{"id":11605,"date":"2025-08-11T12:50:32","date_gmt":"2025-08-11T16:50:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/leadership\/?p=11605"},"modified":"2025-09-11T16:33:43","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T20:33:43","slug":"an-ecouragement-for-august","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/leadership\/2025\/08\/an-ecouragement-for-august\/","title":{"rendered":"An Encouragement for August"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Since 2019, the Center for Leadership Excellence, in partnership with COSROW, has been lifting up the voices of lay and clergywomen in ministry through Encouragements\u2014monthly emails designed to inspire, encourage, and offer practical ways for women in ministry to support one another. This month, we\u2019re honored to share words from Asya Coles, Pastor of Outreach at University UMC in Chapel Hill.<\/em><\/em><\/em>

Anyone can sign up to receive Encouragements\u2014and the full archive of past emails is available for you to explore. Please\u00a0<\/em>share this link<\/em><\/a>\u00a0with lay and clergywomen in ministry who might be interested.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the MIDST of it all\u2014<\/strong>
\u201cOne cannot deny the humanity of another without diminishing one\u2019s own.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0\u2013 James Baldwin<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is something about the carefully placed human in women-identifying people that grants us the ability to nearly carry it all. And in the carrying capacity of a self-identified woman, we cannot forget our own human dignity, worthiness, and the reminders of value that we so naturally give to those we carry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ma, Mom, Mother, Grandma, Auntie, Partner, Wife, Guardian, Parent, Chef, Clean\u2011Up Lady, Pastor, Church-goer, Church member, Choir member, Teacher, Nurturer, Protestor\u2026 Receiver, Listener, Faithful<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the midst of it all goes you. In the midst of it all goes God\u2014probably the most sustainable relationship you\u2019ve ever had. It\u2019s also likely one of the only relationships not shaped by how well you perform in the long list of roles you\u2019ve taken on, or by how much you carry while walking in love with God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exodus 3:4 (CEB)<\/strong>
\u201cWhen the\u202fLord saw that he was coming to look, God called to him out of the bush, \u2018Moses, Moses!\u2019 Moses said, \u2018I\u2019m here.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the midst of it all,\u00a0you are here<\/em>\u2014even when it doesn\u2019t feel like you\u2019re getting every single part of your role right. Even when you wrestle with self\u2011doubt\u2014\u201cAm I listening enough? Being faithful enough? Carrying enough?\u201d Or in the chaos of mixed-up information and human dictators, \u201cAm I protesting enough?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Exodus 3:12 (CEB)<\/strong>
\u201cGod said, \u2018I\u2019ll be with you. And this will show you that I\u2019m the one who sent you.\u2019\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the midst of it all goes God\u2014<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alpha, Omega, Beginning, End, Mother, Parent, Guardian, Comforter, Justice-Seeker, Justice\u2011Provider, Healer, Teacher, Listener, Promise\u2011Keeper\u2026 Faithful<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the midst of it all.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take Action:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Pause and Acknowledge God\u2019s Presence<\/strong> <\/em>
    Action:<\/em>\u00a0Build in a daily pause (even 2 minutes) to breathe, be still, and acknowledge God\u2019s presence\u2014not because everything is perfect, but because you\u2019re in the midst of it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Embrace Your Enough-ness<\/strong>
    Action:<\/em>\u00a0Affirm yourself with a phrase like, \u201cI am enough in the presence of the One who is always enough.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Show Up Faithfully, Not Flawlessly<\/strong>
    Action:<\/em>\u00a0Choose one small way to show up this week\u2014in faith, in conversation, in protest, in nurture\u2014trusting that God fills in the gaps.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    In partnership,
    Center for Leadership Excellence and the Commission on the Status and Role of Women<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    There is something about the carefully placed human in women-identifying people that grants us the ability to nearly carry it all. 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