F.U.E.R.T.E
(fierce, unshakeable, engaging, resilient, together, empowered)
I want to introduce my lovely team members! I will be traveling and doing life with these women for the first few months. You can also check out their stories by clicking on their pictures to the left.
Katy Herder
(team leader)
Birthday: November 7th
Lives: Denver, Colorado
Fun Fact: She danced so hard she split her pants right down the middle. Side note: I’m sure everyone on our squad could see this happening, because Katy is always dancing!
Favorite Bible Verse: Isaiah 62:3-4 “You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight is in Her, and your land Married; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married.”
Why: Because like Israel, I had a time where I strayed far from God’s path but then He declared a new name over me and no longer let me be called forsaken or desolate but instead He called me His delight. This verse taught me that God has a new name for myself. I shall no longer see myself as forsaken or ugly, but instead I have learned that God delights in me and through my process of healing from the past he has declared the new name Hephzibah, my delight is in her, over me.
Denea Allman
(team treasurer)
Birthday: March 24th
Lives: Concord, North Carolina
Fun Fact: Jonathan Taylor Thomas was her first man-crush in her tweens
Favorite Bible Verse: Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.”
Why: What I learned through his many years was that only one thing truly matters is- to fear (respect) God and keep His commandments. In this we will find all the value we need in life. The point is that loving and respecting God is all that should matter.
Kristen McLaughlin
Birthday: August 5th
Lives: San Antonio, Texas
Fun Fact: Went hang gliding in Switzerland
Favorite Bible Verse: Proverbs 16:9 “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”
Why: Before I had a relationship with the Lord, it was all about me me me me. It was up to me to control my life and the direction I wanted it to go in. After gaining a relationship with the Father, I came to the realization that my life isn’t about me, but about Him & what I do in life reflects that. Especially in times of question, fear or disappointment rather than relying on my own doing I knew I had someone stronger with my best interest in mind regardless of the outcome. It’s when I truly began to rely on Him to establish my steps I knew what I was doing was in the directions of Gods will.
Andy Ramirez
Birthday: November 15th
Lives: Houston, Texas
Fun Fact: Collects playing cards and a huge fan of all things TV and movies
Favorite Bible Verse: Psalm 18:19 “He rescued me because he delights in me.”
Why: When I was at a low point in my life, battling with a bad relationship and depression a friend showed me that verse and helped me see that the Lord saved me from it all and he did it because he delighted in me.
Shae Trotter
Birthday: November 17th
Lives: Norman, Oklahoma
Fun Fact: Loves all babies and children. Also, loves all kinds of dancing (two-stepping, booty-shaking, salsa, swing dancing, and everything in between)
Favorite Bible Verse: Ecclesiastes 5:7 “Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore, stand in awe of God.”
Why: It shifts our perspective from ourselves to God. It says without Him, all these things are meaningless. It also speaks to the power of Him and not only should He be our focus, but we ought to stand in awe of God and everything He is and has done.
Karla Pineda
Birthday: October 1st
Lives: Fort Worth, Texas (Born in Guatemala)
Fun Fact: Dual citizenship
Favorite Bible Verse: Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declare the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm, to give you a future and a hope.”
Why: It’s God’s promise to me that He has my life story already written.
Mary Jane Stevens
Birthday: July 29th
Lives: Memphis, Tennessee
Fun Fact: Double jointed in my elbows
Favorite Bible Verse: Isaiah 58:11 “ The Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.”
Why: A family friend spoke this verse over me, and when she did it resonated with me. With this up coming year I’m going to be following the Lord into not so glamorous situations, but he will strength my mind, body, and spirit during those tough times. Also, the last part of this verse I think of God flowing through me like water splashing on everyone around me with His beauty. This verse helps me remember that no matter what society might still call me; His water (love) has made me clean. His water does not fail!
Strong alone. Unstoppable together.
