Lady Phelencia, Pastor

Girlfriends in Christ - The Jesus Way Magazine

Cover Story:  No Cross, No Crown

May/June 2006

Before embarking upon any form of ministry, God has always hidden and prepared those whom He has called.  In 2003, when the Holy Spirit penned the vision for Girlfriends in Christ in my heart I really didn’t want to do it.  I know first hand the work of ministry carries a great responsibility not only to God but to His people.  However, seeing the hand of God on my life as He carried through the season of homelessness I was in as He gave me the vision, I remembered the Scripture which said “today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart.” (Psalm 95:7-8)  

When you hear Him it is a call to action, but the next question should have been “How much action and when?”  Eager to then run with the vision after releasing my reluctance, I thought I was to carry it forward right away.  But as we serve a loving God instead it was His will that I have an opportunity to grow into my ministry calling.  Contrary to what some may think of themselves in ministry leadership, growing in ministry is a NEVER ENDING process. 

In the early part of 2003, the Lord began to ministry my spirit to really study women's ministry, those who came before us, those who documented their lives through their processes and the Word of God.  At God's appointed time, the Holy Spirit began to pen the Girlfriends in Christ vision with my hand and in my heart. 

On July 9, 2003 the ministry launched in Altadena, California starting with a series of in-home Bible studies and fellowships.  In fact, it is the of a fact that we can and do say that this ministry was Holy Spirit established on that fateful day and we alone can say this.  As such it was an original.  So original that we searched and found that there was no other Girlfriends in Christ organization at formation for if it had it would have not been God leading us for God is not the author of confusion.

The initial Girlfriends In Christ vision was relatively small and manageable. Relatively easy for me to handle administratively with the help of a few faithful others. Women who believed in the vision began to sow financial seeds into the ministry to help sustain it.  It wasn't too soon after that women of God whom I greatly respected continued to speak into my life that I was thinking for the organization was too small when we serve such a BIG GOD. 

I took everything said under advisement letting it rest in my heart.  However, shortly after giving birth to the vision, a tumor was found in my body which forced me to put any further development of the ministry on hold until I recuperated from surgery.  Throughout all of this I never forgot what had been said to me about allowing God to move larger into my life as this was a confirmed within my spirit, too.

I’ve often heard that when a vision is too big to carry on your own, God is all over it, as His strength is made perfect in our weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)   Not knowing how to proceed to the next level when financial resources had been extremely limited, I sought Him for wisdom and direction.  Magazines both internationally and domestically took interest in my testimony which was published as “Blessing To Be Found In Brokenness”.

As the Holy Spirit was moving, so was the enemy, but like Nehemiah I just couldn't come down from off the wall.  I kept hearing a still small voice saying to my heart…seek me early and use what is in your hands. Lord, did you want me to do early and what was in my hands?

It was then that I learned the value in Early Morning Prayer which grew to have a profound impact in my life.  Each morning I would wake up and drive to 5:00 a.m. prayer which was conducted by Pastor Dr. William B. Martin.  If anyone would have told me that I could get up that early...well, I wouldn't have believed it myself. 

Now what was in my hands?  I've always enjoyed singing to the Lord since I was a little girl in church.  In fact, I had wanted to pursuit it as an adult.  But, I heard the Lord saying to me that you can't do that until you do this...this being laying the foundation for the Girlfriends In Christ vision.  Also in my hands was the ability to write under the unction of the Holy Spirit.  Such writing have now been published abroad as this vision continually growing day by day.   

Of this one thing I am very confident that when the Holy Spirit led you to this website He did so because He has anointed you and appointed you to do a dynamic work for Him in such a time as this.  He is opening a door before you to allow you to connect with other women of God who have a passion for doing the work of God which mirrors your own. 

At Girlfriends in Christ, we do not take the leading of the Holy Spirit lightly. As such we hope that you will be led of the Holy Spirit to approach the throne of God daily on behalf of this ministry and all ministries He has ordained abroad…including your own.   We also want you to add your name to our database and become a part of the Girlfriends In Christ organization.

Our motto is…

It’s not about one of us, it’s about all of us building the Kingdom in the spirit of unity with one love.

Will you join us?  I hope you will.  I look so forward to seeing you soon.  Until then stay prayerful and definitely stay connected…

Your Girlfriend In Christ – Now and Forever,

Lady Phelencia, Pastor

Girlfriends In Christ 

Clay in the Potter's Hands - Isaiah 64:8