, God is now using me to change

the lives of single moms in the Springfield,

MO area.

I also support LeadHer as a monthly

supporter. This is not always easy being a

single mom, and struggling like anyone

else, but I believe in this ministry so much

that I make sure that I do what I can to

support them how I can.

LeadHer is changing lives through their

monthly teachings. They can only do this

with support from you and me. I would

encourage you to look at your budget,

take out the frappes/lattes and decide to

spend at least $10 a month towards

changing a woman’s life.

You never know whose life will be

touched because of your generosity.

Just like mine was…

— Janelle Reed LeadHer Supporter

Thank you to our

National Sponsors!

www.gbcol.edu/aoeindex

www.evantell.org www.faithfulorganizers.com

www.productiveenvironment.com

If you would like more information on becoming a sponsor,

email info@leadher.org.