Meet Our Darling Paige!

My Dear Sisters, how are you?? I think of you every single day and love sharing all sorts of family and ministry things with you. We had such a treat last week that I want to share with you. We haven't really developed a framework here for interns at LPM but one of our board members asked us if we'd consider allowing a senior in high school that he esteemed highly to work here for a week as part of her senior credit. We had a hunch that the blessing would be ours but we weren't ready for how quickly we'd fall head over heels in love with her. It was our plan from the beginning to give her a taste of every position in the ministry and sit her in every department so her experience would be full. To get a taste of what my department (comprised of AJ, CJ, Melissa and me) does, I asked her to both open Tuesday night Bible study with a 3-minute greeting and write a blog article on Friday that I'd post today. I told her she could write it on anything she wanted because by that time I knew I could trust her character and that she was quite the communicator. Such a gifted and darling young woman! Below you will find her greeting to you. You will be able to tell immediately that you guys are considered a big part of ministry around the halls of LPM!

Our dearest Paige, all of LPM is the better for having had you drop by for a week. You are an amazing young woman of God and the Spirit of Christ radiates from your face already. We miss you this morning! These doors are always open to you, Darling Child. Come by any time you need a dose of bad but clean jokes that we clearly think are hilarious. May Christ continue to give you supernatural understanding into the Scriptures...for they are not just words, as you know. They are your life. We LOVE you.

And now for Paige:

Hola Siestas (Ok…I just had to say it)!

I’m Paige Warren, Living Proof’s first official intern and a senior at Second Baptist School in sunny (and HOT, I might add) Houston, TX! This week has definitely been one of the MOST incredible weeks of my life, and I’d LOVE to tell you why!

It all began this past Christmas when I met Mrs. Moore at Second Baptist Church’s annual Kids Crazy Christmas Show (a mouthful, I know – we just call it KCCS)! I’m a member of the JUMP Team, an acting, singing and dancing ministry for kids, which performed at the show, and to my complete bliss and surprise, I was able to meet Mrs. Moore and her cute grandbabies. Little did I know that just a few months later, I’d be petting her sweet puppy and laughing at jokes at the LPM lunch table! How truly blessed am I?

Now, I would absolutely LOVE to fill you in on ALL the excitement of my internship at LPM, but if I did, you might still be at your desk at dinnertime! So, here’s a look into a typical Monday at Living Proof!

On my first day of the internship, I arrived promptly at 8:30am, bright-eyed, bushy-tailed; ready to go for my first day. As I pulled into the property, I noticed that Living Proof Ministries is not housed in a normal, run-of-the-mill office building, but an adorably cozy and beautifully decorated home where scripture competes for every wall space, Pottery Barn furniture replaces generic work desks, and laughter fills the office space. Although the norm for a teen internship is extreme nervousness in the form of sweaty palms and a dry mouth, this was certainly not the case for me at LPM. Upon meeting the ladies, I couldn’t help but feel like I fit right in! So welcoming and loving, the staff made me feel as if they were my very best friends…and trust me, ladies, their personalities can intensely mislead one about their REAL ages!

My first task? Stepping into the world of production with Evangeline. I was most surprised by the fact that LPM fulfills, packages, and ships all orders in-house. From Bible Studies to CDs & DVDs to Books, the LPM storage room has it all! The neatest part about the whole process is the fact that each order is HAND-packaged with care. They check, and double-check…and check again! As part of their ministry, the LPM staff and volunteers, if they feel led, pray over certain packages for the Word of the Lord to edify that particular customer/donor as they seek to know Him more! As Beth entered the room to welcome and thank volunteers and staff, she gave me a surprising challenge: “Paige, dear, we don’t normally do this, but…would you like to do the announcements and speak at Bible Study Tuesday Night? I’ll give you 3 minutes…” Wait, wait, wait. Could this REALLY be happening? A 17 year-old to speak at Houston’s First Baptist Bible Study: The Inheritance, packed with over 3,000 pairs of alert ears that are just waiting/dying to hear a good Word from Jesus?? “You’ve got to be kidding me!,” I yelled to myself. I leaped for joy at the opportunity to bless that many women! The Lord, I knew, would take care of the words…All I had to do was have a willing heart to bless others!

As we (myself and the lovely volunteers) packaged and jammed out to some cool worship music, I noticed it was already time for lunch! “Wait a second…where did everyone go?,” I anxiously uttered as I glanced at the clock. To my surprise, I found nine staff ladies sitting on the floor with fluffy blankets and Bibles in-toe. On Mondays, the LPM staff (minus Curtis…he is a guy, after all!) feeds on the Word of God together, growing, seeking and praying for each other to be encouraged in the Lord. They seek to be fed with spiritual food rather than physical food. “Of course!” Gladly, I plopped down next to Beth (Side Note: We’re not yet on first name basis, but it’s kind of hard after you’ve watched her passionately deliver a Word on Life Today or in Bible Study and constantly scream “You go, Beth!” at the TV). After a time of sweet prayer and study, it was time to head back to work answering phones with Kimberly! Now, although it sounds pretty easy, it was actually REALLY rigorous – especially when multiple calls can flood like a simultaneous technological deluge! I have SERIOUS respect for receptionists now!

Before I knew it, the day was over! What an incredible start to an incredible week at LPM!!

The following 3 days, the Lord worked seriously in my life as I worked side-by-side with these darling ladies. I’ve learned a GREAT deal about the ministry, it’s effectiveness, and EVERY facet of Living Proof that makes it Living Proof. However, I must admit that, although this internship has benefited me greatly through experience, the “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity that makes it a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience is the blessing of fellowship. I cannot express to you in words worthy of writing the amount of joy, laughter, godly council, and Kingdom perspective I’ve encountered and been immersed in here! Viewing each aspect of the ministry has allowed my heart to burst with compassion for the lowly and excitement for the saved; laughter at crazy jokes and tears at the sincerity of their hearts. What makes Living Proof all that you perceive it to be is the fact that these ladies are REAL, live “Living Proof.” They love Jesus with their whole hearts and passionately yearn to seek Him more! Plus, they might just be the wackiest, craziest, make-you-want-to-sit-down-and-watch-their-sitcom kind of women! (We’re still thinking of the name…)

I consider myself blessed beyond measure by the Lord. His Joy is my Strength…His Joy is their strength. We’re not just co-workers for a week. This internship has made us sisters in the Kingdom for eternity!

Be blessed, siestas! If He’s working in a little 17 year-old intern’s life, I know He’s sure working in yours! Be blessed by the intense measure of His love for you!!! (Colossians 3:12) Hope to write to you again soon! (Maybe in the summer…you never know!)

Joyfully His,
Paige!

P.S.~ “What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…!” – Philippians 3:8!