Mentoring is a very important part of my spiritual, personal and professional life. As a pastor, teacher and mentor who has been blessed to motivate and develop the potential in women, I have also been truly blessed to have mentors in my life that done the same for me. The following are the mentors in my life that have planted seeds in me to do God's work to humbly be a blessing to others who I love and appreciate so very much and thank God for:
My Parental Mentors
(All That I Am and All That I Hope to Be I Owe to My Mother and Father)
MARY LOUISE EDMONDSMy late beloved mother, may she rest in peace, was an awesome woman of God and a witness for Christ who truly loved the Lord. She instilled in me that with God all things are possible if you only believe. Although she was very strict when I was a child, as I grew older I begin to realize that she only wanted the best for me.
When God chose her for His garden, He chose the most precious flower in my life that will bloom in my heart forever. Her motherly guidance and unwavering support still lives within me. She always use to say to me when you make a decision, you must have peace; if you are still wavering, you have no peace. Although she has gone home to be with the Lord, as my parental mentor she has planted in me spiritual roots to serve as my foundation to do God's work for His glory as the fruit of her womb. |
JAMES H. EDMONDSMy late beloved father, may he rest in peace, was an awesome man of God who truly loved the Lord. A dedicated deacon, an awesome Sunday School Teacher and founder of the renowned gospel group, the Heavenly Echoes who also possessed a strong work ethic which I definitely inherited from him.
Even when I reached adulthood, I still called my father "daddy". I will forever cherish his memory and the values he instilled in me. He always was so proud of my accomplishments as well as the goals I had set for myself and provided the guidance that only a loving father could. Although he has gone home to be with the Lord, as my parental mentor, he has planted in me a spiritual roots to serve as my foundation being about my Heavenly Father's business for the glory of the Lord. |
Paying homage to the parental roots of my family tree by CB:
Each day of my life, I humbly pray that I make you both proud.
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Humbly thanking God that I was blessed to be the fruit from my beloved mother's womb to bear fruit!
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Drawing strength from the roots of my beloved mother and father to be who God created me to be for such a time as this!
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Thanking God that they planted seeds of faith, hope and love in me!
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You created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb. Psalm 139.13 (NIV)
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Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you. Jeremiah 1:5 (NCV)
Each day of my life, I humbly pray that I make you both proud.
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Humbly thanking God that I was blessed to be the fruit from my beloved mother's womb to bear fruit!
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Drawing strength from the roots of my beloved mother and father to be who God created me to be for such a time as this!
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Thanking God that they planted seeds of faith, hope and love in me!
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You created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb. Psalm 139.13 (NIV)
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Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you. Jeremiah 1:5 (NCV)
My Sisterly Mentors
As in the beautiful words of one of my beloved Eagle Sisters in Him, Elder - Elect Trunda Mallory- Henderson, "I thank God for the mentors He has given me. Powerful women and men of God who are not afraid to share the Gospel in any way, shape or form. If God blesses you with a mentor or mentors, don't take it for granted. Sit at their feet and soak in all of the wisdom that they are willing to release unto you."
I truly humbled and blessed to have the following women in my life as my mentors who I thank God for who have unselfishly yet willingly speak into my life for and to be who God created me to be:
I truly humbled and blessed to have the following women in my life as my mentors who I thank God for who have unselfishly yet willingly speak into my life for and to be who God created me to be:
Pastor Seketha Williams aka my Mary
Pastor Seketha Williams, a beautiful anointed mighty woman of God, is one of my sisterly mentors who ministers to me, encourages me to do me and to handle my assignment. If it had not been for her when I first went into ministry reminding me that it was okay to be who God created me to be no matter how different I am bringing forth God's word, I don't know where I would be. Although we live 3,000 miles apart, I thank God for her, as she continues to mentor me to this very day to bear fruit in as my Mary who makes me Elizabeth aka Liz who makes my baby leap. I love and appreciate her my Mary so very much and thank God for her. In addition to hosting a Mary and Elizabeth Woman of God Conference, we also have the Mary and Elizabeth Women of God Network as a part of our Family of Networks on Facebook and website - maryandelizabeth.ironsharpeningoursisters.com - inspired by our real life friendship.
Sister Virronica Dixson aka my sweetface
Sister Virronica Dixson, an anointed mighty woman of God, is not only my goddaughter but also one of my sisterly mentors. Although she is a considerably younger than me, God has blessed her with so much wisdom which she uses to inspire as well as collaborates with me to be who God has creatively me to be. She keeps it real real and brings such a powerful perspective to my life to spread my wings in the spirit of my favorite scripture Isaiah 40:31 and soar for God's glory to encourage others to bear fruit as well as myself. I love and appreciate my sweetface so very much and
I thank God for her.
I thank God for her.
Sister Aline Waters aka my Elizabeth
Sister Aline Waters, an anointed mighty woman of God, is one of my sisterly mentors who is my bible study teacher who God has blessed me with who rightly divides the word of truth. She has touched my life with her love for the Lord and speaks into my life to do what God has called me to do but to also take time to restore, replenish and refresh. She, as a gardener for the Lord, has planted seeds in others as well as myself for us to stay connected to the vine by providing biannual women's bible studies which has touched my heart and blessed my soul. I love and appreciate her so very much and I thank God for the blessing she is in my life.
Pastor Doris Schuyler aka my Pastor Bestie
Pastor Doris Schuyler, a powerful anointed songbird woman of God is one of my beloved sisterly mentors and confidante. I thank God for our divine connection as we both have walked through the valley of the shadow of death, survived and don't look like what we have been through - to God be all the glory. The sisterly bond that we share to uplift and encourage each through the sunshine and the rain and through sickness and pain is such a blessing. She encourages me to do what God called me to do, although different and is an avid supporter of our ministry in the spirit of iron sharpening. I love and appreciate her so very much and so thankful to God for her in my life.
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Friends are like the leaves on a tree. Sometimes the wind blows them away.
But TRUE Friends are the roots of that tree that has woven itself into your life!
But TRUE Friends are the roots of that tree that has woven itself into your life!