The Eowiggle

David Powlison (1949-2019) This is a different sort of post, one of a much more personal, intimate nature. My sister, who works at CCEF wrote this letter and gave me the permission to share it with you. It is a beautiful testimony to working with David Powlison.  Several of you have asked me how I am doing at CCEF with David Powlison's death. It has really hit me hard.  Since I am not on social media, I didn't make a public tribute.  But I do appreciate your reading this below and praying for us as a ministry as we grieve and as we also find our way forward. We have stood on his very capable shoulders for decades. It will be hard to find a path forward.  Obviously God will show us. I wrote the following to a pastor who had shared of the profound impact of David on his own life.  He asked how he could pray for us. This was my answer: When my oldest (now 13) asked me as a child, "Mom, what's Jesus like?" I answered: "I think a lot like D...

A missionary is not someone special, more gifted, or more holy than anyone else. In fact, many of us missionaries joke that God needed to take us to the mission field to teach us the hard lessons we could not learn at home because of our own stubbornness. Among missionary leaders, there is a saying that leading missionaries is like “herding cats” because of our independent streak. Missionaries can exude strength and courage, but as the years progress, I have noticed certain patterns of struggle that are unique to missionaries (and I’d venture to say much of this applies to those who are in full-time ministry, as pastors or church-planters). The first and biggest area of struggle is the coalescence of job and Christian life. My sister once said to me: "it must be difficult to be a professional Christian.” At first, I was set aback by her comment, but as I mulled over that expression, I realized that it is at the core of some of our twisted identity issues. On the upside, w...

Joyfully Spreading the Word: Sharing the Good News of Jesus Edited by Kathleen Nielson , Gloria Furman , Contributions by Shar Bell, Rosaria Butterfield , Gloria Furman , Camille Hallstrom, Megan Hill , Happy Khambule , Jamie R. Love , Rebecca Manley Pippert , Eowyn Stoddard You can be a part of the spread of the gospel in the world.  Here are theological reflections and real stories from women from across the world who are eagerly sharing the good news of Jesus wherever God has placed them—showing us just how possible it is to follow Jesus’s call to evangelism in our ordinary, everyday lives. I enjoyed writing a chapter on mercy ministry and how it connects to proclamation ministry. I won't say more...you'll have to get the book! Editors: Kathleen Nielson (PhD, Vanderbilt University) is an author and speaker who loves working with women in studying the Scriptures. After directing the Gospel Coalition’s women’s initiativ...