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Meet Susan Condry

We are honored to introduce you to Susan Condry, wife of 42+ years to James, who serves as an elder at Beltway Park.  While she never envisioned being married to an elder (since the Baptist church she grew up in didn't have elders), she admits that she considered James to be "a godly man, good looking, and smart (he was salutatorian), so I asked him out!"  She goes on to say "He says I chased him til HE caught ME."  Together, they have 2 children (who are not really children anymore).  Brian is 31, and got married last November, and Allison is 28, and bought a house in Abilene last year.  "An ongoing opportunity for faith is entrusting our children to the Lord.  A foundational scripture that the Lord gave me many years ago that continues to be of great encouragement is a paraphrase of Philippians 1:6.  The Lord said, 'I am the One who has begun a good work in your children and I am the One who will complete it.'  That takes the pressure and responsibility off of me, and rightly places it with the Lord."

You are most likely to recognize Susan from the Welcome Center Ministry at Beltway Park, where she actively seeks to use her spiritual gifts of service and encouragement.  She also serves as a co-life group leader.

Susan works as a Receptionist and Customer Service Representative at Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company.  She muses about the day she was visiting with the guy in her mailroom at work, when suddenly, her slip dropped to the floor, during the middle of their conversation.  "We both looked down, I stepped out of it, picked it up, and kept talking to him.  He did not follow my admonition that 'what happens in the mailroom stays in the mailroom,' and I did not even get back to my desk before I had 'inquiries' about  the wardrobe malfunction!"  What a hoot!  I can see why they still laugh about that moment, even today!!  We know that Susan is a blessing in her workplace, not only for bringing laughter (at her own expense), but also for bringing the joy of the Lord into the business!

Prior to her current career, she spent many years as a Home School Teacher for her children.  She recalls her decision to home school as one of the biggest steps of faith she has ever had to make.  However, the Lord, in His ever faithful splendor, paved the way for her to step into the role.  "I was the volunteer administrator and bookkeeper at Cornerstone Christian School at the time.  One of our teachers had to leave before the school year was out to be with her ailing parents, so I took over as a teacher also.  Then, our after school care staff member had an injury, so I also took that responsibility, as well.  I sensed the Lord was using these things to help me look forward to home schooling in the fall instead of being apprehensive about it, and to realize that it would have to be easier than having four jobs!!!"  She admits that she has also had to step out in faith any time she has stepped into in leadership or facilitation roles for adult studies, since her experience and training was always with children.

Susan continuously seeks to walk out her freedom in Christ, through reading and listening to the Lord.  As she says, "I keep putting good stuff in so good stuff comes out."  She also stays in a posture of prayer, and keeps a prayer journal, which she refers to for encouragement and relief from anxiety.

We can learn so much from Susan, regarding the ways the Lord has taught her to deal with offense toward her husband or others.  "I have to take [the offense] to the Lord and wrestle in the battlefield of my mind and emotions to get to the place of truth.  In other words, I make the choice to submit my thoughts and emotions to what God says is true.  Philippians 4:8 has been a centering place for me.  I ask myself questions related to the offense and how I am thinking about and feeling about it from this verse:  Is it True?  Noble?  Right?  Pure?  Lovely?  Admirable?  Excellent?  Praiseworthy?  I have to keep making the choice to have the mind of Christ about the situation and then act accordingly."  What a wonderful nugget of wisdom, and a beautiful tool, straight from God's infallible toolbox, to help us all deal with offense!

We are so pleased to get to know Susan better, and we hope you will join us to learn more about her at "Let's Get Together" Thursday, September 26 at 6:30pm.

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