Did you read Part One of my interview with Amanda Jones, a church planting wife in Houston? I love how she captured the thrill of being smack-dab in the middle of God's calling on our lives: "We {are} way out on a limb with God, but the view of His faithfulness {is} spectacular!" No matter our calling, that definitely sums up a life of faith.
Today, my interview with Amanda continues with questions concerning the intense pressures associated with church planting and her thoughts on growing up as the daughter of a popular Christian leader.
It seems that criticism about our loved ones and personal wounds come with the ministry territory. How do you make sure bitterness doesn’t take root in your heart over that kind of stuff?
God has given me a lot of grace in this area because being overly sensitive is definitely one of my weaknesses. Since we launched the church I can tell that He has supernaturally strengthened my heart. Curtis also protects me from knowing every little painful thing and I’ve learned to let him.
There is a ton of pressure associated with church planting. How do you help ease the pressure Curtis might feel? How does he help ease any pressure you might feel?
I remember one particularly crushing day last spring when the pressure was extremely intense. I told Curtis I didn’t want to talk to anybody outside of our family and I sent him out to rent a movie while I ordered enough pizza to feed a small army. Now pizza and a movie aren’t necessarily bad, but in that case we were bypassing Jesus and taking taking our broken, stressed out hearts straight to food and entertainment. Not good!
I think the best way we’ve learned to ease the pressure for each other is to pray together. We aren’t always good about keeping up that habit when we don’t feel stressed and that’s something we need to work on.
{Amanda's mom is author and Bible teacher, Beth Moore.} A lot of people have preconceived ideas about well-known Christian leaders. What do you wish people knew about your mom’s day-to-day life? What do you wish people knew about you and your family?
I think the hardest place to walk out your faith can be in your own home with your spouse and children. That’s where we let our guard down and show our most authentic selves. I don’t say this to defend my mother, because I feel no need to, but rather to honor her: she loves, believes and serves Jesus more than anyone I know. Jesus is her everything. I suppose a lot of ministry kids and spouses feel torn between what they see and hear from their loved ones on stage and what they see and hear from them at home. It’s so beautiful that my dad, sister and I have seen the ins and outs of my mom’s life and ministry from up close and we are absolutely her biggest cheerleaders.
Thank you, Amanda! We appreciate your faithfulness to Christ in Houston and your insight concerning church planting. Readers, you can find Amanda on her blog, the blog she shares with her mom and sister, and on Twitter.
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