Category: Sharon Dickens

Seminar – Running the race in tough times

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On Monday’s we like to draw your attention to certain aspects of the Scottish Women’s Convention. For the next few weeks we’ll be telling you a bit more about the range of Seminars that are on offer.

Staff_Sharon_Dickens-300x400Name – Sharon Dickens

Lives – Niddrie, Edinburgh

What is the title of your seminar at the Scottish Women’s Convention?

The title that I have been given is Endurance – running the race when the going is tough.

What is the seminar about?

I need to give it more thought but probably ‘How to keep on keeping on when life and ministry sucks!’

Who is the seminar for?

Any women who isn’t a deluded Mary Poppins wanna be – “Practically perfect in everyway”

Why is this area important?

Life is full of struggles we can’t avoid them basically there are times when it out right sucks. We need to learn how to run the race with endurance, relying on God and in doing so grow in our faith. We also need to teach young women how to do this well. Far to often as older women we perpetuate this Mary Poppins myth that we are practically perfect in every way and in life nothing phases us or is going wrong, it’s the “I’m Fine” syndrome magnified. We all know it’s not true or helpful.

Thursday Spotlight

On Thursday’s  we want to give you an insight into the lives of some of the women involved in the Scottish Women’s Convention.  Some of these women are involved in full time ministry in the local Church, while others balance serving in the church with a secular job.

We sent them a questionnaire asking them to give us a taste of what they do, the challenges they face .

Staff_Sharon_Dickens-300x400Meet Sharon…Sharon lives in Niddrie, Edinburgh.

What area of ministry do you work in?

I’m Director of Operations and Women’s Ministry with 20schemes it’s a ministry of my church Niddrie Community Church.

How did you come to work in this particular area of ministry?

I have worked in the community primarily with families and people who have experienced homelessness for over 26 years. I was a member of Niddrie Community Church when Mez McConnell took over as our minister he asked me to be part of the Niddrie Pastoral Team initially as a community development worker. For over 8 years  I primarily  worked at establishing, training and co-ordinationing the women’s ministry.

When 20schemes was launched In Nov 2012 I was asked to take on the role of Director for Women’s ministry so that I could focus and develop the women’s ministry as well as and train the women workers. In April 2015 I also took on the responsibility to oversea the administration team UK and USA changing my job title to Director of Operations and Women’s Ministry so have a duel role.

Give one great challenge and one great joy of working in gospel ministry?

My great joy is that I get to mentor and disciple women who are in ministry as they mentor women, new believers, in the schemes. This is would also be, I would say, one of the greatest challenges as well as they struggle in their roles. I find it challenging the responsibility I have as an older women speaking into their lives. I feel the challenge for my own life even as I listen to my own words challenging them.

What one thing has the Lord been teaching you about yourself and himself in recent times?

  • Patience
  • Reliance on Him and not self reliance
  • Servant heartedness

Sharon will be leading a seminar at the convention.  Next week we will share more details of her seminar.