Dear Folks,
More than anyone else, Faye Reynolds, needs no introduction to this collection of churches. She has participated in general pastoral work, in being the coordinator for Women in Focus and in being a speaker at various Assemblies, New Pastors Orientations and Banff Pastor’s Conferences, through which she is both familiar and deeply valued. While Faye may be known as someone who does a great deal of work with Women in Focus and is also known as a writer and speaker in many contexts and she is also part of the Executive Staff and this last role involves her leading the ever changing team that makes up what Faye has dubbed (and I completely agree with) “the intergenerational ministry cohort.” This group has included from time to time the coordinators of Youth work, Camping, Short Term Ministries, Urban Camping, Children and Families, and Undergraduate Education. She has also lead this particularly talented group in writing much excellent material for us all. Many thanks to you Faye for your leadership, care, and giftedness and that you are willing to share amongst us.
Warmly,
In Christ,
Jeremy
1. Many folk have different personal, vocational, and faith journeys…could you share with us those journeys?
I once said that I was conceived in a Baptist Union church, which was a great offence to my mother, but I have been part of this Baptist Family from Day 1. I received Christ as my Saviour and Lord at an early age, growing in faith through Christopher Lake Baptist Camp (now Quest), youth trips and serving in my church family of Emmanuel Baptist in Saskatoon, from changing the church sign to singing in the choir. After attending BLTS, I became the church choir director and was also hired each summer to run the summer Day Camping Program. I graduated from the U of S with a B.Ed and became a teacher in the public school system until I desired to further my Biblical knowledge by attending Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville. Graduating with an M. Div, I was called as an Associate Pastor of
Bonavista Baptist in Calgary and have since served at FBC Calgary, BLTS and the CBWC.
2. How long have you been in this position? Please let us know about where you are living and maybe one eccentric detail of life?
I have served as the Director of Women’s Ministries since January 2001. The position has evolved over the 11 years to where I now also oversee the Inter-generational Ministry Cluster (IMC). My husband, Stephen and I presently live in Lethbridge, AB with our two daughters who attend U of L and live at home. We enjoy golfing together and hiking in the beautiful surrounding including Waterton National Park.
3. What is the basic makeup and description of what you do?
With Women in Focus, I work with our WiF President and a committee of 8 others. We have four regional presidents who each have a committee to connect with the local churches and run regional events. I produce resources such as Bible studies, newsletter and e-letters, manuals for Spiritual Formation and Mentoring, and try to offer direction for local women’s ministries as we move from traditional mission circles to broader women’s ministries. My work with IMC involves connecting with the staff that over see Youth, CFAM, Edge and Urban Camping, Short Term Mission and most recently working with Older Adult Resourcing. Besides offering one another a place for accountability and support, we work on joint resourcing projects such as helping our churches marking stages of faith (rites of passage) with liturgies of celebration.
4. Who are the people that you primarily serve and how do you connect with them?
Our primary connection is resourcing the local church and specific ministries. Women in Focus offers a variety of workshops to equip women in spiritual formation, mentoring and identifying their areas of giftedness and passion. We have teams that facilitate workshops on site. Our Bible studies are widely used and retreats are well attended. I personally facilitate some of the workshops, speak at retreats and consult with women’s groups. I also work with Sherry Bennett, Nadia VanderKuip, Rod Olson and Danice Carlson to support their ministries and oversee our joint projects. I participate in the Celebration Dinners and supplement the work of the Regional Ministers in exit interviews and some clergy care.
5. What have been the challenging parts of this last twelve months?
At times the schedule can be very busy and some of my roles conflict with commitments, but other times of the year slow down for the opportunity for creativity and resource development. I presently have a dream of developing the E – 100 program for our churches, in which I hope we would together focus on 100 essential passages of Scripture identified by Scripture Union as a family of churches. It is a huge undertaking, but I’m hopeful I can create a plan to see the dream become reality.
6. What have been some of the times of celebration over these last twelve months?
Our WiF “Refresh” Leadership Weekend in Canmore was a real highlight as we endeavoured to unleash our creative energies. We also received grant money to take our Gifted and Called workshop to Thompson, MB and over 40 women engaged in the material under the leadership of Mary Holte. We are still receiving feedback on the continued impact of the weekend.
7. What are some of the things you have felt were accomplishments this year and what are some of the ongoing challenges that you will face as you go into the fall?
An article in the Globe and Mail, “Leveraging a Movement” identified marketing that builds upon an already-identified need within the public, as opposed to inventing a pseudo need to develop a market. The greatest challenge for Women in Focus is identifying the cause that women want to rally around, or the felt need that must be addressed. Is it the oppression of women in developing countries or the violence affecting women closer to home? What are the felt needs of women within our churches and communities that we have the resources to address? That will be our primary focus as we move to the fall. We know that our workshops are meeting some needs and well received, but what should be our next step?
8. Apart from Executive Staff, who are some of the people that you work most closely with month over month?
I actually haven’t mentioned much of my work with Exec Staff but I do work most closely with Dennis Stone and the other Regional inisters in the area of settlement and clergy care. I try to support our women pastors when there are unique concerns as well as the women spouses of pastors. Since I work out of my home, I do not have daily contact with any staff or colleagues. Other than that, it is connecting with my WiF executive and responding to church inquiries.
9. What kind of Sabbath and renewal and break are you going to experience over the summer…. For how long?
We have already been able to take a two-week vacation to Ireland as a family in May and that was a wonderful experience and break. With less meetings and travel, I have more time for personal reading and reflection as well as creative energy. I will be working on my latest Bible studies for the Fall, on Creation, while enjoying the beauty of my back yard. One week I will visit my mother in Saskatoon and I will also be doing some Professional Development at Carey in August on Creativity and Worship, focusing on creative writing. Our family will take one week to camp down the Oregon Coast at the end of August.
10. How might we pray for you?
That I would find the balance of personal renewal and productive creativity to complete some of my goals, especially in the area of developing the E-100 program for our churches.
11. Is there some kind of blessing or encouragement that you would like to share with us?
This is a quote from Karen Armstrong’s personal biography, “The Spiral Staircase”. Theology should be treated in the same way as poetry, which read quickly or encountered in a hubbub of noise makes no sense. You have to open yourself to a poem with a quiet, receptive mind in the same way as you might listen to a difficult piece of music . . . You have to give it your full attention, wait patiently upon it, and make an empty space for it in your mind. And finally the work declares itself to you . . . line by line, note by note, phrase by phrase until it becomes part of you forever.”
I desire for myself and for each one of us to take time this summer for God’s Word to soak into our very being, line-by-line, note-by-note, until it sings in our souls.