[I know, I know. It’s past Mother’s Day. The official celebratory day for moms is over. But I really wanted to share with you some of the amazing mothers I have met throughout my time with the World Race. And a couple days ago my picture uploader wouldn’t work on my blog so I couldn’t possibly post stories about these amazing women without including their gorgeous faces, could I? Thus the delay.]
I want to introduce you to twelve inspiring women of God. I’ve had the privilege to be loved, served, taught and prayed for by these women. They are as strong and passionate as they are gentle and compassionate. They love and serve the Lord with everything they have. They adore their families and husbands and kids – especially their kids around the world. They’ve always been willing to hug a daughter in need and lead her closer to the heartbeat of Father God. I am truly blessed to have each of them in my life in big and small ways. So, without further due, please meet some mothers of the World Race…
Karen Barnes
I’ve known of Karen since about 2002 when I started going on trips with AIM. This lady is phenomenal! She’s raised four daughters and a son – all of whom walk in the grace, respect and love for life that they’ve been raised up in. Karen is sweet and gentle and so delicate for being such a mighty woman of God! She’s served alongside her husband for many years. And they are more in love today than they were when they met back in college…and we love hearing them retell that story. She’s been a prayerful support to many, many World Racers both pre and post Race as well as when we’re on the field. Some of my favorite visits to Gainesville, Georgia are when I know I will get to see Seth and his bride, Karen.
Nancy Lengkeek
Nancy was one of the first coaches that the September 2007 squad was blessed with. She and her husband are veteran missionaries and currently work for Adventures in Missions. Nancy has this irresistible joy and care about her. While the September squad was just getting their feet wet with the whole mission deal, Nancy graciously came along side us to guide and love. Her prayers are tender and honest. She just makes me smile. Anyone in her presence can feel the love God has for this daughter. Nancy is a hard worker for the Kingdom with a beautiful and giving servant’s heart.
Carol Pitts
While the September 2007 was in training we camped with the June 2007 before we all headed out. It was during that training I met Carol Pitts, or Mama C, and her husband, Scott. They were the coaches for that June squad. A-MAZING! This woman has the fire of the Holy Spirit so richly alive in her she gets you going with just a wink! Three years ago I met Mama C. during the end of a teaching session when I asked her to pray for me. Honestly, I was kind of scared. This was a wildly passionate woman of God!! She’s gonna think I’m some puny wanna-be Christian. Ooo, but when she prays for her kids…honey, she prays for her kids! Through her heart and voice that prayer became the first time I was named “Caitlin Christ!” It was the beginning of knowing my true identity. Moms are good at that.
Last year, Mama C and Pappy signed up to coach another squad – the incredible August 2009 crew. They’ve been coaching the squad I got to lead last fall. The squad I fell in love with. In June we’ll wrap up their Race just in time for Mama C and Pappy to begin leading another squad. They just can’t quit. Their hearts overflow with compassion for a misguided and uninitiated generation. They love and love and love. And they give and give and give. Their Jesus-like lives are humble and honest. What a great example and blessing they are.
Selena Day
Mama C has a partner in crime. Both in June 2007 and August 2009 there have been two sets of coaches for the World Race squads. Selena and her husband, Chuck, have selflessly offered themselves to the work of the Kingdom through the World Race many times. It has been a true joy to watch the growth in the women of God around me over the years. Selena’s beauty and grace never cease to leave imprints of God’s righteousness wherever she’s been. I remember a debrief she helped out on during Christmas of 2007 when our squad wasn’t able to have our coaches present. She’s been blessed with such a tender listening ear…as was needed to be able to sit and hear the lives of dozens of World Race women missing Christmas with their families. She’s beauty and faith rolled up into style and flair!
Lisa Black
LISA BLACK!? Passionate. Honest. Loving. Generous. Kind-hearted. Warrior woman for the Kingdom! Our September squad met Lisa, along with the rest of the Black tribe, in February 2008 when we landed in Africa. God called their family to Swaziland, Africa for a year and they obeyed. What followed was a hard but fruitful year for them and their family of six kids.
I hadn’t read blogs previous to my World Race trip. AKA – I hadn’t heard about Gary Black before meeting him and therefore wasn’t afraid of him…yet. Oh, but this family was exactly what our entire squad of 27 needed. And our team of six young women needed Lisa Black. The time we spent with her washing orphans in Swaziland changed the way I live as a woman of God. She called us out of being women of the world and called us into a lifestyle of obedience, honesty, righteous living, kindness, selfless serving, and, well, love.
The beauty and strength given to her through God’s grace is extraordinary. Through pain, loss, and sickness she still turns to her Savior. Again and again and again.
Cindy Sipling
I guess Africa is keeping some great women. Our team stayed with Cindy and her husband, Tom, in Cape Town, South Africa in February of 2008. This woman is crazy! Ha, she made us laugh. She made us food. She brought comfort to some brokenness in our team. And she loved without judgment. Cindy has a discernment to see the potential in God’s kids. She hears the voice of her Father and guides the younger generation around her. She has a hope that inspires. A faith unwavering. A joy compelling. She and Tom have since signed on and coached a World Race squad. Their adventurous journey with the King continues…
Pat Burrows
Pat B. was without a doubt or question or vote the BIGGEST fan of the September 2007 World Race squad! Of which we were all grateful and blessed! She read our blogs, tracked our growth, and left comments for just about everyone. Her incredible daughter, Sarah, was on our squad and we enjoyed having her mom tag on a bit for the ride. Pat B.’s comments and prayers for us were simple but joy-filled. Something was always mentioned on the field when someone was blessed by her.
I think it was a couple months after returning from that Race during a training camp in Georgia when I got to meet her! Yes! I was face to face with the Pat B.! Though I was sincerely touched and excited to finally meet Sarah’s mom, I think it was Pat that could hardly get words out. She was even more thrilled to meet some of the Racers she had prayed for for so long. Wow, how humbling it was to be a blessing just by being. Her joy and love and zeal of life were only magnified in person. Such a sweet angel we have been blessed with on earth.
Patti Paschall
When we were down in Swaziland, Africa our squad ran into a man named, Mike. Mike was good friends with Gary Black and his family. He just happened to be around when our squad rolled through during a debrief. Mike agreed to sit in on some one-on-ones. I distinctly remember that afternoon. I walked to the offices with some teammates and waited my turn to sit with this dude I’d never met before. I didn’t expect much. Oh, but once we broke the ice by sharing tattoos he soon became a trusted man of God. And his prophetic prayers are something I will never forget. But what I noticed most about Mike was how much he talked about his bride, Patti.
It was a few months later, once I was back in the states, when I finally met Patti Paschall! Like many of the couples I’ve mentioned already – Mike and Patti are hungry for more of the Kingdom of God to be reigning down on earth. Patti is a HUGE joy to the World Race community. Together with Mike they coached the January 2009 squad – a squad I kind of stalked for a long time last year. 😉 Patti’s simple joy and generous compassion is infectious. This good-old southern woman grabs you up in her arms as if you were her own baby. Her beauty and excitement have inspired and encouraged many World Race women in their own journeys. She is a jewel for the Lord. (And you should ask her and Mike about their dance skills…)
Kathy Hindes
I need to pay more attention when I meet people. I met Kathy’s husband, Michael, one day in the AIM office. Very briefly he asked my name and what my dream for life was. I think he was looking at his cell phone the whole time I fumbled through an answer. Ha, little did I know that Michael would soon become the director of the World Race and that he and his wife would be such an incredible blessing to my life.
It must have been a training camp in Georgia when I finally met Kathy. She has the gentleness and grace and kindness the mother of Jesus must have had. Kathy is strong in her faith and solid in the path God’s chosen for her and her family. She gracefully demonstrates a Proverbs 31 woman with such humility. With so many World Racers being launched throughout each year it can seem overwhelming and sometimes exhausting. But every time I get to cross paths with Kathy her hope and love for our generation grows and grows. She is steady and supportive and SO welcoming to the new and sometimes fearful Racers. She gets her call from the Lord and has set an example for the young women around her of such sweet Christ-likeness.
Patti Ghramm
If you’ve ever had the chance to go through a World Race training camp in the last two years, even just walked through the offices, you may have met Patti. And if you’ve gone through the training camp and eaten the world class meals, you might have just fallen in love with this woman.
Patti is the mom of World Race alum and staff, Casey Wells. You know how they sometimes say, “Like mother, like daughter” as if its a bad thing. Well, here it’s the complete opposite. I love my dear friend Casey! And getting her mom about every training camp has been an extra blessing. Patti pours more of herself into the training camps than some of the Racers. (I’m pretty sure she does all this – if not she still deserves the credit…) She decides the menu, buys the food, and cooks each meal for the 10 day training camp – sometimes for nearly 100 young adults! She always has a smile on her face every time you walk through the kitchen. She is honored to be there just as much as we are to have her.
Pam Bickel
Living and ministering alongside people can sometimes only give you a short version of their stories. They talk about their families but there is something drastically different when you are able to sit with the parents of a Racer and see it in their teared-up eyes how much they love their kids.
I returned from co-leading the August 2009 squad just after Thanksgiving. My flight landed me in Georgia but I needed to make my trek up I-75 North to Michigan for Christmas. It just so happened that Denise’s parents would be en route. (Denise and Mike Murphy were raised up as two of the three squad leaders just before I headed home.) After getting numbers and addresses I was more than willing and excited to stop by the Bickel home for dinner on my way. Food, prayers, conversation that moved the soul filled the few short hours of my visit. Pam was overflowing with joy and pride for her daughter and son-in-law who decided to serve the Lord overseas for a year. Pam and her husband have great faith in their kids and the moving of the Lord in this generation. They are an encouragement of faith in action and passion filled prayers.
Jill Woodward
Lastly, my mom. You save the best for last, right? This picture was taken last summer while we crossed paths for an hour in Granada, Nicaragua. We were both on mission trips loving the Lord. I am my mother’s daughter.
This woman has shown me more grace, understanding, truth, encouragement, joy, discipline, mercy, kindness, and faith than anyone else I know. I know she jokes about wanted to be like me when she grows up, but I am the one inspired by her. She is always available. Always willing to serve. Always willing to pray and seek God in everything. And not just towards me. Over the years since she came to know the Lord she continues to seek new opportunities and people to share the love of Christ with. She has a discipline and hunger for the Word of God that could have only come from her Father God.
My mom grew up in a religion without Christ. “Faith” was based on mind games and religious rituals. Over her time as a follower of Jesus she’s read and studied the Bible with such child-like joy and humility – finding new treasures all the time. She can see her past faith without bitterness but thankfulness. It spurred her on to know the real grace and mercy found in a loving Savior.
She is humble servant of the King. She has done everything to help me become a better me. She’s loved me to the core of who I truly am. Thinking of her and my dad – no one else could handle the country-hopping, Kingdom-chasing, heart-healing, life-changing habits I’ve picked up throughout my years. I love you, Mom!
These are mighty women of God. All deserving the honor and respect of a princess. All daughters of the King of kings. All saved by the grace they walk in everyday. I thank God for the blessing they are to me. I pray I will be like them one day…
