You Belong!

I believe there are two phrases that have no place in our hearts: “I don’t belong,” and “I don’t need you.”

This is my plea to you . . .

Women of The Alliance, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if you have any comfort from His love, if you have any tenderness and compassion given by the indwelling presence of the Spirit, I ask you to listen to my plea . . .

Make my joy complete by having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. May we do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit (adapted from Phil. 2).

May no woman think her ministry involvements are more commendable than another’s. Rather, in humility, may we value others above ourselves. May we celebrate the diversity of our passions and the ministries being faithfully carried out by women in our Alliance family. May we no longer look exclusively to our own interests, but each one of us to the interests of others.

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work (adapted from 1 Cor. 12).

God has placed each one of us and gifted each one of us.

None of us can say, “I do not belong.” None of us can say, “I don’t need you.”

We are the Body of Christ. God has put us together.

So, there should be no division, no competing, no comparing.

Instead, may we be transformed from competitive individuals into one Body, receiving from Jesus compassionate hearts and—above all—love.

Therefore, let’s continue to work this out with fear and trembling, knowing that it is God who works in each one of us—giving us both the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.

Let’s be on mission.

Together.

Amen.

Jen Vogel

Jen served as national director for Alliance Women from 2015-2023; she serves in a variety of ministry capacities, including on the President's Cabinet for The Alliance. She enjoys reading, travel, and completing the New York Times crossword puzzle daily. Jen and her husband, Doug, attend Dover Avenue Alliance Church in Orange City, Iowa.

Ten Responses to “You Belong!”

  1. Dear Jen,
    Blessings to you as you serve Jesus,So thankful for your listening and obeying God for Alliance Women.We each have gift we can use for God,s Glory.May we always be ready to really listen to our sisters in Christ, to encourage them to be all that God wants them to be for His Glory.Thank you for serving.

    • Beautiful, Nancy. Yes. May we listen to God and listen to each other with humility and the love that He gives. ❤️

  2. I am so thankful for the perfect timing of this refreshment! It will be joyfully shared as God works His good purpose here at Clover Pass Community Church.

  3. Jen,
    My heart was blessed as I watched the interview of you with Terry Smith on Wednesday.
    Your message has been my heart beat for a long time where women of the CMA are involved. When I served as District Director, (as we were called then) for the EPA district and would try to help women and pastors and elders in churches that were at conflict, that All women if they were in a CMA church were “Alliance Women” and need to come together to work for the kingdom and not think one ministry was better than the other.
    Blessing’s on you as you serve all of us CMA Women!

    • So good to hear from you, Mary Ann. I remember serving together as District Directors – you in Eastern PA and myself in MidAmerica. God has been faithful. He continues to equip and inspire.

  4. Amen, Jen. Good words from a Good Book. I like this line: May we celebrate the diversity of our passions.” As I get to know the women at my new church (I’m happy to report I’m now a member), I am blessed by the various ministries and passions of the women there. I’m looking forward to discovering how I can use my gifts and passions to help my church grow.

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