Right after Project Gideon ended, Stephen and I headed to our ministry class in Oklahoma City.
Right after we were seated, the head of the program went to the front and asked two people to come forward from the crowd (Stephen and I were not among those in the crowd. We had already taken our position in the class seating on the stage). He asked those people to tell the audience what their life verse from the Bible was and why.
I thought this was REALLY interesting since it related so much to what Bishop had challenged us to do. And in a split second, I saw the wisdom in this challenge.
We needed to be prepared to tell people our Life Verse because it reveals something about our calling and our own Good News that we will share with people.
My Life Verse is:
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son, that Whosoever Believeth in Him, should Not Perish, but Have Everlasting Life."
AND, the verse that follows it:
"For God sent not His Son into the World to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."
(John 3:16-17)
For me, the important concepts include: "GOD LOVES US," HE SACRIFICED FOR US, WHOSOEVER MEANS ANY.BODY., NO CONDEMNATION, SALVATION IS FOREVER.
I think these verses DO say much about my individual testimony of The Good News!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
What IS My Brand?
If our Brand is supposed to help tell us--and others--who we are, what makes us unique, what we offer, and what we feel we were put on this earth to accomplish, then I need to think about my own.
(You know, part of me has always thought that exercises like this are a little presumptuous, or haughty-spirited even. But you know, I think that THIS is what we should be thinking about. This is the kind of stuff we need to PREPARE so God can use us, move us into positions where He can speak to people who EXPECT to be spoken to in a thoughtful manner! And as much as I think, and as often as I speak to people, I have NEVER stopped to think about this sort of thing. Until now.)
So, to start, I'm just going to record my answers to the questions, above:
1. Who am I?
Shirley Harrod Yandell
I am a woman.
I'm 40 (October of 2011).
I'm a teacher.
I'm married to Stephen (also a teacher; also called to ministry).
We have one daughter together (Elizabeth Psalm).
I have two step-daughters (Allie and Raylee).
I have two Masters degrees.
I am a woman who has been called to serve and minister to the Church of Jesus Christ.
I am a follower of Jesus Christ. And I guess, to label me, you could call me an Evangelical Christian.
2. What makes me unique?
I didn't get married until I was 35.
I didn't have a baby until I was 36.
I've been teaching at the college level since I was 21 years old (Spring 1993).
I've been on three international missions trips.
I've been to four countries, other than my own, in my adult life.
I come from a line of ministers. My mother is--and her father and grandfather were--full-time ministers in the Church of God (Cleveland, TN) church.
I have a deep-seeded BURDEN for the GLOBAL CHURCH--including an indescribable NEED to pray for the GLOBAL CHURCH, to meet the GLOBAL CHURCH, and to speak to the GLOBAL CHURCH.
3. What do I have to offer?
I can speak into the lives of women about Singlehood--and living it to the fullest!
I can speak into the lives of married women--living to thrive!
I can speak into the lives of kids who were raised in turmoil--and being over-comers!
I can speak into the lives of young adults who feel like no one understands them--God has a plan!
I have a passion to speak LIFE and POSITIVITY into the lives of all people.
I have a passion to speak to SELF-ESTEEM issues in the lives of all people, in hopes that their esteem will be BOOSTED!
I can write fairly well--formally and creatively.
I can edit scripts fairly well--including screenplays, plays, etc.
I have a knack for knowing how to write/edit realistic dialogue.
I have a knack for PR and advertising.
I can SEE the potential people have in their talents--for instance, I can quickly see/detect/learn someone else's gifting and passion, and instinctually KNOW what they need to do to foster those gifts, and I find myself encouraging them and assisting them in finding ways to develop, pursue and utilize that talent--including making connections with other people who can help foster those gifts.
I could literally be a talent scout. (Secularly or spiritually)
I am unafraid to travel and can organize missions trips, finances, and even gatherings (like conferences).
4. What do I feel I was put on this earth to accomplish?
To encourage people.
(Um, honestly, I think that everything I do and everything I am is related to this, #4 response. Wow. I had no idea.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As I ponder what I have written here, and the process I went through in thinking about these questions, I cannot help but feel that something has started here. Something is beginning to take shape within me.
There is a God-purpose in all of this.
(You know, part of me has always thought that exercises like this are a little presumptuous, or haughty-spirited even. But you know, I think that THIS is what we should be thinking about. This is the kind of stuff we need to PREPARE so God can use us, move us into positions where He can speak to people who EXPECT to be spoken to in a thoughtful manner! And as much as I think, and as often as I speak to people, I have NEVER stopped to think about this sort of thing. Until now.)
So, to start, I'm just going to record my answers to the questions, above:
1. Who am I?
Shirley Harrod Yandell
I am a woman.
I'm 40 (October of 2011).
I'm a teacher.
I'm married to Stephen (also a teacher; also called to ministry).
We have one daughter together (Elizabeth Psalm).
I have two step-daughters (Allie and Raylee).
I have two Masters degrees.
I am a woman who has been called to serve and minister to the Church of Jesus Christ.
I am a follower of Jesus Christ. And I guess, to label me, you could call me an Evangelical Christian.
2. What makes me unique?
I didn't get married until I was 35.
I didn't have a baby until I was 36.
I've been teaching at the college level since I was 21 years old (Spring 1993).
I've been on three international missions trips.
I've been to four countries, other than my own, in my adult life.
I come from a line of ministers. My mother is--and her father and grandfather were--full-time ministers in the Church of God (Cleveland, TN) church.
I have a deep-seeded BURDEN for the GLOBAL CHURCH--including an indescribable NEED to pray for the GLOBAL CHURCH, to meet the GLOBAL CHURCH, and to speak to the GLOBAL CHURCH.
3. What do I have to offer?
I can speak into the lives of women about Singlehood--and living it to the fullest!
I can speak into the lives of married women--living to thrive!
I can speak into the lives of kids who were raised in turmoil--and being over-comers!
I can speak into the lives of young adults who feel like no one understands them--God has a plan!
I have a passion to speak LIFE and POSITIVITY into the lives of all people.
I have a passion to speak to SELF-ESTEEM issues in the lives of all people, in hopes that their esteem will be BOOSTED!
I can write fairly well--formally and creatively.
I can edit scripts fairly well--including screenplays, plays, etc.
I have a knack for knowing how to write/edit realistic dialogue.
I have a knack for PR and advertising.
I can SEE the potential people have in their talents--for instance, I can quickly see/detect/learn someone else's gifting and passion, and instinctually KNOW what they need to do to foster those gifts, and I find myself encouraging them and assisting them in finding ways to develop, pursue and utilize that talent--including making connections with other people who can help foster those gifts.
I could literally be a talent scout. (Secularly or spiritually)
I am unafraid to travel and can organize missions trips, finances, and even gatherings (like conferences).
4. What do I feel I was put on this earth to accomplish?
To encourage people.
(Um, honestly, I think that everything I do and everything I am is related to this, #4 response. Wow. I had no idea.)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As I ponder what I have written here, and the process I went through in thinking about these questions, I cannot help but feel that something has started here. Something is beginning to take shape within me.
There is a God-purpose in all of this.
The Elevator Speech
During Project Gideon, Bishop Jakes referred often to our "Brand." He said that we all need to think about ours and how it needs to be better developed. The Brand, he says, helps us--and others--to know who we are, what makes us unique, what we offer, and what we feel we were put on this earth to accomplish.
He brought in one of his staff from PR and she talked to us about having an "Elevator Speech" ready--because at any given moment, we might need to utilize it. An Elevator Speech is a 30-second speech that you develop beforehand to say to a captive audience when given the opportunity. Obviously, at one time, these were used to literally "pitch" an idea to an audience whose ear you had for just a few moments of time.
The truth is that it is very rare, indeed, to be able to get a two-hour long session with someone to explain what it is--or why it is--you do what you do; additionally, it is equally unfeasible to get that kind of an opportunity with someone who can really ASSIST you or bring your God-given vision to life. But we might get a span of time equal to that of an elevator ride. So we must be READY when the Lord puts a 30-second opportunity in front of us.
You don't get an hour. You don't get to use an outline or Powerpoint. It's you and the opportunity. So what do you say?
Eight Things that MUST be true of Elevator Speeches:
1. They must not be verbose. (Wasting words is wasting time.)
2. They must be as direct as possible, with very little--if any--exposition or apologetics. (If the person we're talking to asks for follow-up, we can then attempt to explain further--or answer any questions he/she may have.)
3. They must, it seems to me, argue some point--or the validity of something that should be considered. And all of this must be done without the benefit of question/answer or feedback and/or a bibliography.
4. They must consider the demographics of the perceived audience, so as to seem as relevant and as "balanced" as possible.
5. They REQUIRE that a speaker DIGS DEEP. To formulate an Elevator Speech, each person must spend time in prayer and reflection to be able to deduce what EXACTLY needs to be said and nothing else.
6. They need to be rehearsed.
7. They need to be prayed over and continually developed. (These should be in a constant state of "Under Construction.")
8. Each person may need more than one.*
(*A forthcoming blog will address this thesis of mine!)
As for myself, I plan to start working on three specific Elevator Speeches. They are the three I feel I am most often called on to say.
The first will be called THE GOSPEL. It will talk about what Jesus Christ has done in my life and how that has impacted my story.
The second will be about THE CALL TO MINISTRY. It will discuss what I believe God has called me to do in ministry.
The third will be about VISION. It will discuss what I feel has been birthed in my spirit for the future, and for future events.
(I am really looking forward to this, to getting started!)
He brought in one of his staff from PR and she talked to us about having an "Elevator Speech" ready--because at any given moment, we might need to utilize it. An Elevator Speech is a 30-second speech that you develop beforehand to say to a captive audience when given the opportunity. Obviously, at one time, these were used to literally "pitch" an idea to an audience whose ear you had for just a few moments of time.
The truth is that it is very rare, indeed, to be able to get a two-hour long session with someone to explain what it is--or why it is--you do what you do; additionally, it is equally unfeasible to get that kind of an opportunity with someone who can really ASSIST you or bring your God-given vision to life. But we might get a span of time equal to that of an elevator ride. So we must be READY when the Lord puts a 30-second opportunity in front of us.
You don't get an hour. You don't get to use an outline or Powerpoint. It's you and the opportunity. So what do you say?
Eight Things that MUST be true of Elevator Speeches:
1. They must not be verbose. (Wasting words is wasting time.)
2. They must be as direct as possible, with very little--if any--exposition or apologetics. (If the person we're talking to asks for follow-up, we can then attempt to explain further--or answer any questions he/she may have.)
3. They must, it seems to me, argue some point--or the validity of something that should be considered. And all of this must be done without the benefit of question/answer or feedback and/or a bibliography.
4. They must consider the demographics of the perceived audience, so as to seem as relevant and as "balanced" as possible.
5. They REQUIRE that a speaker DIGS DEEP. To formulate an Elevator Speech, each person must spend time in prayer and reflection to be able to deduce what EXACTLY needs to be said and nothing else.
6. They need to be rehearsed.
7. They need to be prayed over and continually developed. (These should be in a constant state of "Under Construction.")
8. Each person may need more than one.*
(*A forthcoming blog will address this thesis of mine!)
As for myself, I plan to start working on three specific Elevator Speeches. They are the three I feel I am most often called on to say.
The first will be called THE GOSPEL. It will talk about what Jesus Christ has done in my life and how that has impacted my story.
The second will be about THE CALL TO MINISTRY. It will discuss what I believe God has called me to do in ministry.
The third will be about VISION. It will discuss what I feel has been birthed in my spirit for the future, and for future events.
(I am really looking forward to this, to getting started!)
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Miracle after Miracle
I want to say that I know in my heart that God directed us to this conference. It was obvious. For one thing, there were plenty of "coincidences" and outright miracles littering the pathway to the conference.
First, all of this started when Stephen decided to go with Justin Adams to a Fan Day at the Ranger Stadium in Dallas. Sissy and I had planned to stay home until we found out that Justin was going to bring his family.
So I asked if Sis and I could go and just hang out in the hotel while he was down at the ballpark.
That really changed the course of everything...because that's when Stephen and I got the idea to ask Pastor Keith Williams if we could go to The Potter's House that Sunday morning.
And he agreed.
So we went to TPH one day in January and Bishop Jakes was there. He was talking about finding our purpose in 2012 and how we must learn to "glean behind the reapers."
It was an amazing service, but as we were driving north, out of town and toward Oklahoma, I turned to Stephen and said, "I feel like we're supposed to go back there." And he said he felt the same way.
--------------------------------------------Not even a week and a half later:
I came home from work and sat down to the computer to get on Facebook. I don't always do this, but I did that day. I remember feeling a "need" to do that. And in scrolling one page down, I saw why: Bishop Jakes had posted a short invitation to The Gideon Project--saying there were just a few spots left.
I contacted his contact person right away, in the hope that there would indeed be spots available. There were.
Two miracles came then:
(1) The conference was advertised for those "Under 40." I am 40. I asked if I could come anyway.
I received a "yes" in reply.
(2) When I told Stephen about the conference, he told me that he wished he could go--but that he had no more free days at work to take off. He said he would ask his superintendent if there was any way.
I sent a text message to all of my praying friends the morning that he went to the superintendent's office. They assured me they would pray.
Walking into my 10:00 a.m. speech class that morning, I received a text saying, "We are going."
I shrieked and then had to explain to my students what I was so excited about.
----------------------------------------------Another Miracle:
Then, we had to find the finances to go. In January, the tax commission took TWO PAYMENTS instead of one out of my account. That put me negative $1100. There was no way we could afford to go when that happened.
We didn't know until THREE DAYS BEFORE if we would actually be able to go. We had paid a $200 deposit, but we didn't know if we would be able to go because we just did NOT have the money to go after the tax commission debited so much from my account.
So we prayed.
I remember looking up and saying, "God, yes, I want to go to this conference, but if you are telling us NO, by the zapped funds and impossible budget, then I understand and apologize for getting so over-eager. I know TDJakes is just a man. I'm not going to see a celebrity. I need direction, and I need him to speak into my life right now. I am HUNGRY for it. Please, if this is your will, make it obvious. PLEASE, make a way."
I kid you not, it was the next day or day after that that we received our IRS refund. It was amazing. Stephen called me after school and said, "We got it. The funds are there!"
And that's when I KNEW. No, I KNEW, that God was in this.
--------------------------------------------So, this Blog:
So, this blog is to take seriously what God made a way for. This blog is to honor what God did and take inventory of what Bishop Jakes said to us in those two days and then apply it, as best I can with the leading of the Holy Spirit, to my life, to our ministry, to the calling of God on my life.
And it is my hope that this blog will be beneficial to me and others.
Let it be, Lord.
First, all of this started when Stephen decided to go with Justin Adams to a Fan Day at the Ranger Stadium in Dallas. Sissy and I had planned to stay home until we found out that Justin was going to bring his family.
So I asked if Sis and I could go and just hang out in the hotel while he was down at the ballpark.
That really changed the course of everything...because that's when Stephen and I got the idea to ask Pastor Keith Williams if we could go to The Potter's House that Sunday morning.
And he agreed.
So we went to TPH one day in January and Bishop Jakes was there. He was talking about finding our purpose in 2012 and how we must learn to "glean behind the reapers."
It was an amazing service, but as we were driving north, out of town and toward Oklahoma, I turned to Stephen and said, "I feel like we're supposed to go back there." And he said he felt the same way.
--------------------------------------------Not even a week and a half later:
I came home from work and sat down to the computer to get on Facebook. I don't always do this, but I did that day. I remember feeling a "need" to do that. And in scrolling one page down, I saw why: Bishop Jakes had posted a short invitation to The Gideon Project--saying there were just a few spots left.
I contacted his contact person right away, in the hope that there would indeed be spots available. There were.
Two miracles came then:
(1) The conference was advertised for those "Under 40." I am 40. I asked if I could come anyway.
I received a "yes" in reply.
(2) When I told Stephen about the conference, he told me that he wished he could go--but that he had no more free days at work to take off. He said he would ask his superintendent if there was any way.
I sent a text message to all of my praying friends the morning that he went to the superintendent's office. They assured me they would pray.
Walking into my 10:00 a.m. speech class that morning, I received a text saying, "We are going."
I shrieked and then had to explain to my students what I was so excited about.
----------------------------------------------Another Miracle:
Then, we had to find the finances to go. In January, the tax commission took TWO PAYMENTS instead of one out of my account. That put me negative $1100. There was no way we could afford to go when that happened.
We didn't know until THREE DAYS BEFORE if we would actually be able to go. We had paid a $200 deposit, but we didn't know if we would be able to go because we just did NOT have the money to go after the tax commission debited so much from my account.
So we prayed.
I remember looking up and saying, "God, yes, I want to go to this conference, but if you are telling us NO, by the zapped funds and impossible budget, then I understand and apologize for getting so over-eager. I know TDJakes is just a man. I'm not going to see a celebrity. I need direction, and I need him to speak into my life right now. I am HUNGRY for it. Please, if this is your will, make it obvious. PLEASE, make a way."
I kid you not, it was the next day or day after that that we received our IRS refund. It was amazing. Stephen called me after school and said, "We got it. The funds are there!"
And that's when I KNEW. No, I KNEW, that God was in this.
--------------------------------------------So, this Blog:
So, this blog is to take seriously what God made a way for. This blog is to honor what God did and take inventory of what Bishop Jakes said to us in those two days and then apply it, as best I can with the leading of the Holy Spirit, to my life, to our ministry, to the calling of God on my life.
And it is my hope that this blog will be beneficial to me and others.
Let it be, Lord.
What on Earth is Project Gideon?
On March 1-2, 2012, Stephen and I attended a conference with Bishop T.D. Jakes in Irving, Texas, called "Project Gideon." The Project was designed for young ministers under 40. Bishop Jakes said that he felt compelled to speak into the lives of the coming generation of ministers. The conference was designed for 300 people--though he took almost 50 more than that, and he did not allow cameras or recording devices of any kind--including his own. It was a private discussion for two days between the Bishop and us.
It was amazing.
In this blog, I hope to discuss some of the things he said and how these things have impacted my life.
In one of his classes, he said, "You think you're 19, but you're not." He looked at us, quite severely, and said, "My generation should hear you coming. We can't hear you."
And I knew in my heart that he was right. I was studying and reading God's word like a 19 year old, not as a 40 year old. I realized, with no little pain, that I needed to gain more momentum in my spiritual progress, learning to better focus, to better "study to shew myself approved unto God," to "do my homework"--ultimately because I know that it is PAST TIME, and I know that I need to "kick it into gear" and commit fully to the call of God.
And I pray, somehow, through all of this, that they finally hear us coming.
Amen.
It was amazing.
In this blog, I hope to discuss some of the things he said and how these things have impacted my life.
In one of his classes, he said, "You think you're 19, but you're not." He looked at us, quite severely, and said, "My generation should hear you coming. We can't hear you."
And I knew in my heart that he was right. I was studying and reading God's word like a 19 year old, not as a 40 year old. I realized, with no little pain, that I needed to gain more momentum in my spiritual progress, learning to better focus, to better "study to shew myself approved unto God," to "do my homework"--ultimately because I know that it is PAST TIME, and I know that I need to "kick it into gear" and commit fully to the call of God.
And I pray, somehow, through all of this, that they finally hear us coming.
Amen.
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