{"id":3950,"date":"2018-08-13T14:02:24","date_gmt":"2018-08-13T19:02:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/?page_id=3950"},"modified":"2020-11-25T17:39:39","modified_gmt":"2020-11-25T23:39:39","slug":"letter-from-director","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/girls-draft\/gmweek\/letter-from-director\/","title":{"rendered":"Letter to the Leader"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-3950\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-3950-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style ingpb-standard-row\" ><div data-full-row=\"yes\" class=\"panel-row-style panel-row-style-for-3950-0\" ><div id=\"pgc-3950-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-3950-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-8b5b6f678277-3950\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/11\/Heaer.jpg\" width=\"2048\" height=\"823\" srcset=\"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/11\/Heaer.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/11\/Heaer-1024x412.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/11\/Heaer-768x309.jpg 768w, https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/11\/Heaer-1536x617.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" alt=\"\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-3950-0-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_custom-menu-placement-widget panel-last-child\" data-index=\"1\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-custom-menu-placement-widget so-widget-custom-menu-placement-widget-default-d75171398898-3950\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n <!-- Girls' Ministries -->\t\t\t<div class=\"section child-navigation\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container w1200 nav\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<nav class=\"childnav\"><ul id=\"menu-girls-ministries\" class=\"menu genesis-nav-menu ingage-nav-menu\"><li id=\"menu-item-5481\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-5481\"><a href=\"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/girls\/\">Girls&#8217; Home<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-10456\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-10456\"><a href=\"http:\/\/.\">About<\/a>\n<ul class=\"sub-menu\">\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-5483\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-5483\"><a href=\"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/girls\/girls-ministries-team\/\">Girls&#8217; Ministries Team<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-5495\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-5495\"><a href=\"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/girls\/live-it-events-outreach\/\">Ministry Opportunities<\/a>\n<ul class=\"sub-menu\">\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-10457\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-10457\"><a href=\"http:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/kids4missions\">Kids 4 Missions<\/a><\/li>\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-5496\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-5496\"><a href=\"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/girls\/baby-hope-club\/\">Baby Hope Club<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-5500\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-has-children menu-item-5500\"><a>Resources<\/a>\n<ul class=\"sub-menu\">\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-7180\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-7180\"><a href=\"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/recommended-resources-girls\/\">Recommended Resources \u2013 Girls<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/nav>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t <\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-3950-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style ingpb-standard-row\" ><div data-full-row=\"yes\" class=\"panel-row-style panel-row-style-for-3950-1\" ><div id=\"pgc-3950-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-3950-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p class=\"p1\">\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">I <\/span>am __________. The word(s) that fill that blank can speak life or death in a matter of seconds. This year, more regularly than I would like to admit, my words about myself have been more damaging than life-giving. I have placed immense pressure on my shoulders to make 2020 \u201ca year of new beginnings, a fresh start, a pause to all of the things that were on my plate that should not have been, [and] a chance to start over.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">Those statements sound incredible, yet each time I read another post, watched another video, had another conversation about \u201cfresh starts,\u201d my expectations for myself grew higher and higher. Each day, I faced a mountain of expectations. Each day that I didn\u2019t make a step towards a new me, I fell deeper and deeper into disappointment. <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"p4\"><span class=\"s1\">I am a failure. <\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p4\"><span class=\"s1\">I am never going to measure up.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p4\"><span class=\"s1\">I am not worthy of the position that God has placed me in.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p4\"><span class=\"s1\">I am afraid.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p4\"><span class=\"s1\">I am unsure.<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"p4\"><span class=\"s1\">I am a disappointment.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">These are all honest, raw, and real thoughts that have made their way into my head over the course of this year. As I type this, I can look at these statements and confidently say that they are untrue. I could slap a Band-Aid on it and say, \u201cMeredith, it\u2019s silly you think you are a failure.\u201d Well, it wasn\u2019t silly when a memory reel of my past failures played in my mind. That was a real moment where I felt defenseless and alone. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">This is the work of the enemy. This is exactly what he wants to happen. <b>The enemy fills us with lies to make us accept defeat.<\/b> The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 5:8-9, \u201cBe alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.\u201d Satan will do anything to keep us from the love and freedom found in Christ.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">Verse nine continues: \u201cResist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.\u201d Resist him. Stand firm in the faith, not in isolation, but together, knowing that the enemy is after anyone moving toward the plans God has for us. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">Our Girls\u2019 Ministries theme for 2020 and 2021 of \u201cI AM...\u201d is very fitting for this time. In Exodus 3, Moses encounters the burning bush, and God lets him know that He has heard the cries of the Israelites in Egyptian captivity. He Instructs Moses to lead them to freedom. During this conversation, Moses voices some of the same concerns a leader might have today.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>Exodus 3:11-15<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cBut Moses said to God, \u201cWho am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\">And God said, \u201cI will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\">Moses said to God, \u201cSuppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, \u2018The God of your fathers has sent me to you,\u2019 and they ask me, \u2018What is his name?\u2019 Then what shall I tell them?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\">God said to Moses, \u201cI AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: \u2018I AM has sent me to you.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\">God also said to Moses, \u201cSay to the Israelites, \u2018The Lord, the God of your fathers\u2014the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob\u2014has sent me to you.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p5\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cThis is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">Do you realize that this last verse is speaking to YOU? <b>God is still I AM.<\/b> We are part of the generations that shall call him I AM, and He is sending you to disciple girls in a time of uncomfortable change, stress, and loss. Some of you may respond like Moses did saying, \u201cWho am I to do this?\u201d When you examine Exodus 3:11-15 more closely, you notice there is the good news that He is with us, and He is with you today. God was fully aware of the circumstances the Israelites were facing in captivity. He had heard their cries, and He wanted Moses to help fulfill His plan of leading His people from captivity to freedom. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">God is still aware of what is happening today. He sees us right where we are. He knows the giants we face, physically, mentally, and spiritually. He is with us. The girls you serve and lead may have their own captivity they are facing. They need to realize there is freedom in I AM. And in this freedom, there is love from which they can never be separated.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\">Our key verse this year is found in <b>Romans 8:38-39:<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p6\"><span class=\"s1\">\u201cAnd I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God\u2019s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow\u2014not even the powers of hell can separate us from God\u2019s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below\u2014indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p2\"><span class=\"s1\"><b>This journey Moses set out on was full of challenges, but there was never a moment when he was separated from God.<\/b> We saw God\u2019s mighty hand at work through the Israelites, and we know the rest of His story. Your story may have its own set of challenges. We don\u2019t know what we will face on our journey, but we can be confident that the I AM will be with us, equipping us for every challenge we face. 2020 has been packed with ups and downs, but how exciting is it that we can continue teaching the good news of God\u2019s big story to girls all over this world? I AM\u2019s great love and redemption for mankind continues from generation to generation!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 class=\"p7\"><span class=\"s2\">Meredith Light<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"p7\"><span class=\"s1\">National Girls\u2019 Ministries Coordinator<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><a href=\"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/11\/Letter-to-Leaders.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-7542\" src=\"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/11\/Letter-to-Leaders.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"293\" height=\"379\" srcset=\"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/11\/Letter-to-Leaders.jpg 1583w, https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/11\/Letter-to-Leaders-792x1024.jpg 792w, https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/11\/Letter-to-Leaders-768x994.jpg 768w, https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/11\/Letter-to-Leaders-1187x1536.jpg 1187w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 293px) 100vw, 293px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/11\/Letter-to-Leaders2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-7543\" src=\"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/11\/Letter-to-Leaders2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"310\" height=\"401\" srcset=\"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/11\/Letter-to-Leaders2.jpg 1583w, https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/11\/Letter-to-Leaders2-792x1024.jpg 792w, https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/11\/Letter-to-Leaders2-768x994.jpg 768w, https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/11\/Letter-to-Leaders2-1187x1536.jpg 1187w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 310px) 100vw, 310px\" \/><\/a><\/h3>\n<h3>Click <a href=\"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2020\/11\/Letter.pdf\">HERE<\/a> for\u00a0PDF<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"excerpt","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":7541,"parent":22,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","filesize_raw":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-3950","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"entry"},"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P4T9u2-11I","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3950","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3950"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3950\/revisions"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/22"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7541"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3950"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}