Going Beyond Ministries blogs

All Over the World

priscilla — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:00:55 +0000

This morning in Sydney has been amazing. Not just because the breeze has been cool and crisp, perfect for a morning jog. And not just because the view from this hotel window reveals a breathtaking picture of water and sky and architectural artistry. No, this morning was gorgeous because of a meeting that I attended.

As a prerequisite to the Colour women's conference that is hosting some 14,000 women from 37 different nations and over two dozen denominations, I was invited to a high tea function for women in ministry who had come for the event. I walked into the room at a restaurant that overlooked the water on the coast and my breath was taken away. . . . not because of the view or the cute, delicious sandwiches and soothing tea, but because the room was filled with God's leaders from across his globe.

I was immediately greeted by a pastor's wife from Lima, Peru who introduced me to another from Chicago, USA. Then I ran into a woman from Melbourne, Australia who was having a conversation with a woman from Uganda. A few moments later, I was introduced to Cape Town in South Africa, then New Zealand, London and The Ukraine. The introductions didn't stop there. The diversity was full and rich and captivating and overwhelming.

The accents were as diverse as they were plentiful. Their outfits were unique and stunning. The fellowship was sweet and rare and interesting to behold. These women were an array of feminine hearts who were unified by their love for their God and a desire to see His women come to know Him and run after him.

I stood in the room amidst a gorgeous array of the global body of Christ and was reminded of my place in it. You see, it's so easy for us to forget that we are a part of the work that God is doing ALL OVER THE WORLD. That our tiny place on the earthly map and His Kingdom plan is a part of a puzzle that needs our piece to be complete. And while we are each significant, I was reminded, in this room on this morning, that I am just a small part of a big God who has Big purposes. It would do good for me, for us, to always remember that there is a whole WORLD of his work going on. And that maybe seeking a way to connect to others outside of our immediate sphere of influence will not only bridge man-made divides that do a too-good job of separating us, but will broaden our horizon of God's work and our place in it - helping us to keep perspective and foster momentum.

God is moving EVERYWHERE and in ways that are beyond our imagination.

People are being healed of disease - spiritual and physical.

Young girls are being rescued from abusive circumstances you wouldn't dare to dream of.

Women are breaking through barriers of oppression that have governed their cities seeking to keep them from reaching their full potential.

And it's all happening, in the name of the Lord. For His Sake and to His glory.

Today, I salute the women from this morning's meeting. Some of whom are doing Kingdom work in circumstances far less forgiving and plush than I. And yet they work tirelessly and with great opposition to bring God's daughters to Himself.

I'm better off having met you.

Priscilla

Sydney Vlog

priscilla — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:16:00 +0000

Well, between traveling, technical challenges and the time change, it took us a little longer to post my first video blog, or "vlog," of our adventure to Australia. Enjoy:

Worshipping a BIG God together,

Priscilla

Sydney!

rridge — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:45:24 +0000

Priscilla and Jerry have arrived safely in Sydney and are already enjoying their time there. I'll post a video blog from Priscilla later today...

Rachel

Leaving for Australia

rridge — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:46:46 +0000

Priscilla called me from the airport, shortly before her flight took off for Australia.

"I'm already mising my boys," she said, "and I haven't even left!"

She knows they will have a grand ol' time at their Granny's house, but still. A Mama's heart can't help but worry about homework and what they need at bedtime and whether they will remember to wash behind their ears and fevers and runny noses and if they packed enough underwear. They think about after school snacks and snuggling on the couch and bedtime prayers.

"Did they cry when you left them?" I asked.

"Oh, no, they just ran on in and started playing a game....they didn't seem too concerned about us leaving them." Somehow that doesn't really help a Mama from feeling a little sad.

Our conversation turned to what the next few days will hold. It will be a long trip to Sydney, and then she and Jerry will hit the ground running at the Colour Conferences at Hillsong.

Hillsong, people! THE Hillsong!

Linnae and I tried to convince Jerry that they need, yea, even depend on us so much that we should be included in the trip, but it was to no avail. We could not be squeezed into the baggage.

However, I think next year I'll have my passport ready just in case I get the nod. Hillsong, here I come.

Please pray for safe travels and NO JET LAG! Priscilla will have two conferences to speak at and will need to be covered in prayer. I thank you, sisters, for lifting her and Jerry....and the whole Colours Conference to the Lord!

I can't wait to hear what happens down under!

Rachel

PS I love the Colour Conference website. I found this photo on it. You know, just ONCE I'd like to wear a dress like this one...hulahoops optional....

Meryl and My Mother

priscilla — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:15:37 +0000

Did you see the Oscars last night? I must admit, I'm not normally interested in taking in all of the festivities. It's just too much for me to handle in one sitting BUT I am interested in the outfits. Come on, you know you are too! I want to see what those folks are wearing and more importantly how they are wearing it. So, the red carpet woos me and allures me. It calls me to watch and behold the glitter and glam that is synonymous with this auspicious event.

Lots of pearls.

Lots of diamonds.

Lots of flowing gowns.

But it seems that no one does it. . . like Meryl does. I'm talking Meryl Streep here, sisters. She is a timeless, classic work of art and is not merely respected in her craft but is timeless in her appearance. While trendy young things come and then go, she's stayed the test of time and it seems like she only gets better with age. She refuses to succumb to the passing style that seems to capture others. Instead, she just sticks to the gorgeous, timeless style that works for her. If you can get over the plunging neck line on her gown last night, you'll see that the color and design she chose was unique from so many of the others.

I gotta tell you, I think I am so drawn to her because she reminds me of my mother (sans the plunging neck line of course). Mom is just like Meryl. . .classic, fabulous, timeless and beautiful.

So to both Meryl and my mother I say, "You go girls!"

So while I wasn't able to find a bunch of shots on the fly of my mother from years gone by, it was fairly simple to find some of our dear Meryl. So here she is. . . Behold. . .

Meryl at 2010 Oscars

Meryl at the 2009 Oscars

And my Mom, always a classic:

You have some favorites from last night?

Priscilla

The Ordinary In Between...

priscilla — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 06:10:40 +0000

Last weekend was PHENOMENAL. In fact, I'm not sure that word can adequately describe the overwhelming abundance that the Lord poured out upon me at the Going Beyond Event on Friday and Saturday, then the wonderful First Baptist Church of Glenarden on Sunday morning, and at Infinity Church with my friends, Aaron and Malita Pankey on Sunday night. Of course, I was completely exhausted and felt unbelievably spent but I was filled to the overflow by the sense of God's presence being made apparent to Jerry and I throughout every portion of our weekend together.

I came home on Monday and was thrust right back into the regular rhythms of life. We drove straight from the airport to pick up the two older boys from school and the baby from Granny's house. It was a sweet reunion after three too-long nights and days away from each other. After quick smiles, hugs and kisses, Jerry and I realized that we hadn't missed one single beat when the two oldest began an argument in the back of the car that I'm sure was exactly what they were fighting about when we'd dropped them off at school on the past Friday morning. Jude started whining and trying to wiggle out of his car seat. It was absolute chaos. Jerry and I looked at each other and burst out laughing. This is our "ordinary in between".

You see, Monday, we leave for Hillsong Colour Women's Conference in Australia. It's an AMAZING event that you should try to get to at least once in your life. The travel is long and the conference itself extensive, but it is worth it. We've only done these events every few years since it is not our custom to be away from our children much longer than a couple nights at a time, and then only once or twice a month. But when we do go, we are enthralled by the people of Hillsong Church and the multi-cultural, muti-racial, multi-denominational event that draws women from over 30 different countries. It will be a delight to once again worship with over 12,000 women from every point on the globe.

And yet. . . the ordinary that is in between last weekend and this coming one is so sweet. The cooking, cleaning, folding, ironing, playing, snuggling, running, jumping and all around juggling act of the sequence of our ordinary days are a treasure to me. So today, as I do laundry with a little help from my sweet little Jude, I'm just relishing in this day, this week that has given me the best gift of all - the ordinary that is in between.

Blessings on your ordinary day!
Priscilla

Conference Photos - Backstage

rridge — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 04:38:27 +0000

Here are some recent photos from the Ft. Worth conference:

Backstage, Priscilla looks over her notes while everyone else is polishing off the chocolate cake. She knows how to focus, no matter what is going on around her, even cake eating. I try not to be jealous of that quality, but it's not easy.

A girl's gotta have lip gloss on! What brand is that, Priscilla? Inquiring minds want to know.

The praise team relaxes. Don't they just look COOL? Spiritually speaking, of course.

Paige Greene gets Priscilla mic'd up. Is there anything Paige DOESN'T do? Pulling a blank, here. Can't think of anything.

Paige rocks.

Two darlin' members of the Lifeway Team: Paige Greene and Melissa Wilson. Notice how they've both added panache to their Going Beyond T Shirts. Stylin!

Priscilla likes to sign books after the conference. It is hard to keep the line moving when she wants to chat with every. single. person...but that's part of why we like her. So sweet.

I'll try and post photos from Virginia's event pretty soon!

Rachel Anne

One in a Million Book Winners

rridge — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:01:32 +0000

It's been a blessing and huge spirit-lifter-upper to read about all the "one in a million" people in your lives. There sure are a lot of moms and grandmothers who are shining examples of faith and perseverance. And the friendships! What an inspiration to BE a one in a million to the people in our own lives! Thank you all so much for sharing.

The 10 randomly selected winners (and their inspirations) of One in a Million books are:

Yolanda - (Kerin Swor)

Marie - (Renee, friend who recently adopted)

Lynn Roshell - (grandmother)

Charlotte - (friend, Nancy)

Karen - (husband has a brain tumor)

Betina B - (Regina)

Susan Notthatgirlthisgirl - (pastor)

Jan@littleglimpse - (Tina)

Libby - (Julie)

*Christina Faith - (pastor's wife) UPDATED...accidentally left Christina's name off the list, sorry!

Please email your mailing address to us at info@goingbeyond.com so we can get your book to you. We can't wait to hear how the book encourages you on your journey to the Promised Land.

The Going Beyond Team - Priscilla, Rachel, Linnae

Wow! What a Great Response

rridge — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:34:40 +0000

We can't believe all the fabulous comments that were submitted yesterday to enter the giveaway for One in a Million! We are still going through them, and then will randomly select the 10 winners a little later today. We will tweet when the winners are announced....and will post the winners' names here on the blog.

Find Priscilla's tweets: www.twitter.com/PriscillaShirer

Rachel's tweets: www.twitter.com/RachelAnneRidge

Bless you!

One in a Million!

priscilla — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:29:49 +0000

After a little over two years of studying and writing, One In A Million: Journey to your Promised Land was released into bookstores, Walmart and Sams stores this week. Whew! It feels like carrying a baby for 9 months and then finally having it in your arms; exciting and exhausting all at the same time. In any case, I am praying that the message will be a blessing to Christians who are tired of sitting on the pews, Sunday after Sunday, and not experiencing what they have learned so much about.

The book follows the story of the Israelites who left Egypt with the promise of Canaan. All they had to do was obey Yahweh and believe that He would accomplish what He said that He would, and they’d be allowed to walk on Promised Land soil. Yet, a quick glance within the depths of the tent-lined camps would leave you disappointed as you realize that few had a radical faith and fearless commitment to obedience.

But there was one. In fact, there were two. And only two.

Listen to that startling ratio again: Of the approximately two million adult pilgrims who left Egypt with the promise of Canaan, only Joshua and Caleb believed God to give them what he’d promised, and would actually step foot into the Promised Land.

Two in two million.

That’s one in a million.

Why is it so hard to find believers who actually believe? Why is it so difficult to come across Christians who are living the life of abundance offered to every believer (John 10:10) – people who hear His voice, experience His power and are acquainted with His manifest presence. It’s easy to simply attend church and listen to Christian radio but really taking God at His word, anticipating His miracles, walking in faith and expecting an infiltration of His power; now that’s a different story.

I’ve decided that if there are only going to be a handful of Christians who really encounter God, who actually experience the abundant “promised land life” He has come to give, then I want to be one of those few. You too?

In the pages of this book, we traverse spiritual territory that will cover mountain peaks and deep valleys, grassy knolls and barren sand dunes, but I think the journey is worth it. With the turn of each page we round another corner and new horizons. What we’ll meet around one bend will bring a smile to the depths of our souls while others will create a sting of conviction that will send us straight to our knees. Either way, the prize of abundant living will make the trip well worth it. So, buckle up and grab a venti size latte. You are in for the ride of your life.

I'd love to give away 10 copies today. We'll randomly draw names from everyone who leaves a comment. In 1-2 sentences, tell us who is a "One in a Million" Christian in your life and why they are. We can't wait to be encouraged by the story of the person whose walk with God encourages you to live fully and completely for Him.

So, get busy thinking and complete this thought in your post:

_________________ is One In A Million because _________________________.

Have a great day,
Priscilla

PS. . . The fine folks at B&H Publishing put together a great video promo you might enjoy.