Today was a very interesting event! Almost a year ago, Mary Frances Bowley had invited me to be a part of a major event to introduce the work of Wellspring to the women of Atlanta. Wellspring was going to put on a big stadium event at the Georgia Dome that would really encourage women to step out and take a risk to do those things they felt they were being called to do by God. This event had quite a few well known speakers, and I was honored to be invited to be one of the people on the platform. I shared my story of how I came to be an author, and how I felt so strongly that I was supposed to write a book on a particular subject. I once felt certain that there was absolutely no way that I could ever accomplish getting published, yet I felt like I was being urged to just start something in the midst of my doubts and see that God would get the glory for His hand in my endeavors.
I have told the story before, and what happened is I was introduced to someone who had just been talking to a major Christian publisher and that person had said that the publisher really wanted to do a book on this particular subject and if they happened to run across anyone writing a book like that, to let them know.
That’s how I came to be an author, and it was a delight to be able to share that story with these women as an example of when you turn your life over to God and let Him do what He wants to do with your life, you get taken in all sorts of interesting directions.
The other speakers included John Tesh, and even Jane Fonda, and listening to Jane Fonda was one of the highlights of my year. I loved listening to her speak so boldly in public. I think it is one of the first times she has ever spoken in public about how she came to faith in Jesus. To hear her story along with the woman who helps her on her spiritual journey was just so touching. I know it sounds funny, because I do not know Jane Fonda personally, but listening to her willingness to share this story, I was so proud of her that she was willing to step out and say those things.
I thought to myself, if I was in an environment like Hollywood, where things of faith are often looked down upon, how hard would it be to be willing to step out, and be that bold and straightforward about the fact that one needs God in one’s life, and that one has committed one’s life to Jesus Christ. I was very impressed by her willingness to share that story.
It was interesting, the organizers I think were a little discouraged, because they had been hoping for a packed stadium, and there was probably only a few thousand women there. However, I’ve seen over and over again that just like with my story of how I came to be an author, if you’ll just act in obedience to what you are supposed to do, God will take it and do completely unexpected and wonderful things, and that was my encouragement to the organizers. They did what they were supposed to do, and I am very eager to see how God uses this event in years to come.