You’re a mom to four tween girls, you volunteer at The Oaks Fellowship, and on top of that, you’ve created a magazine. What’s your secret to keeping all your plates spinning?
Yes, my girls are 12, 9 and 7 (twins). We have a very full life with school, church, sports and extracurricular activities. It’s funny because all I really have to do is keep my heart focused on Christ. I have found that if I use my energy to seek Him, anything else I do is simply a result of His grace in my life. Whenever I drift from making Him my priority, my life gets chaotic.  

I have John 15:5 highlighted on an index card in my closet: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

Your daughter, Alena, had a lead role in War Room. What was that experience like for you as a family? How has it opened doors to share the gospel?
Alena plays Danielle Jordan, the daughter in the movie War Room. It has been such an awesome experience for my husband and me to watch God work in her life. During the filming process, it was amazing to get a glimpse of her character as an outsider for a change. God made it very clear to me that I am here to steward her and her sisters, but ultimately they are His.

I have found that if I use my energy to seek Him, anything else I do is simply a result of His grace in my life. 

The movie has touched so many lives, and the impact has been far greater than anything we could have imagined. We get emails and messages from families, mothers and children creating “war rooms” and taking the power of prayer seriously. It’s amazing that God allowed our family to play a small part in something so big. 

Tell us about your magazine, For Girls Like You. What are key principles you focus on when discipling the tween audience? 
For Girls Like You is a ministry for tween girls and their parents. We have a magazine as well as two devotionals, For Girls Like You and You’re God’s Girl. The magazine is fun and colorful and features crafts, games, devotionals and articles from familiar faces as well as everyday girls that are using their talents to live and shine for Christ. My heart is for girls to know they are not alone in their walk with Christ.The devotions and magazines are both available at forgirlslikeyou.com/products.

One of your key themes throughout the magazine and the devotionals is making God part of everyday life. Share some examples of what that looks like.
We zone in on the things girls like and point to Christ from there. For example, we discuss fashion trends and have fun activities and photos, but then we also discuss the history of that trend while focusing on the importance of modesty and honoring God with what we wear. We also interview girls from different parts of the world and learn about their cultures and how they are shining for Christ wherever they are. We have recipes and encourage girls to cook for a friend or to help prepare dinner. These things are just the basics, but so often young people separate these details from their relationship with Christ. I want to help them know that God created them with certain talents and interests, and He is in everything around them.

This article was originally published in the August/September issue of Influence. For more print content, subscribe.