Ginny (MAD21)

During most of my 20s and before I was married I:

-Ran a mid-week children’s program for kids age 2-5th grade during the school year;

-Was a guide during Sunday school (helped families get their kids to the right rooms);

-Taught Sunday School during the summer;

-was the recreation director for a summer camp for 4th-6th graders;

-Was the volunteer admin for the Children’s Pastor;

-Taught VBS every summer;

-Performed with the puppet ministry;

-Went on three mission trips to Mexico;

-Participated in every children-related special event like Kid’s Night Out, etc.; and

-Worked part-time in the church office as the only graphic designer/publications person.

Along with a full time job, I did this for seven years (though I worked in the church office for only the last two of those years). Honestly, I loved every minute of it until the last 1-2 years. I still loved what I was doing to some extent, however, I was so immersed in ministry all the time and for so long, that I think I was suffering from a little burnout in the end.

To some extent, the burnout was caused by other influences. Working together with a team of people can be both very rewarding, but also very toxic if some of the members start causing problems.

I worked very hard to stay out of the negative drama that went on behind the scenes, and prayed to stay focused to ensure my motivation for all this work was not just for works-sake (or pride), my heart definitely desired to bring as many children as I could to the feet of Jesus.

Eventually I realized that I felt God calling me away from doing all these things. But I didn’t know how to leave. And instead of doing what I knew God was telling me to do, I continued on working until things got so bad I was forced to walk away. It nearly destroyed me.

I wished that Anne had written this book 10-12 years ago. I could have used it back then. Perhaps a lot of the drama and damaged souls could have been avoided? ... See all content Hide content

3 weeks ago onWordpress in sarahsalter.com

Eeeew. One has to wonder how she managed to eat the whole bag without anyone noticing?

As far as the full stationwagon… all I can picture is the Brady Bunch and the shows when they went on vacations, like to the ghost town. But then, you are probably too young to remember those episodes…

2 weeks, 6 days ago onWordpress in www.bridgetchumbley.com

Wow. What a horrible situation to be in. I’m glad you are free now. I pray that God continues to heal the wounds that are still healing, the ones that no one can see.

2 weeks, 6 days ago onWordpress in sarahsalter.com

Good thoughts. I find it funny that someone who has never liked to write (me) now has a blog and writes a few thousand words a week. It has been a pleasant surprise to get past the idea that you have to write (for school, work, etc.) to you GET to write. I love what you said about it taming thoughts and ideas. That is SO true.

1 month ago onWordpress in www.chrissulli.com

This is great. Talk about having to be flexible. I know some brides who would have flipped out!

Bridget… talk her into doing a blog of her own. We all could learn something from her!

1 month ago onWordpress in www.bridgetchumbley.com

I want the book. Gimmie.

1 month, 1 week ago onWordpress in sarahsalter.com

P-P-P-Pleeeeeeze? Me?

1 month, 1 week ago onWordpress in sarahsalter.com

…please? The book?

1 month, 1 week ago onWordpress in sarahsalter.com

What a fabulous post Bridget.

1 month, 1 week ago onWordpress in www.bridgetchumbley.com

BTW, I love the icons/avatars that get put with our names on our comments. They are so funny.

1 month, 1 week ago onWordpress in nickgeek.com