All Nations Value: We do family well
I learned about All Nations International in early 2021 when Dr. Mary Ho and Dr. Pam Arlund came to my Perspectives on the World Christian Movement class. I reached out shortly to Pam and asked her if All Nations ever needed writers/editors. She immediately connected me to Jennifer Baldridge and Tracy Staton on the marketing and communications team, who had a lot of need on their team. In my case, they needed someone to help put together and edit the monthly internal newsletter, as well as write and edit other content.
Within a few months of meeting these ladies and deciding that I wanted to do more work in ministry, my husband gave me the blessing to quit my full-time paid secular job and take on a volunteer role. My previous job itself was a bit soul sucking and I felt burned out. I believed God had been developing me as a writer/editor to help in a role where I knew I was having an eternal impact.
I had wanted to quit my job anyway because I had recently gotten married (Dec. 2020) to a single widowed father and became a step-mom to a soon to be teenager, Jazzmyn, (who had lost her mom a few years previously) all at once. That was a lot of change to take on while also juggling a job that emotionally drained me!
With the flexibility of a volunteer position I now was able to do my work from home and could be available if my step-daughter needed me. She was dealing with a lot including anxiety and depression after losing her biological mom, and then having her dad get remarried. She was also navigating puberty and middle school. Taking on a more flexible role also allowed me to develop a relationship with a new friend at church, who although isn't a step-mother, has mothered many foster children and adopted a few. We regularly meet during the day and talk about life and kids, which has been much needed resource!
My husband who travels a lot for work didn't have to worry about leaving her at home alone or making arrangements for her to stay with someone since I was home basically all the time now. My mother-in-law, who had moved from Kansas City, to help look after my step-daughter after her mom died, could now focus on caring for her aging husband. After he passed away she could spend more time with her daughter's family in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA). It isn't always easy being a step-mom, so I'm thankful for my family's support, as well as my All Nations family support.
When you work for a small (but mighty) team like the marketing and communications department at All Nations International, you quickly become family. I have enjoyed getting to know Tracy and Jenn B. and talking about life, kids and working from home remotely. I also met several other young newly married ladies during our recent Be U sessions on the Gifts of Single and Married Life and have enjoyed getting to know some of them more.
I would love to get to know more of you! If any of you ladies are newly married or are step-moms or moms to teens, feel free to reach out! I'd love to be friends. :) You can reach me on Signal at +1 573.673.0689 or by emailing me at jennp84@protonmail.com.
About the author: Jennifer is the marketing communications volunteer manager for All Nations International. She loves using her storytelling gifts in missions work and has done work for ministries, including: Wycliffe Bible Translators, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement and Prison Fellowship. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Iowa State University. Jennifer resides in Columbia, Missouri, (USA) with her husband, Jothi, and her stepdaughter Jazzmyn.
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