Where My Ministry Counts the Most

posted by Erin Davis on 10/13/10 | Twitter: @ErinGraffiti
Category: Myself; ; 17 comments

It's packing time for me again. I'm pulling down my suitcases and double-checking flight schedules and hotel reservations as I prepare to head to Fort Worth, Texas, for the last True Woman '10 Conference tomorrow.

People are always impressed when I say things like "I have a flight tomorrow" or "I will be speaking to 200 teenagers this weekend" or "my books will be on sale at a conference with Erin and her sons more than 4,000 women in attendance." And since I often write about ministry trips here on the blog, I can see how you might get the impression that traveling and speaking and writing books is the best gig I have going.

But the reality is, my most important ministry happens at home.

The Lord gave me a very clear vision of how He wanted me to minister several years ago. Through Scripture and the Holy Spirit, I got the clear impression that He wants me to minister at home first, my local church second, and then minister to others through my writing and speaking ministry.

This is the opposite of how the world would have me order my priorities. Even among Christians, the things I do in conference centers or on the pages of published books or even in the posts on this blog seem more significant than my role as a wife and mom. As I prepare to leave home for a few days, I am reminded that that's simply not the case. I am a wife first and a mom second. I am also a first and second grade Sunday school teacher. I lead a group for moms in my church fellowship hall once a month. I teach a cooking class to teenagers as a means to teach them how to live out God's plan for womanhood. When it comes to priorities and rewards, my job as a writer and speaker is pretty far down the list.

I guess I just want you to know that while I talk about what God does at True Woman this weekend, my heart is firmly anchored at home. I love to be a part of it when God does big things in the lives of many women. But if I had to choose between speaking at conferences, writing blogs, signing books, and being a godly wife and mom, the decision would be a no brainer.

That's part of why I'm willing to leave my family behind for a few days to attend True Woman. I want other women to know what God says about their design as a woman. I especially want young women like you to know that being a wife and a mom is a high and holy calling, not something to be dreaded or avoided.

Since God always has more work to do in my heart, I will be updating you regularly throughout the weekend about what He is teaching me. I hope you are as excited as I am to see how God is changing the tides of culture when it comes to defining motherhood. And I hope you will consider your own priorities and willingly choose to live out biblical womanhood by seeing your home as family as your most important mission field.

Comments

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Bonnie

Re:
on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 4:59 am

well said!! :D I'm so glad to hear you say that!! :D I believe that a Christ-centered home can be one of the brightest witnesses to the world that there can be :)
And what gorgeous kids you have!

Brittany Lee

Re:
on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 8:49 am

Amen, Erin!
Glad to see my views supported! :)

A few years back my perspective was a bit different, but after watching other families and observing my own I see just how true this really is. When i was younger I wanted to have this big career and I wanted to be a doctor....mostly in research to find cures for rare birth defects. But at the same time I still wanted a family of my own and everything....well...if I really put my heart into my work to do any good, something is going to suffer, and at that point it would be my family....and I've grown to see that if my family suffers so that I can research, that just sounds wacky to me now because I know that it is not how my priorities should be. I'm not saying it is wrong for a woman to have a career, but I am saying that if a woman doesn't have her priorities straight, then something is going to suffer, whether it's her family or work, or household.

Since then my dreams of the future have conformed more to what I believe my priorities should be. First a wife. (And therefore ministering alongside my husband) Then a mother (and raising my children as God has entrusted them to me) and then comes my work. (which is at this point writing :D )

I still have other career goals. But they are better to work along side what I'm called to be as a wife and mother.

Currently I'm writing a book to teen girls and cannot wait to send it out! I do wish to continue writing in the future. However, I also have this dream that God has planted in my heart to minister to teen girls and women...and I'm currently in school where when I finish I will have a certificate of ministry for biblical counseling. And will be going to grad school for counseling in 2 years as well. I'm so excited for this! It's really where my heart is.

I'm just trusting that as I keep my priorities straight, God will lay out the way that He wants this to go. I might not be doing the counseling until my kids are grown, or I might have certain times that I do while they are still with me. Or that may be before they come. What I do know is that God put this dream in my heart.

My current psychology paper I chose to do on the psychological changes in girls ages 13-21 who are faced with an unplanned pregnancy. I find the stats appalling from where Christian (or claimed to be Christian) girls ages 13-21 who are NOT faced with an unplanned pregnancy believe abortion is wrong, and then those same ages when faced with an unplanned pregnancy, those stats drop at an alarming rate! That is an area I really want to counsel as well in the future.

I was talking with one of my teachers yesterday about all this and she believes with me...One thing she said that stuck with me "God brings you through what He's called you to." Now before conclusions are drawn, I've never been pregnant, and I'm still a virgin. But there are things God has brought me through that relate and make this something very dear to my heart. :)

Thank you for your post, Erin! I enjoyed reading your thoughts! Way to go, girl! Keep it up! Prayers that God blesses you and your family as you continue to walk in Him! <3

Taylor

Thanks Erin!
on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 11:21 am

What a neat, refreshing post! Just the encouragement I need. Even though I am a unmarried young woman at my family's home, my ministry here-right now-is no less important than having my OWN family. Home is the most amazing ministry opportunity, and I see that I can minister to my family through everyday living. I often think "ministry" means encouraging others outside of my home, so it was nice to be redirected. Thank you for pointing that out to us young women.

I appreciate your big sisterly encouragement and your honesty!

Anna

:)
on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 2:45 pm

Erin you always have such nice posts!
Your kids are cute, and you are very pretty! <3

-Anna <3

Erin Davis

Anna
on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 3:01 pm

You're sweet!

Erin

Anna

:)
on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 3:30 pm

^_^

Erin

Re:
on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 4:10 pm

nice message Erin! isn't funny are names are both Erin? :D
this message helped me. thanks Erin!

Anna

Another blog
on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 4:48 pm

I'm excited for another one of your blogs. ^_^
Because they are always good and uplifting! :)

Anna

Victoria

conference
on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 4:55 pm

I'll be at the Fort Worth Conference! Looking forward to it!

monica

Re:
on Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 9:59 pm

I like the picture!! The blonde one looks sooo much like my nephew (especially that look on his face when you're kissing him!!!!

Erin Davis

Victoria
on Thursday, October 14, 2010 at 10:58 am

See ya there!

Erin

ellen

re
on Thursday, October 14, 2010 at 1:57 pm

hey guys!
thanks for the post erin, your kids are really cute:)
do you guys know of any good group bible studys for girls our age? thanks!

Traci

So refreshing!!!
on Sunday, October 17, 2010 at 5:40 pm

Thanks SOOO much for this post, Erin!!! It is so refreshing to know that my views on godly, biblical womanhood are supported somewhere out there! :D Actually, everyone in my church family believes this way, but no one else seems to... especially my grandma, I have been really getting on her nerves because I'm not living like she wants me to since I've graduated - going to college and getting a career and everything - but am staying home helping my mom and preparing for my future as a wife and mother, as I believe God wants me to do! So anyways, it is SOOO encouraging to read this post! Thanks so much!!!

Traci

P.S. ...
on Sunday, October 17, 2010 at 5:44 pm

P.S. - Erin, your kids are absolutely DARLING!!! (I adore kids, especially those ages!!!) :D God has blessed you sooo much!!!

Erin Davis

Ellen
on Monday, October 18, 2010 at 3:28 pm

"Lies Young Women Believe" has a great companion guide with lots of helps in it for doing group studies.

I also just released a Bible study called "True Princess" that focuses on humility vs. entitlement.

Hope this helps!

Erin

Anna

Ellen
on Monday, October 18, 2010 at 7:17 pm

Read the book "Lies Young Women Believe"!!!! It's the best!!! :D

Antonia

Re:
on Thursday, December 2, 2010 at 7:42 am

Would be lovely if you came to Britain! I know quite a few people who would absolutely love to come! There is a Woman's conferance in London every year, but I feel like it is mainly for older woman, so I never go. It would be a delight!

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