Describe yourself in three words.
Compassionate
Hopeful
Visionary
How do you handle criticism?
I’m embarrassed to admit it, but in high school my friends called me HOD, which stood for Heart of Darkness. Before you judge me, let me unpack it for you. Even at a young age I started to develop an ability to not let what others thought or said about me dictate the vision I had for my life. Things didn’t bother me like they did others. I was blessed to grow up in a home where I always felt empowered and loved. I was encouraged to try new things and step out bravely even when I was afraid.
To combat criticism when it comes—because it will and has—I’m forced to go inward. Who am I? Who am I supposed to be? What has God called me to do? I’m only accountable to those things at the end of the day. If I don’t show up for myself, nobody will for me. If I don’t show up for my husband, for my kids, for our church family, or for ARC Canada, then the job that God has entrusted to me won’t happen. The plans He has for my life won’t come to pass. To me, the thought of my destiny not being fulfilled far outweighs any critical comment, negative email, or discouraging piece of gossip that could ever be said about me.
Your entire family is sitting around the dinner table. What does the discussion and interaction look like?
Being together at dinnertime is an important value to us. But it never goes the way I hope. No matter how much I emphasize the importance of table manners, dinnertime always includes kids eating with their hands, slurping something off the table, or engaging in inappropriate “potty talk.” Our kids are ages 11, 9, 7 and 5, and all of them have something to say at a loud volume—always.
We’ve implemented something we call “apples and onions.” We go around the table, and everyone shares what their apple and onion of the day was—one good thing and one bad thing. It’s a way for us to hear from each child and acknowledge that it’s okay if everything is not always awesome (cue song from The Lego Movie).
How would you describe your hopes and desires for your life?
Our heart has never been for city alone but, crazy as it sounds, for our whole country. Our desire is to help church planting couples all over Canada confidently plant amazing churches. We daily battle the tension between being content in the present while continuing to contend for the miracle. It’s a big and lofty prayer, but we believe God is just getting started.
