Lisa Baracskai: God Picked Me Up When I Was Low

Ten years ago, I found myself at Providence Church (EFCA) at a very low point in my life, feeling as if I had failed God badly and that I would never be used by Him. But when I went to Providence, I learned He could use the very failures I've experienced for His glory, and I saw that embodied at the women’s Bible study. They didn't pretend to have it all together; they shared their vulnerable stories and their mistakes. That grew my love for the women of Providence, and I wanted to be involved. 

The director of women's ministry at the time saw something in me and encouraged me to co-lead. Later, she asked me to join the women's ministry team. In 2019, an administrative assistant position opened up at Providence, and my husband, who is not a believer, actually encouraged me to apply for it. I thought I wasn't qualified. But they hired me, and I was an administrative assistant there for a couple years before I moved into more of a ministry coordinator role.

I helped with connections ministry, continued to be on the women's ministry team and led Bible studies. Years later, the women's ministry director was retiring, and several people asked if I wanted to apply for the position. I didn't feel I was qualified. But the ministry director at the time said to me, “Lisa, I really want you to pray about this,” so I did. Again, with my husband's encouragement, I applied for the position. I've only just started as the director of women's ministry.  

Last year, the executive pastor at Providence Church (EFCA) asked if I wanted to go to EFCA Theology Conference. I love to learn, and since I lead Bible studies, I knew I would learn things that would help me. When they invited me again this year, I absolutely wanted to come. I know I’ll use what I’m learning in my Bible studies as I get questions. I’m often asked how a good God can allow evil things to happen, and the framework in [Dr. Ben Skaug’s] session gave me the words for that.

Being in connections ministry, I was in all the membership classes, and I came to love the EFCA Statement of Faith. One of our pastors calls it “the banks of the river.” I love that these are the [core doctrines] and that we're not going to divide over the other things. In Bible studies, as women bring up [secondary] topics, we can talk about those things, study them and have views on them, but that's not something we need to divide over. The Statement of Faith highlights the important things. I really appreciate that about the EFCA.