My Journey In Becoming A Woman of Influence
Our lives are full of twists and turns that lead us on a path, which if we follow the Holy Spirit, will lead us to who we are called to be. I am not sure what season you are currently in, but I want to extend my strength and empower you to believe that you have a destiny.
I am here for you to learn from my life, so you can conquer fear and shame, and walk out God’s plan for your life unashamedly.
Early Roots
In my spiritual personal journey, my mother’s influence helped shape my life. She became a charismatic (spirit-filled) Catholic who led the Charismatic movement in the Reno/Tahoe area where I grew up.
Here is a story that embodies her impact on me.
When I was 12 years old, I remember attending Mass (church service) with my mom, where the priest was extremely legalistic and rigid in accepting the Holy Spirit’s presence. During communion service, my mom (without being asked) started to see the song a cappella, “We Are One in the Spirit,” during communion time, which caused other people—including myself, to start singing along with her.
At the end of Mass, this priest asked if my mother, Nancy, could stay as he wanted to talk to her and I knew exactly what that talk was about. As we both approached this priest after everyone had left, he said to my mother, “Nancy, if you ever do that again, you will not be welcome in this church.” My mom responded, “I was only doing what the Holy Spirit showed me to do.” He said, “Well, then you can take the Holy Spirit and go somewhere else.” Then, she said, “I have to obey God, not man.”
Wow! I was SO embarrassed because I attended the Catholic School that was connected to his church and he KNEW I was a Came (my maiden name). Yet, I couldn’t help but think that my mom had guts to go against the religious current she had grown up in and follow the Spirit—no matter the cost. I believe that was a key moment in the formation of my life journey in becoming a woman who will stand up for the Spirit no matter what!
Her impact, along with my brother Chad, was unbelievable in our region. She led a prayer meeting at my parent’s home for over 40 years weekly, where people could be filled with the Holy Spirit. She went to the abortion clinic weekly for over 30 years with my Father, helping women decide to KEEP THEIR BABY, versus get an abortion. She ministered at Nevada’s state prison in Carson City weekly for over 25 years to help women understand who they were in a weekly Bible study.
My Story
After I was immersed in my family’s calling to follow the Holy Spirit, I married my husband, Kevin, and moved to Southern California where we both started Bible College.
I was excited for this new adventure within a protestant spirit-filled denomination to discover all that God had called me to be. I was hit with the astounding revelation that women were not considered as valuable as men in ministry, when a teacher’s wife refused to disciple me unless I agreed to work for a living, if my husband needed to get a degree because his calling was more valuable than mine.
This is why I chose to go after my psychology degree because I knew how sick people were in churches, where women who are more than half of the population in most churches are treated.
But God is good, as He led me to the Vineyard movement, where I saw women actively involved in full-time ministry and shortly after I finished my degree, I was asked to come on staff at Newport Vineyard and was happily on staff there for 7 years.
So, when you ask me, “Theresa, why are you so passionate about Jesus’ mission to transform others? Why do you travel and release the supernatural? Why do you put on online conferences to awaken people’s identity? Why did you start a Kingdom Creative Online Movement?”
It’s because I have been given a great gift. I have seen women of influence rise up out of the ashes and do great and mighty things.
Remember, you are called to flourish and grow!
-Theresa
